Employment

• We defended a youth softball association against charges that a volunteer coach had sexually abused a minor female, who was also a team member.  Together, the coach and the minor had fled Oregon, and lived together and worked for several months under fictitious names in Tennessee until they were discovered.  The intense, national media and television coverage surrounding the flight and criminal prosecution had a pour-over effect.  The civil case involved whether the local association, and its parent organization, was vicariously liable for the coach's acts, and also whether the minor plaintiff had consented to the sexual activity.  This matter resolved on a confidential basis in mediation, prior to argument on our motions for summary judgment.
• We defended a Washington employer charged with vicarious liability in connection with several female employees' alleged sexual harassment of a male co-worker.  The women had allegedly placed pictures and objects in the plaintiff's cubicle, showing that plaintiff had participated in extracurricular activities during a conference held in Las Vegas. The case involved whether the male plaintiff was emotionally injured and damaged by the depiction, and the matter was resolved in mediation, following discovery of plaintiff's employment and medical history.
• We represented a female Executive Secretary to a local union in a whistleblower action. Our client observed the local’s Secretary and Business Manager misappropriate members’ union dues that were paid in cash and reported that conduct to federal authorities. The International union became involved and our client was discharged.  The unions published bulletins, suggesting our client had exaggerated and they said that she had acted in a sexually inappropriate manner. We filed suit alleging wrongful discharge in violation of the whistleblower statute. Substantial motions practice ensued regarding whether federal labor law preempted state employment law, and the extent of an international union’s liability for the acts of its local union. The defendants refused to mediate and the matter proceeded to trial that lasted three weeks. The jury returned a verdict in favor of our client in the amount of one million three hundred ninety thousand dollars, ($1.39m), including punitive damages, and the court awarded substantial attorney fees.
• We represented a real estate broker who was employed by a property tax appeals company. The company targeted mainly commercial enterprises, for which it appealed property tax valuations and shared any reductions obtained with those enterprises. Our client lodged a complaint with the Real Estate Commission, contending that the employer was allowing its out-of-state, non-licensed agents to sell the appeal services under her license, but without her consent. The employer and its corporate attorney criticized the Commission’s report of findings and constructively discharged our client from employment. The case proceeded to trial that lasted two weeks.  Following closing argument, the employer initiated settlement discussions with the trial judge and the case settled for one million two hundred fifty thousand dollars, ($1.25m).