Recent News

Safeguarding Your Business: Unfair Competition and Tortious Interference

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 4/9/2024
Introduction In today’s competitive business environment, allegations of unfair competition and tortious interference are not uncommon. This post will provide an overview of these legal concepts and offer strategies to shield your business from such claims. Unfair Competition: An Overview Unfair competition encompasses several types of business conduct that can harm another business or mislead… Read More

The Escalator Principle: Military Employee Rights When Returning from Leave

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 3/27/2024
Introduction The escalator principle is a concept that applies to the employment and reemployment rights of uniformed service members who take a leave of absence from their civilian jobs to perform military duty. The principle is based on the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), a federal law that protects service members from… Read More

Every Month Domestic Violence Survivors Should be Recognized

Co-Authored by Mackenzie Bretz and Kelsey Affronte | 11/29/2023
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, however at Beresford Booth we recognize the importance of speaking out and advocating for domestic violence survivors every month. While the holidays are joyous occasions for many, it is a time of increased domestic violence. This is attributed to increased stress surrounding finances or planning, an increased likelihood… Read More

When is it Okay to Withhold Employees’ Wages in Washington State?

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 11/8/2023
As an employer in Washington State, you may wonder if you can withhold or deduct any amount from your employees’ wages for various reasons. For example, you may want to recover the cost of damaged equipment, a cash shortage, or a loan repayment. However, before you do so, you should be aware of the legal… Read More

Employee or Independent Contractor? How to Classify Your Workers Correctly

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 10/27/2023
If you are an employer who hires workers to perform services for your business, you need to know how to classify them correctly as either employees or independent contractors. This is not just a matter of preference or convenience, but a legal obligation that can have serious consequences if you get it wrong. The difference… Read More

What Happens If I Die Without a Will?

The Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 5/24/2023
We’ve all seen shows or movies with a dramatic reading of the Will where the family gathers around and are shocked to find out that someone has been disinherited. When someone who has executed a Will passes away, their assets are distributed as dictated in their Will. The Will could leave everything to Neighbor Bob,… Read More

Can I still fire an employee for good cause even if they report harassment at work?

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 5/4/2023
To be clear, it is considered retaliation if an employer fires someone because they complained to HR or anyone else about harassment. Retaliation is a claim that an employee can bring against their employer when they have suffered negative consequences at work in retaliation of the employee's protected action. In order to establish a retaliation… Read More

Is Your Lien Invalid?

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 1/31/2023
Subcontractors should be aware that liens for labor and materials or equipment may not be enforced without prelien notice. When contractors hire subcontractors to work on a job, the law generally requires that the sub-contractor must give a notice to owner. The notice to owner is a statutorily required document that notifies the property owner… Read More

Washington State’s Pay Transparency Law

the Lawyers at Beresford Booth | 12/20/2022
Washington's Pay Transparency Law will take effect January 1, 2023. Signed by Governor Jay Inslee, SB 5761 will require employers with 15 or more employees to include in job postings (1) wage scale or salary range, (2) general description of benefits, and (3) any additional compensation. This information must also be provided to employees receiving… Read More