Washington Employment Lawyers Association
106 FOLLOWERS
WELA's mission is to enforce and advance employee rights, in recognition that employment with dignity and fairness is fundamental to the quality of life. We do this by promoting and increasing public awareness of the rights of individual employees; enhancing the quality of legal representation of employees; advocating for employee rights before courts and legislative bodies.
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
2y ago
WELA filed an Amicus Brief in Matthew S. Woods v. Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission on behalf of the plaintiff, an attorney whose application to work at the Seattle Union Gospel Mission was rejected because he is bisexual. The Gospel Mission claimed that they could reject applicants due to their sexuality under a religious exemption within the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). WELA’s brief was written by Mr. Jesse Wing and Mr. Jeffrey L. Needle.
The WLAD’s Religious Exemption
The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination of anyone based on any feature or ch ..read more
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
2y ago
To access this post, you must purchase 5-10 Years of Practice, Student, WELA Sustaining Members Circle, Non-profit/Government, Fewer than 5 Years of Practice, More Than 10 Years of Practice or Legal Assistant /Paralegal ..read more
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
2y ago
WELA recently filed an Amicus Brief in Matthew S. Woods v. Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission on behalf of the plaintiff, an attorney whose application to work at the Seattle Union Gospel Mission was rejected because he is bisexual. The Gospel Mission claimed that they could reject applicants due to their sexuality under a religious exemption within the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). WELA’s brief was written by Mr. Jesse Wing and Mr. Jeffrey L. Needle.
The WLAD’s Religious Exemption
The Washington Law Against Discrimination prohibits discrimination of anyone based on any feature or ..read more
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
4y ago
Court: USDC Western District of Washington at Tacoma
Judge: Hon. Robert J. Bryan; Margo T. Keller – failed first mediation; Hon. Paris Kallas (Ret.) – successful second mediation, settled at the 11th hour.
Date Filed: 05/09/2018
Date of Settlement: 02/22/2019
Total Amount of Judgment or Settlement: $850,000
Basic Facts and Claims: Plaintiff Autumn St. George was a middle school P.E. teacher in the Sequim School District. Autumn was also the Athletic Director and girls basketball coach among other roles. When Autumn complained about being targeted by coworkers and accused of being a lesbian the ..read more
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
4y ago
Court: US District Court Western District of Washington
Judge: Hon. Ricardo Martinez
Date Filed: 02/08/2017
Date of Settlement or Verdict: 10/11/2018
Total Amount of Judgment or Settlement: $5,862,700
Basic Facts and Claims: Mr. Coachman was a 14-year employee with Mercedes Benz. He directed the finance department. He had a laryngectomy due to throat cancer, which involved the complete removal of his vocal cords. Following his surgery, Mr. Coachman spoke using a voice prosthesis. His medical team released him to return to work. The owner feared customers would be uncomfortable so refused to re ..read more
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
4y ago
Court: United States District Court – Western District of Washington – Seattle
Judge: Judge Richard Jones
Date Filed: 10/22/2018
Date of Settlement or Verdict: Jury Verdict 03/06/2020
Total Amount of Judgment or Settlement: $12,625,000
Basic Facts and Claims: Plaintiff was employed for 15 years as a District Manager with responsibility for 20 stores. She complained repeatedly to Human Resources and upper manages about gender discrimination that she experienced and experienced by others. In retaliation senior management increased her sales projections beyond the recommendation by Albertsons’ Fi ..read more
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
5y ago
The Washington State Supreme Court issued a decision in Karstetter v. King County Correction Guild on Friday July 18, 2019 protecting the right of in-house counsel to bring breach of contract claims and wrongful discharge claims. The decision also extends protected activity to those who assist in whistleblower investigations, and reinforces the limited application of the Peritt model.
The King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (“the Guild”) and the Law Office of Jared Karstetter entered into an employment contract in 2011. The contract had a term of five years and required th ..read more
Washington Employment Lawyers Association
5y ago
The Washington Supreme Court held on July 11, 2019 in Taylor v. BNSF Railroad Holdings Inc., in answer to a certified question from the Ninth Circuit, that obesity always qualifies as an impairment under the Washington Law against Discrimination (“WLAD”). Judge Robart had dismissed the case because Taylor could not prove either his obesity was caused by an independent physiological condition or disorder, or that BNSF perceived his obesity as having such a cause.
The Justices unanimously rejected the independent physiological cause requirement, which most federal courts have imposed under the ..read more