If you have a legal issue that fits within any of the following categories, call us immediately to set up a free initial consultation. If you have a claim under a practice area not listed, we will be happy to refer you to one of our associated practitioners who we know to adhere to our standards of professionalism, diligence and ethical business practices.

Business & Commercial Matters
We advise small- to medium-sized business in all business matters including formation, employment matters, organizational development, contract drafting, interpretation and formation, and disposition of the business. We also work in all areas of Consumer Protection issues, Contract Defense, and consumer plaintiff suits.

Civil Rights
Constitutional scholarship is a hallmark of our practice. Our attorneys constantly study and revisit constitutional issues in our continuing effort to remain at the forefront of constitutional scholarship. We largely attribute our successful pursuit and/or dispositions of severe workplace discrimination claims, racial profiling claims, landlord/tenant discrimination and other forms of race, sex and national-origin claims to this emphasis.

Domestic Violence & DUI
Domestic violence or DUI charges can happen to the best of us. If you or a family member is charged with a crime, it is essential to obtain representation as soon as possible. During a time of extreme stress, it is difficult to make decisions than have life-long consequences. Marianne Meeker has worked within the justice system for over twenty years as both a social worker and attorney. She offers a confidential consultation to criminal defendants and to their families when appropriate. She will give a truthful and thoughtful analysis of the possible defenses available and will offer reasonable fees, and in some cases, payment plans. Marianne also has a great deal of experience defending juveniles accused of various offenses. Juvenile court is structured quite differently from that of the adult superior court and constitutional protections are more limited. Parents are often confused about the options and possible consequences that their children may face. Marianne Meeker can spend the necessary time explaining this process to parents who may be making the decision about whether to hire an attorney or to allow a public defender (available to juveniles regardless of parents’ income) to handle their child’s defense. In any criminal case, no matter how minor, it is crucial to understand the long term effects of such charges or convictions and to make informed decisions. Should such an issue arise in your family, please contact her for thoughtful and confidential advice.

Personal Injury
Defense and Plaintiff Cases — We prosecute and defend all types of Personal Injury cases, including car accidents, slip and falls, assaults, workplace injuries, and any other type of claim on an injury which results from someone else's wrongful action. We pride ourselves on our Client-oriented approach, and are committed to keeping our Clients fully updated and as aware of what is going on with their cases as we are. We have successfully settled every type of PI claim we have ever undertaken. Our experienced paralegal and insurance support staff give us the edge we need when negotiating PI claims. See the article on PI claims in Washington State for more information.

Adler v. Fred Lind Manor - Washington Supreme Court, 153 Wn.2d. 331, 103 P.3d 773 (2004)

Washington’s bellwether case on unconscionable arbitration agreements. In this case, the our state Supreme Court held that arbitration contracts that are entered into where the employer required the employee to sign the agreement as a condition of employment, are unconscionable and unenforceable as to terms that substantially or unreasonably limit an employees right to sue for discrimination by shortening limitations periods or by waiving rights that are provided by state or federal statutes. This case was settled favorably for our client after the decision was released.

Seto v. American Elevator - Washington State Supreme Court, 159 Wn.2d. 767, 157 P.3d 189 (2007)

Successful appeal to the Washington Supreme Court, clarifying a previously misinterpreted rule that had resulted in severe injustice to many citizens of this state - the denial of their right to a jury trial.  Seto v. American Elevator is the first case in Washington to recognize that the time for filing a request for a trial de novo after a mandatory arbitration proceeding does not start to run until the arbitrator actually serves the parties to the arbitration with the arbitration award.  Before this seminal case, courts have ruled that parties who want a jury trial may have less time to file their request than the 20 days specified in the Rules for Mandatory Arbitration, and have denied their right to trial as a result.  This case guarantees litigants the right to the full 20 days to request a trial de novo after they are formally served with the arbitration decision.

Hawthorn Square v. Bloss - Division I Washington Court of Appeals, Docket No. 53077-1-I

Successfully established that a party cannot defend using waiver, estoppel or laches defenses when the other party has not manifested an intent to waive their claims, and the defending party has not relied to their detriment on the actions of the plaintiff or counterclaim defendant.

Grant v. Gonzales - Division II Court of Appeals, Docket No. 33246-9-II

Succesfully overturning a trial court’s order compelling arbitration where a lawyer sued her former client to collect unreasonable fees and costs after the lawyer lost the case in trial. The client wished to pursue counterclaims against the lawyer for malpractice and breach of fiduciary duties in a court of law.  Division II ruled that the lawyer had waived her right to compel arbitration (which was contractually agreed to in her fee agreement) when she filed a lawsuit against her former client.

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