NWSidebar

Court of Appeals Distinguishes ‘Injury’ from ‘Damages’ in Holding Malpractice Claim Time-Barred
The Public Defense Machine and More in the New Issue of Bar News
Walking in Their Shoes: A Day in the Life of a Spokane City Public Defender
The Great Human-Processing Contraption: A Day in the Life of a Benton County Public Defender
Ensuring Business Continuity: A Guide to Disaster Planning for Legal Professionals
Federal Court Relies on Washington Decision to Order Return of Confidential Documents
How the FTC’s New Noncompete Regulation Affects Physician Employment Agreements

by NWSidebar

Court of Appeals Distinguishes ‘Injury’ from ‘Damages’ in Holding Malpractice Claim Time-Barred

The Washington Court of Appeals upheld the distinction between “injury” and “damages” in a legal malpractice claim in the case of Gill v. Hillier, emphasizing that the statute of limitations begins when the party is injured, even if they do not yet know the full extent of their damages. The ruling serves as a crucial reminder for clients to take prompt action when they believe they have been harmed by a lawyer’s negligence.

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The Public Defense Machine and More in the New Issue of Bar News

When you look at the current state of public defense in the state of Washington—indeed, nationwide—you will encounter words like “crisis,” “languish,” and “collapse.” Specifically, there’s a crisis in our public defense system in which many people are left to languish indefinitely without representation and without a fundamental corrective shift the system itself is under […]

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Walking in Their Shoes: A Day in the Life of a Spokane City Public Defender

In Spokane, a day in the life of public defender Dustin Howie consists of power walking, comforting clients, and navigating a chaotic court system. He juggles a hefty caseload with his wife Alex, also a public defender. Although the office is well-supported, understaffing remains a problem, leading to overwhelming workloads. Howie supports the idea of reduced caseloads but questions the feasibility given funding constraints.

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The Great Human-Processing Contraption: A Day in the Life of a Benton County Public Defender

The WSBA Board of Governors adopted new caseload standards for indigent defense services, as recommended by the Council on Public Defense (CPD), aiming to mend the collapsing public defense system in Washington. The standards, not binding yet, recommend a significant drop in caseload limits for felony and misdemeanor cases. However, vacancy rates for defense attorneys pose a challenge, and the system remains overloaded, contributing to delays and concerns about fair representation.

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Ensuring Business Continuity: A Guide to Disaster Planning for Legal Professionals

Legal professionals must prioritize disaster planning to ensure business continuity and client service amidst challenges. Key elements include risk assessment, impact analysis, emergency response, data backup, communication strategy, continuity planning, staff training, and designating a custodian. Additionally, they have professional obligations to act diligently, protect confidentiality, and maintain document records for at least seven years.

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Federal Court Relies on Washington Decision to Order Return of Confidential Documents

The federal district court in Portland recently relied on a decision by its counterpart in Seattle to order the return of confidential documents taken by an executive that later surfaced in his subsequent claim against his former employer. In Wickersham v. Eastside Distilling, Inc., __ F. Supp.3d __, 2024 WL 455070 (D. Or. Jan. 25, […]

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How the FTC’s New Noncompete Regulation Affects Physician Employment Agreements

On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced regulations that will prohibit noncompete agreements for many workers across America effective Sept. 4, 2024. While the regulations are set to become effective 120 days after their publication, litigants have challenged the FTC’s authority to enact the regulations. Thus, the effective date may be further delayed, […]

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How Washington’s New Noncompete Law Affects Physician Employment Agreements

In reaction to court cases that, in the eyes of lawmakers, interpreted the statute too narrowly, Washington’s Legislature passed a bill this year, SB 5935, to expand the application of the noncompetition statute. As background, prior to amendment, the 2020 law (Chapter 49.62 RCW on Noncompetition Covenants) provides that: The amendments effective June 6, 2024, […]