Summit Superior Court Victory

Summit Superior Court Victory

In a judgment entered on November 5, 2014, King County Superior Court Judge Samuel Chung dismissed with prejudice the claims of plaintiffs Robert and Jacqueline Piel against defendant City of Federal Way, a Summit Law Group client.  The Court’s dismissal followed an October 22, 2014 jury verdict in favor of the City on all claims.  Mr. Piel had filed multiple claims against the City following his discharge in 2008.  Many of the claims were dismissed in advance of trial based on motions to dismiss and for summary judgment advanced by Summit on the City’s behalf.  In a 2013 decision, the Washington Supreme Court determined that Mr. Piel could pursue his claim that he was wrongfully discharged in violation of public policy for engaging in protected union activity, notwithstanding the remedies available under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act.  At trial, Mr. Piel contended that he was wrongfully discharged, and that the City should be required to pay over one million dollars in lost wages and benefits, as well as emotional distress damages, loss of consortium damages for his wife, and his attorney’s fees accrued over six years of litigation.  At the conclusion of the eight-day trial, the jury rejected Mr. Piel’s claim that his discharge was substantially motivated by his protected union activity.  Summit’s trial team was led by Shannon Phillips, Molly Terwilliger, and Celine Leigland.

The Court’s Judgment dated November 5, 2014, can be found here.