Verdicts, Settlements, and Decisions
Autumn St. George v. Sequim School District
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...
Troy Coachman v Seattle Auto Management Inc (d/b/a Mercedes Benz of Seattle)
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...
Johnson v. Albertsons, LLC -cv-001678-RAJ (WDW March 2020)
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...
Verdict: Zachrisson & Lincoln v. Port of Seattle – $16,097,342
Court: King County Superior Court Judge: Catherine Shaffer Date of Settlement or Verdict:? November 30, 2017 Total Amount of Judgment or Settlement: $16,097,342 jury verdict. High/Low Settlement: $8,000,000. Jury verdicts:?Zachrisson - Economic Damages: $153,543. Non-Economic Damages: $7,046,700; Lincoln - Economic Damages: $251,030. Non-Economic Damages: $8,646,069. Basic Facts and Claims: Whistleblower retaliation claim brought by two Seatac Airport employees who refused to extend restaurant leases violating...
Verdict: Ellis trustee on behalf of Corliss v. Larson Automotive
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of WA at Tacoma Case No: 3:16-cv-05354RBL Judge: Hon. Judge Robert Leighton Hon. William Downing (ret'd) as JAMS mediator - mediation failed maximum offer was $30,000. Date Filed: 05/12/2016 Date of Verdict: 03/08/2018 Total Amount of Judgment: Jury Verdict $800,000; attorney fees and costs petition pending. Basic Facts and Claims: Plaintiff Gregory Corliss, worked as a boat...
Settlement: Doss vs Dept. of Social and Health Services et. al.
Court: Pierce County Superior Court Case No. 16-2-06645-9 Mediator: Nancy Maisano This matter was set to go to trial in January, 2018 before the Hon. Susan K. Serko Date Filed: 03/30/16 Date of Settlement: 11/22/2017 Total Amount of Settlement: The case was settled for $450,000.00 inclusive of all attorney fees and costs. Basic Facts and Claims: Plaintiff alleged Western State Hospital, harassed her on the basis...
Verdict: Eric Kitazi v. Sellen Construction Company Inc.
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of WA at Seattle Judge: Hon. Judge Marsha J. Pechman Date Filed: 10/21/16 Date of Settlement or Verdict: 12/15/2017 Total Amount of Judgment or Settlement: $674,292.54 Basic Facts and Claims: Plaintiff was born and raised in Kenya and immigrated to USA in 1999. Allegations: during his employment he was harassed, discriminated against on the basis...
Jennifer Tyler v. Chelan County Sheriff’s Office
Court: Douglas County Superior Court Judge: Judge Hotchkiss Date Filed: December 30, 2013 Date of Settlement or Verdict: March 7, 2018 Total Amount of Judgment or Settlement: $6,000 for economic damages and $500,000 for non-economic damages Basic Facts and Claims: Tyler experienced retaliation from other deputies at Chelan County Sheriff's Office after she testified against her former Sheriff in OK for sexual assault, and...
9th Circuit Upholds $1.25M Verdict for Whistleblower
On appeal a three-member panel of judges on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a $1.25M jury verdict against BNSF awarded to ex-employee who alleged he was retaliated against and terminated for reporting safety violations to federal regulators.? Read more about the result of this case litigated by a WELA member here and here.
Michael Elliott v. BNSF Railway Company
Court: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judges: J. Paez, Fisher, Gould Date of Decision: 03/02/18 Underlying verdict affirmed: $1,250,000 Basic Facts and Claims: Whistleblower retaliation claim under the Federal Rail Safety Act. Plaintiff alleged that BNSF management conspired to manufacture false charges against Elliott to dismiss him just 33 days after it was fined by the Federal Gov't for a safety issue Elliott...