Who Is The Best L&I Lawyer In Washington State? (2024)

At Emery | Reddy, PLLC, , paralegals, and staff work closely with each client to develop sophisticated and individualized legal strategies designed to secure the best possible outcome for the employee. The firm’s expertise is in maximizing compensation and injury awards for each client. In our view, this commitment to personal attention is the key to producing benchmark results.

Emery | Reddy L&I attorneys consistently exceed expectations by combining intelligence, experience, creativity, and dedication with the greatest possible value. The firm was built on delivering high-quality legal services. Year after year, firm clients, the legal industry, and the awards community have honored the L&I lawyers at Emery | Reddy with top awards  for their dedication and commitment to delivering results for every client.

Who Is The Best L&I Lawyer In Washington State? (1)

What Sets Our L&I Workers’ Comp Law Firm Apart

Emery | Reddy is the only law firm in Washington State that is equipped to provide comprehensive representation on your case from every angle. A lot of workers are terminated after an injury—this is disability discrimination. Some people learn after talking to lawyers that their employment rights have been violated, and sometimes for years. We analyze your entire claim for a range of violations including violations of Washington State’s Silenced No More Act, statutory protections against non-competes, protections against disability discrimination, wage and hour violations, and benefits violations. There are some great companies who treat people well, but there are many who violate their workers’ rights. If your rights have been violated, we’ll figure out how, and we’ll protect you.

What Makes The Best L&I Attorney?

The L&I attorneys at Emery | Reddy are passionate about helping workers with L&I claims and employment law issues. We Help Workers®: it’s our motto and what drives us every day.

We know how L&I and big companies think, and we understand the tactics they use. Our Seattle L&I attorneys use that knowledge coupled with over two decades of experience to help our clients get access to the L&I benefits to which they are legally entitled and hold employers accountable when they break the law.

With our law office location in Seattle, we serve communities throughout the region, including Vancouver, Bellevue, Everett, Olympia, Shoreline, Spokane, and Tacoma. If you’re struggling with an L&I claim, injury, or legal issue at work, please call us and see howEmery | Reddycan help you today.

Ask around — our reputation speaks for itself. Learn more about,Injury Law, andEmployment Law.

Experience

Patrick B. Reddy and Timothy W. Emery have been litigating workerscompensation matters since 2003, and have amassed a litany of wins both at theBoard of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA)and on appeal in state and federal court. They have helped Washington State workers withand have recovered tens of millions of dollars in awards. Emery | Reddy has fought forworkers’ rights, influenced labor and industries laws in Washington State, and taken on the toughest battles against well-known companies in both state and federal court.

Professional And Community Involvement

Awards and Recognition

  • AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5: Martindale-Hubbell®, 10 year anniversary in 2024
  • 10 Best Attorneys, High Verdict & Settlement Winner: American Institute of Legal Counsel, 2018
  • AI Global Media Workers’ Comp and L&I Law Firm of the Year, 2022–2023
  • AI Leading Advisor Awards: Workers’ Comp and L&I Law Firm of the Year, 2021–2023
  • ALM Legal Leaders: Top Ranked Lawyers, 2018–2019
  • Attorney of the Year Award: CV Magazine, 2017
  • AVVO® Client’s Choice Award, 2014
  • AVVO® Top Attorney, 10.0 Rating, 2018-2022
  • America’s Top 50 Lawyers: America’s Top Lawyers 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation—Labor and Employment, 2024
  • Employment Law Firm of the Year, Northwest USA: CV Magazine, 2018­­–2020
  • High Stakes Litigators Award: America’s Top 100, 2017–209, 2023
  • Lawyer of Distinction, 2020–2022 (update date on logo webpage)
  • Lead Counsel Rated, Workers’ Compensation Law: Lead Counsel Review Board, 2018
  • Lead Counsel Rated, Labor & Employment Law: Lead Counsel Review Board, 2018
  • Legal Leaders, Labor & Employment: Martindale-Hubbell®, 2018
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Client Champion, 2020-2023
  • Top 1% America’s Most Honored Professionals, 2018-2019
  • Top 1% of Attorneys in America: Distinguished Justice Advocates, 2018
  • Top 10 Personal Injury Attorney: Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2024
  • Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Attorney: Attorney and Practice Magazine, 2017­–2019, 2023
  • Top 100 US Employment Lawyers: VPN.com, 2022
  • US News Best Lawyers—Seattle Workers’ Compensation Claimants Lawyer, 2022
  • Workers’ Comp Law Firm of the Year: Lawyer Monthly Magazine, 2022

Practice Areas

L&I—Workers’ Compensation

No one expects to get injured at work, but unfortunately, it does happen. If you’ve been injured while on the job, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, and we’re here to help you navigate your claim.

The claims process is often complex, time-consuming, and filled with paperwork and legal technicalities. Without the proper resources, navigating the L&I claims process can be overwhelming. Our team of  has two decades of combined experience helping clients with . We are passionate about helping Washington State workers receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

Injury Law

There’s never a good time to get hurt. So when catastrophic injury strikes and you need experienced legal representation, give us a call. Our L&I lawyers spent the first years of their careers defending and trying cases in court for the insurance companies before changing sides and fighting for the rights of workers instead.

We know how the other side thinks, and we know how to build your case with the right experts, the right trial resources, and the best motions-practice strategy. We understand how to set up a case for success at trial, and we are committed to providing quality injury representation and guidance. When you hire us, you can rely on our team to be there for you when you need us the most.

Employment Law

Whether they’ve been wrongfully fired from a job or discriminated against at work, we help Washington State workers hold employers accountable for violating workers’ rights. We understand Washington State and federal employment laws and know what it takes to bring a case to court or settle a claim. In fact, our cases have changed Washington State law in favor of workers, and we’ve even gone up against big-name corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, and more.

Emery | Reddy is one of the only firms in the nation that litigates both L&I and employment law cases—because law firms that can’t do both are unlikely to get you the total claim award to which you may be entitled.

Our Experience Speaks For Itself

Who Is The Best L&I Lawyer In Washington State? (2)

Timothy W. Emery

Timothy W. Emery is an award-winning, founding member of Emery | Reddy. Tim manages complex litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country. He also accepts class action matters on behalf of Washington workers and consumers whose rights have been violated by corporations. Prior to returning to plaintiffs’ practice, Tim spent nearly a decade managing complex litigation and defending class action matters on behalf of multiple companies in the consumer credit space. He has particular experience litigating a range of federal statutes, including the TCPA, CROA, TSR, FMLA, and TILA.

Education

    • J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 2003
    • M.B.A, University of Washington, 2013
    • B.B.A, Pacific Lutheran University, 1999

Recent Individual Representations

  • $225,000 for sexual harassment pretrial resolution
  • $79,500 for unpaid overtime
  • $965,000 confidential resolution for race discrimination and wage withholding
  • $825,000 confidential resolution for employment law violations
  • $1.5MM confidential resolution for gender discrimination
  • $250,000 for hostile work environment
  • $550,000 settlement (settled on individual basis) for withheld pay from several dozen hourly workers
  • $517,000 for wrongful termination and age discrimination
  • $150,000 plus an additional estimated $300,000 in equity for wrongful termination and breach of contract
  • Multiple resolutions forWashington Amazon employees
  • Six-figure confidential resolution for wrongfully terminated med-tech sales worker
  • Six-figure confidential resolution for worker’s sexual harassment claim
  • Six-figure confidential settlement for discrimination claim

Who Is The Best L&I Lawyer In Washington State? (3)

Patrick B. Reddy

Patrick B. Reddy is an award-winning, founding member of Emery | Reddy and litigates and employment matters throughout Washington State. He regularly practices before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, the State Superior Courts, the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court, and the United States District Courts of Eastern and Western Washington. He was lead trial counsel inFrisino v. Seattle School District No. 1, a Court of Appeals decision (review denied by the Supreme Court) where the Court required employers to engage in the interactive process of accommodating employees with disabilities, even after some failed attempts at accommodation.

Education

  • J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 2003 (cum laude)
  • B.A., Boston College, 1999

Published Cases

You Deserve the Best L&I Lawyer in Washington State

The are passionate about helping workers with L&I claims and employment law issues. We Help Workers®: it’s our motto and what drives us every day.

We know how L&I and big companies think, and we understand the tactics they use. Our Seattle L&I attorneys use that knowledge coupled with over two decades of experience to help our clients get access to the L&I benefits to which they are legally entitled and hold employers accountable when they break the law.

If you’re struggling with an L&I claim, injury, or legal issue at work, please call us to see how Emery | Reddy can help you today.

Who Is The Best L&I Lawyer In Washington State? (2024)

FAQs

Can I sue L&I Washington State? ›

Can You Sue L&I? You cannot sue L&I, even if you are unhappy with how they handle your claim. Washington State workers injured on the job cannot sue their employer for negligence, instead, they must file a workers' compensation claim with L&I.

How much do workers' comp lawyers charge in Washington state? ›

L&I attorney fee – Maximum limits

Some claimants think that if they win their case, then the other side will pay their workers' comp attorney fee. That's not true for board appeals. It's also incorrect for benefits at the Department level. However, most workers' compensation attorneys charge less than 30%.

How much is the L&I injury payout in Washington state? ›

The benefit amount is 60 to 75% of the wage you were earning, depending on how many dependents you have. The minimum and maximum L&I can pay is set by the state legislature. You may have better options available - ask your employer if there are other jobs you can do to earn your wage or salary while you recover.

What are the rights of injured workers in Washington state? ›

Right to get medical care needed for treatment at no cost. Right to get time loss benefit payment if unable to work for more than 3 days. Right to turn down (decline) “light duty” work offer unless approved by your doctor. Right to get a permanent partial disability payment if your injury is permanent.

Can you sue for pain and suffering in Washington State? ›

Washington is a pure comparative fault state. This means that Washington law allows injured parties to receive compensation based their degree of fault for the accident, and pain and suffering damages are no exception.

Who is in charge of L&I in Washington State? ›

Joel Sacks, Director

L&I's mission is to "keep Washington safe and working." The agency administers many vital programs including the state's workers' compensation system and its occupational safety and health program.

What is the most expensive workers comp claim? ›

1. $13.2 million workers comp settlement for ironworker struck by a car (California) Wanting a better life for his family, 30-year-old San Diego resident Rafael Pineda agreed to relocate more than 200 miles away from his wife and three kids to work as an ironworker for an industrial project in Long Beach.

What is the contingency fee in Washington state? ›

A Seattle personal injury attorney will not begin working on your case until after the contingency fee has been agreed on by both parties. Contingency fees are not cheap. In general, we find that an attorney will usually range between 33% and 40% of the final settlement or jury verdict amount.

What is the workers comp rate in Washington state? ›

Workers pay on average about 25% (27%, if considering retro refunds, which reduce employer premiums) of the premium, and they would pay a similar percentage in 2024. The actual percentage depends on the classification of the worker's company and its recent claims history.

How is pain and suffering calculated in Washington? ›

How are pain and suffering damages calculated in Washington? In Washington, there is no exact formula for calculating how much money someone can recover in a lawsuit for pain and suffering. Every case is unique, and the decision is usually up to the jury.

What is a permanent partial disability in Washington state? ›

Permanent Partial Disability. You have completed treatment and are still able to work, but you have suffered a permanent loss of function. A qualified doctor provides L&I with a PPD rating.

What is an example of permanent partial disability? ›

Permanent partial disability means that the worker is still able to function in his or her chosen work, but not at full capacity. Common examples of permanent partial disability include back injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, amputation, hearing loss, and vision damage.

What is the employer's responsibility when a worker is injured? ›

The employer shall: Assure that first aid is administered for minor injuries or arrange medical treatment by an employer selected physician or the employee's pre-designated physician when necessary. For extreme emergency get the injured to any available doctor, hospital, or public medical service.

Can I quit my job while on workers' comp in Washington state? ›

In fact, if you are receiving workers' comp benefits for a workplace injury, you should be able to resign from your current job without losing benefits. Leaving a job doesn't automatically end a workers' comp claim.

What is the statute of limitations for work injury in Washington state? ›

In Washington State, the statute of limitations on civil/tort claims is three years for negligence claims and two years for claims with intentional injuries. In the land of Labor and Industries, occupational disease claims have a two-year filing time limit, while you only get one year to file industrial injury claims.

How do I file a complaint with Labor and Industries Washington State? ›

If you believe your workplace rights have been violated, there are 3 ways you can file a complaint:
  1. File a Worker Rights Complaint online.
  2. Download and mail a completed Worker Rights Complaint form (F700-148-000).
  3. Visit your nearest L&I office.

Can you sue for punitive damages in Washington State? ›

In Washington State, victims in personal injury cases cannot recover punitive damages. Washington is one of only four states which do not allow punitive damages in personal injury cases. This means that victims cannot seek extra damages when injuries result from intentional, outrageous, or reckless conduct.

What is the statute of limitations on L&I in Washington State? ›

Washington State L&I Statutes. of Limitations Explained

In the land of Labor and Industries, occupational disease claims have a two-year filing time limit, while you only get one year to file industrial injury claims.

How do I file a tort claim against Washington State? ›

How to file a Washington State Tort Claim
  1. Submit online. Submit a tort claim online securely. ...
  2. Submit by fax. Submit the completed Washington State Tort Claim form to the following fax number: 360-507-9251. ...
  3. Submit by mail. ...
  4. Submit in person. ...
  5. Checklist for filing your Washington State Tort Claim form.
  6. Frequently Asked Questions.

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