The Legislature provided that all part-time faculty were eligible for employee benefits based on hours worked ("in proportion to the individual's teaching commitment").  The State did not follow this statute, however.  The colleges did not award proportionate sick leave.

The class was certified by King County Superior Court Judge Averil Rothrock.  Judge Rothrock found that a class action was "the best way" to proceed.  Judge Marshall Ferguson then granted partial summary judgment on liability, agreeing with plaintiffs that the State had not provided proportionate sick leave as required by state law, and striking the State's collective bargaining agreement defense.

Judge LeRoy McCullough later ruled on a motion to determine the statute of limitations that "class members are entitled to recoup sick leave back to the effective date of the 2006 amendment to RCW 28B.50.4893 or the start of their employment, whichever is later."

Recently, Judge McCullough granted plaintiffs' motion to establish a formula to calculate losses for class members.  Judge McCullough also ordered exemplary damages (double damages), finding that the State willfully withheld sick leave wages from part-time community and technical college academic employees.

Class counsel are compiling and analyzing the data necessary to determine individual class member losses.

This webpage will be updated with information as the case progresses.  Please check back periodically for updates.