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STOBAUGH & STRONG
Previous Cases
Here you can find information about some of our previous cases. The results obtained in any case depend upon the specifics of that case. Every case is different. Past results are not a guarantee that you will have similar results in your case. The cases described here illustrate the types of cases we have handled and the breadth of legal expertise we hold.
Cases are listed in reverse order (i.e. those filed most recently are on top). Want to learn more about a case? Click the "Read More" button to access a designated case page.
Kevin Dolan was a public defender paid through a nonprofit corporation to perform indigent legal defense services for King County. He and others in his situation are entitled to membership and benefits in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), but King County failed to report him and others the the Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) and failed to make retirement contributions to DRS. The Washington Supreme Court ruled in favor of the King County public defenders and held they are entitled to pensions.
This class action was brought by state employees who worked at least half-time on non-standard work schedules, but who did not receive health insurance. The class consisted mainly of employees that the HCA categorized as "career seasonal" or "nonpermanent" employees. The Superior Court held that class members were entitled to receive state-paid health insurance. Information regarding the settlement can be found on the case page by following the "Read More" button to the left.
Storti v. University of Washington
Backpay Owed
to University Professors
This lawsuit was filed to obtain overdue 2% merit pay raises on behalf of University faculty members who worked in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 academic years, and who were not found unmeritorious in their service in the 2001-02 academic year. The University's contract with faculty members in the University Handbook required the university to provide a 2% merit-based raise at the beginning of the 2002-03 academic year. The University breached the contract by not paying the 2% raise in 2002-03. In October 2005, Superior Court Judge Mary Yu granted Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment, ruling that the UW had a mandatory duty to provide the faculty a 2% minimum annual raise. A copy of the Order can be found on the case page.
Mader v. Health Care Authority
Community College
Summer Quarter Benefits
This is the first portion of the Mader action, brough on behalf of part-time community college instructors who worked continuously for many years but were denied health care benefits in the summer even though full-time instructors, who did not work in the summer, received health care benefits. The Supreme Court ruled that HCA must examine the instructors' work situations, not the form of their contracts, in determining eligibility for summer health benefits. After remand in 2004, the Court approved $11 million to compensate instructors for past summers when they should have received health insurance.
The Merritt class-action case was brought to obtain retirement service credit for King County Paramedic trainers, who did not receive retirement service credit prior to December 31, 2003 while paramedic trainees. The parties entered into a settlement agreement, available for public access under the "Case Documents" section of the case page.
Mader v. State of Washington, et al.
Retirement Benefits for Part-Time Community College Instructors
This is the second portion of the Mader action, brought on behalf of part-time community college instructors who worked half-time or more, continuously for many years but were denied retirement benefits because their work hours were mischaracterized to give the appearance of working below half-time. This case settled in 2002 for over $12 million, with instructors receiving service credit retroactive to 1991, subject to other requirements. This settlement agreement can be found in "Case Documents" section of the case page.
Vizcaino v. Microsoft
Misclassification of
"Independent Contractors"
In 1992 we filed suit on behalf of several common-law Microsoft employees who were mislabeled as "independent contractors," "freelancers" (another name for independent contractor), and/or employees of "staffing" firms. The case was certified as a class action in 1993. The district court dismissed the case in 1994. In 1996 and again in 1997 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the class was entitled to participate in Microsoft's employee stock purchase plan. On remand in 1998, the district court reduced the class to a tiny sliver of its original size. On May 12, 1999, the Ninth Circuit restored the original class by granting a writ of mandamus. The parties announced a $97 million settlement on December 12, 2000. In addition, as part of the settlement Microsoft hired roughly 3,000 class members as regular employees with full employee benefits, which the Court valued at an additional $101 million. The Settlement Agreement was approved by the Court in orders dated March 21, 2001 (overall settlement) and April 16, 2001 (class counsel's fees).
Scannell v. City of Seattle
The First
"Temporary" Employee Case
This class action was brought against the City of Seattle by "intermittent" employees who were denied pension, vacation and other benefits. The case settled in 1989 for approximately $10 million, including vacation and pension benefits. (The Scannell settlement agreement was the subject of another class action, which the parties settled. See Glaser v. City of Seattle.)
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