Auto Insurance – Three important types of coverage You have your car or truck, but what about your insurance? Auto insurance is a common form of insurance, but sadly according to the Insurance Commissioner, it generates more complaints than any other type of insurance. This is not surprising because individuals often do not understand […]
An arrest or conviction for DUI is one of the most common criminal offenses in the United States. More likely than not, you know someone who has been pulled over and charged with driving under the influence. A DUI sentence can be a frustrating experience, and one that can often lead to jail time, a […]
All lawyers have “war stories” to share. Amid the euphoria generated by the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl win and celebration parade in downtown Seattle, a wonderful tidbit of forgotten history surfaced. We recently learned that our own Skip Li played a role – albeit a small one – in getting the Seahawks for Seattle. He’s shared […]
The Washington State Supreme Court just ruled that the religious employer exemption to the state antidiscrimination law is facially constitutional. Ellis, Li & McKinstry was involved in this case as counsel for several faith-based organizations acting as amici curiae (“friends of the court”). The brief filed by ELM was referred to several times by the […]
Immigration has become a hot topic in the past few years, and one that has a direct impact on employers and small businesses in our region. Workplace raids at the hand of Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) have resulted in thousands of dollars in fines and even criminal charges for employers who failed to comply […]
Construction is moving again. From mega-projects like the SR99 Tunnel and the SR520 bridge to new housing projects down to the modest bathroom remodel, these improvements bring great benefits to our communities. They also carry endless possibilities for disputes through misunderstandings, mistakes or even overt misconduct. Owners and contractors in large projects work closely with […]
The death of a Texas middle-school student last week is another high-profile anaphylaxis tragedy. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal. Emergency treatment for severe cases involves prompt administration of a shot of epinephrine (adrenaline) and a call to 911 (the epinephrine shot wears off in a few minutes and additional treatment may […]
The landscape for raising capital will soon change. The Securities and Exchange Commission has published final rules that for the first time will allow companies to publicly solicit investors for certain unregistered securities offerings. But the new rules require more stringent accredited investor verification standards as a condition of public solicitation. In addition, the SEC […]
Employers beware! Effective November 1, 2013, a new City of Seattle ordinance (pdf) will severely restrict a private employer’s ability to ask about and use the criminal conviction history of its job applicants and employees. So what’s a Seattle employer to do? Here are some things you should consider: 1. Prepare for these new restrictions. The ordinance […]
ELM Partner Steve O’Ban has been appointed by the Pierce County Council to the vacancy in the Washington State Senate created by the death of Senator Mike Carrell. Steve served this last term in the Washington State House of Representatives after being elected in November 2012. He will continue to practice law at ELM; in […]
