Employment Litigation

With personal reputations on the line and the potential for recovery of attorneys’ fees, employment litigation can have high stakes.  We’ve been on both sides of these issues, representing employers ranging from high-tech start-ups to the State of Washington, individual defendants, and plaintiffs.  We have successfully handled discrimination claims under Title VII and the Washington Law Against Discrimination, as well as claims under state and federal wage and hour laws.

Representative Cases

Davis et al. v. City of Seattle, et al.  Defended Superintendent of Seattle City Light against sex and gender discrimination claims under state law and equal protection claims under federal law; obtained dismissal of all claims by summary judgment.

SigmaTek v. Dixon.  Prosecuted trade secret and non-compete claims against former employee; obtained preliminary injunction following evidentiary hearing and then favorable settlement.

Edenholm v. Flytrap Network Security, Inc.  Defended claims by former key employee for breach of compensation agreement and violation of wage and hour laws; obtained dismissal of key claims by summary judgment and affirmance of dismissal on appeal.

Aexel et al. v. Seattle Financial Group, et al.  Prosecuted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract regarding phantom stock rights; obtained favorable settlement.

Correa v. City of Seattle.  Defended City against retaliation and employment discrimination claims; obtained dismissal of all claims by summary judgment.

Straitshot Communications v. Telekenex, Inc., et al.  Prosecuted corporation’s claims for trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference, Consumer Protection Act violations, and breach of employment agreements and of duty of loyalty; obtained $6.5 million judgment at jury trial.

Day v. State of Washington.  Defended sexual harassment and gender discrimination claims against State of Washington; obtained favorable settlement.

Martin v. Villa Academy.  Prosecuted age discrimination claims under Washington Law Against Discrimination; defeated motions for summary judgment and then obtained favorable settlement.

Criss v. Sandwich SC, LLC, et al.  Defended franchisee against employee claims alleging wrongful termination; developed potential counterclaims under anti-SLAPP statute and then obtained complete dismissal with prejudice of all claims.

Maier v. Sesame Communications Inc.  Prosecuted claims for breach of employment agreement, wage and hour law violations, and tortious interference with exercise of stock options arising from termination of company founder and CEO’s employment; obtained favorable settlement.

Burkes Hartsfield v. Seattle City Light, et al.  Defended city employee against Title VII claims; obtained favorable settlement.

Valdespino, et al. v. American Seafoods Corp.  Prosecuted race and ethnicity discrimination claims under Title VII and Washington Law Against Discrimination; obtained favorable settlement.