Amicus Briefs

WELA Fights Against Unconstitutional Use of WLAD Religious Exemption

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...

Decision: Karstetter v. King County Corrections Guild

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...

Decision: Taylor v. BNSF Railroad

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...

closeup of gavel

WELA Alert: Art School Employees Entitled to Trial on Qui Tam Claims

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Relators, former admissions representatives for Academy of Art University, an art school in San Francisco, alleged that the school violated an incentive compensation ban included in its program participation agreement with the Department of Education, through which it qualified for federal funding in the form of federal financial aid to its students...

WELA Amicus Filed: Martin v. Gonzaga University

Friday, May 11, 2018, WELA filed an amicus brief in?Martin v. Gonzaga University.? In this case?Plaintiff claimed that he was terminated from employment because he reported safety violations in the University gymnasium in violation of public policy. Summary judgment was granted for the University and the Plaintiff appealed. The Court of Appeals affirmed and the Supreme Court granted review. ? WELA...

WELA Amicus: Bailey v. Alpha Technologies, Inc.

WELA filed an amicus brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in this case on Friday April 27, urging the court to reverse and/or certify two legal issues to the Washington Supreme Court.? The plaintiff, a buyer for a group of privately-held companies, was fired after raising concerns about internal pricing that she had been told could raise...

Amicus filed in Billings v. Town of Steilacoom

WELA Amicus filed in?Billings v. Town of Steilacoom, 2 Wn.App. 2d 1, 408 P.3d 1123 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). ? Plaintiff was a law enforcement officer and alleged he was terminated in violation of First Amendment, a clear mandate of public policy (pursuing union activities), and the Washington Law Against Discrimination.? The trial court dismissed his claims on summary judgment holding...

WELA Files Amicus Brief in Public Policy Case

Martin v. Gonzaga University, ___ Wn.App.__, 402 P. 3d 294 (2017) Plaintiff alleged he was terminated from employment in violation of a clear mandate of public policy.? The Plaintiff claimed that the was terminated for complaining about a safety violation in the school gymnasium. The employer claimed it was motivated by insubordination and not the alleged protected activity. The case...

WELA Amicus Filed in Wage and Hour Case

WELA Amicus brief filed Washington State Supreme Court Hill v. Garda CL Northwest, Inc., 198 Wn.App. 326, 394 P. 3d 390 (2017) Plaintiffs in a class action?were awarded damages for failure to provide meal and rest breaks, liquidated damages and prejudgment interest. The case addresses the standard of determining a willful violation of meal and rest break regulations and whether prejudgment interest...

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