Practice Area(s)

Education
  • Willamette University College of Law (J.D., with special recognition conferred at graduation, 1985)
  • The Colorado College (B.A., 1981)

Admitted to Practice
  • Washington

 

Susan has a busy and varied litigation practice. About half of her practice involves employment law. This work includes reviewing employment policies and manuals, as well as defending employers against charges of discrimination, wrongful termination, failure to pay for overtime and other employment-related wrongdoing. The rest of Susan’s practice involves commercial cases such as contract breach disputes, real estate foreclosures and construction defect litigation.

Susan has also been representing bank clients in a variety of cases, including actions on guaranty, agreements, foreclosures and receivership actions. She assisted a national bank client in obtaining judgments of over $11 million, and is currently overseeing a receivership that will result in full recovery of the Bank’s loan.

Publications and Speaking Engagements
  • Speaker, Ryan Swanson's annual employment law seminar
  • Speaker, "Recent Developments in ADA Law" sponsored by National Business Institute
Honors and Awards
Representative Experience

For more than a decade, Susan has done legal work for Gene Juarez Salons including all of their employment matters. She also regularly represents national investment companies that buy out the long-term income streams Washington State lottery winners receive when they win a substantial prize. Recently, Susan represented a professional female snowboarder in a commission dispute with a manufacturer.

Background

Susan (born Colorado Springs, Colorado) has been in practice since 1985 and joined Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland in 1993.