Two for Two
February 11, 2026
Jeff James secured a prior victory by convincing a Superior Court judge to uphold the prior decision rendered by the Civil Service Commission in favor of our
Jeff James secured a prior victory by convincing a Superior Court judge to uphold the prior decision rendered by the Civil Service Commission in favor of our
Jeff James finished the year strong, securing summary judgment for a healthcare client at the end of 2025. The plaintiff alleged failure to accommodate and retaliation for
SBJ attorneys continue to be recognized for their skill and expertise in employment and labor law, once again being named as Super Lawyers and among the Best
Jeff James and Monica Ghosh obtained summary judgment on behalf of a public entity that had terminated a disruptive employee during her probationary period. The plaintiff, acting
Jeff James and Monica Ghosh recently received good news times two from the EEOC. The EEOC issued notice that it was dropping two pending investigations against SBJ
Jeff James and Monica Ghosh succeeded in convincing the United States District Court, and then the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, to dismiss the claims of a
Following a hotly contested public hearing, Jeff James prevailed on behalf of a public entity before the Civil Service Commission. The employer had terminated a law enforcement
Jeff James and Julian Cano succeeded in getting dismissed a putative class action before it got off the ground. The plaintiff sued her former employer, a public
Jeff James and Monica Ghosh teamed up to defeat a class action brought against our client before the United States Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration
Jeff James and Amanda Masters recently locked in a client’s class action dismissal by the Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs/appellants had petitioned the Washington State Supreme Court
Once again, SBJ attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for their skill and expertise in employment and labor law. BEST LAWYERS
Jeff James and Jessica Cox received good news – twice – from Division III of the Washington Court of Appeals in a class action brought by former
Washington employers are facing increased employment class actions involving statutory penalties pursuant to laws passed in the first half of this decade or due to recent major verdicts. […]
The new year brings significant updates to Washington State’s workplace laws, expanding protections and benefits for employees. Minimum wages are rising, the Domestic Violence Leave Act now includes protections for victims of hate crimes, and certain industries must implement additional safeguards for workers who perform jobs in isolation. […]
The epic saga that has arisen from President Trump’s firing of National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member Gwynne Wilcox back in January of 2025 turned another chapter when on December 5, 2025, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the Administration’s position that it could remove Ms. Wilcox from the Board. […]
Washington employers should take note of significant changes to the State’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law (PFML) starting in 2026. The legislative amendments to RCW 50A, passed in April 2025, go into effect January 1, 2026. […]
Washington’s Supreme Court recently issued its ruling on the scope of the pay transparency provision of the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“EPOA”), Ch. 49.58 RCW. The law requires employers disclose wage scales, salary ranges, and benefits information in all job listings. […]
On May 20, 2025, Senate Bill 5291 was signed into law and introduced significant amendments to Washington State’s WA Cares Fund. The amendments make it easier for employees to qualify for coverage, create additional insurance frameworks, and expand participation classes. […]
As we head into fall, Washington healthcare employers should begin preparing for new meal and rest break waiver requirements that go into effect January 1, 2026. […]
The debate over AI and its effects on the workforce as we know it took a turn for the dramatic in July when Ford CEO Jim Farley made headlines for proclaiming “half” of all white-collar workers would be replaced by AI in the United States. […]
Effective July 2025, 2026, and 2027, new Washington State laws and amendments will impact employers at every stage of the employment process. […]
The Trump Administration has continued to legislate via Executive Order. In recent months, these Orders have had the effect of upending some federal employment policies that have been in effect for half a century. This note explores one of those changes: the President’s direction that all federal agencies eliminate use of disparate impact theory and its implications for employers. […]
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument on February 26, 2025, in a case that will decide whether “majority group” plaintiffs must offer additional evidence of “background circumstances” to overcome step one (membership in a protected class) of the familiar McDonnell Douglas framework at summary judgment. […]
Since January 1, 2018, employers in Washington State have been required to provide non-exempt employees with paid sick leave under Washington’s Paid Sick Leave law. Legislation passed in 2024 expands leave protections under the law, including the definition of “family members” for whom employees may use paid sick leave hours to provide care. […]