Recent News

Penalty Clauses In Contracts- Beware

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Andrew M. McKenzie | 3/1/2023
Many people assume that every clause in a contract is enforceable, so long as it was agreed to.  But that is not true, and parties who make that assumption without further analysis do so at their peril. Typical contract scenarios could include the following: Scenario A:  A and B enter into a contract that A… Read More

Is Your Lien Invalid?

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Dexter N. Bradford | 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

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Dexter N. Bradford | 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

Business Divorce Litigation: A Brief Overview

Washington State Business Law and Litigation Lawyer J Patrick Diener | 11/30/2022
The adage “nothing is forever” applies readily to all manner of relationships, and business partnerships are no exception. The term “business divorce” fits particularly well when referring to a breakup of business partners because the emotions one may experience during such an event are often similar to those felt during a marital dissolution, including disappointment,… Read More

Is there a remedy for those defending against frivolous litigation?

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Babak Shamsi | 11/1/2022
While litigation can provide individuals and entities with the necessary mechanism to pursue valid and well-founded claims, some parties, unfortunately, use litigation to intimidate and frustrate others. Sometimes, litigants or their attorneys will use the court system towards these less honorable ends despite lacking a sound basis for their lawsuits. In these cases, the opposing… Read More

Equitable Tolling Can Extend The Statute Of Limitations, But Be Careful

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Andrew M. McKenzie | 10/3/2022
Last month, I discussed how the discovery rule can give a plaintiff extra time to file a claim within the applicable statute of limitations.  In this blog post, I discuss a related topic known as “equitable tolling”. Statutes of limitations bar plaintiffs from bringing claims after too much time has elapsed since the cause of… Read More

Recent Changes to Washington’s Domestic Violence Laws

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Kelsey L. Affronte | 9/28/2022
The purpose of our state's domestic violence laws is to provide enhanced protection to victims of this type of offense while sending a strong message to abusers that this behavior is not tolerated. Domestic violence relationships are between "intimate partners" (i.e. boyfriend/girlfriend, partners with children in common, etc.) or even "family or household members" (i.e.… Read More

Has The Statute Of Limitations Expired On My Claim?  Consider The Discovery Rule

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Andrew M. McKenzie | 9/13/2022
Most people have heard of something called a statute of limitations.  Generally speaking, a statute of limitations is a law which specifies a period of time within which a claim may be brought, before it becomes time barred.  There is no one statute of limitations for all possible claims.  Rather, each specific claim is governed… Read More