Rick also counsels clients who wish to avoid litigation. Rick counsels employers through conflicts and conducts training seminars for H.R. personnel and diversity training programs for supervisors and other management personnel. He also counsels individuals faced with employment problems or contemplating employment agreements.
Representative Experience
Rick has successfully represented both employers and employees in courts throughout the state of Washington. He has taken numerous cases to trial, both jury and nonjury, and has obtained verdicts for both defendants and plaintiffs. Rick believes his experience on both sides of employment disputes has given him a more thorough understanding of the dynamics of employment litigation and enabled him to achieve more positive results in an efficient manner. Selected reported appellate cases include:
- Lords v. Northern Automotive, 75 Wn. App. 589, 881 P.2d 256 (1994). Rick represented the defendant employer Northern Automotive Corporation, both in the two-week jury trial and on appeal, in this employment discrimination case. Plaintiff Mr. Lords, a store manager discharged in a reduction-in-force, sought damages for age discrimination, handicap discrimination, negligent infliction of emotional distress, outrage, and breach of express and implied contract. The outrage and breach of contract claims were dismissed on summary judgment. At trial, the jury entered a verdict in favor of the employer on the age discrimination claim, and in favor of the plaintiff on the handicap discrimination claim and for negligent infliction of emotional distress. The appellate court affirmed the summary judgments, reversed the judgment for plaintiff on negligent infliction of emotional distress and the award of emotional distress damages, but affirmed the judgment for handicap discrimination, holding that the trial court's evidentiary error was harmless.
- Hodge v. Development Services, 65 Wn. App. 576, 828 P.2d 1175 (1992). Rick represented the defendant employer in this successful appeal applying contract principles to CR 68 offers of judgment and establishing that attorneys' fees awarded under the Washington Law Against Discrimination are included in costs as described in an offer of judgment.
- Venables v. Seattle-First Nat'l Bank, 60 Wn. App. 941, 808 P.2d 769 (1991). Successfully defended the defendant bank's allocation of its trustee fees and costs to principal and income pursuant to statute and obtained an award of attorneys' fees in favor of the bank.
Selected cases of interest:
- Weaver v. KPLZ, Inc., et al., King County Superior Court, No. 93-2-31639-9. Rick represented the plaintiff employee in a disability discrimination action against radio stations KPLZ and KVI. Ms. Weaver suffered from bi-polar disorder (manic depression), a mental disability. After a six-week jury trial, succeeded in obtaining a judgment of approximately $1.3 million.
- Senn v. Snohomish County, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, No. C96-1815C. Rick represented the plaintiff employee in a disability discrimination action against his employer, Snohomish County. Mr. Senn suffered from Crohn's disease, a disability of the digestive tract. Obtained a settlement (amount confidential) shortly prior to trial.
Publications and Speaking Engagements
Rick speaks regularly on disability discrimination, sexual harassment and other employment issues.
- Speaker, Ryan Swanson's annual employment law seminar
- Contributor, Washington Lawyers Practice Manual, Employment Discrimination
- Contributor, Puget Sound Auto Dealers Association Dealer Magazine
Honors and Awards
Professional and Community Activities
- Member, Labor and Employment Law Section of the King County Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Arbitrator, King County Arbitration
Background
Rick has many years of trial experience, so when a client needs a tough litigator, he can fulfill that role. He has represented clients in adversary proceedings before the federal EEOC, the Washington State Human Rights Commission, the Seattle Office for Human Rights and the Human Rights Commissions of several Washington counties.
Rick also has practiced in state trial and appellate courts, as well as federal district courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Rick is a devoted baseball fan (Go Mariners!) and an avid fitness buff, including weight training and cycling.