Labor and Employment Law

Workplace Discrimination • Unemployment Insurance

Cortes | Maguddayao, PLLC represents employees in a range of work-related legal issues. Our mission is hold employers accountable for fair treatment of workers who are targeted or harassed for reasons not related to their job performance, and to assist people who are unfairly denied unemployment insurance benefits.

Meyrick Cortes and Peter Maguddayao represent individuals throughout the Puget Sound and Seattle, Washington area, including Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton.

Sexual Harassment and Job Discrimination
Mr. Cortes represents workers who are fired, disciplined, reassigned, or passed over for hiring or advancement for prohibited reasons. Employee discrimination on the basis of age, race or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, pregnancy, or family leave is illegal. We seek justice under the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act.

If you have been the victim of sexual harassment by a supervisor or co-worker, Cortes | Maguddayao, PLLC will represent you in legal action against your employer. Sexual harassment includes inappropriate touching or sexually suggestive comments, as well as unwanted attention, pressure for dates or sex, threats about your employment status, or sexual assault.

Remedies for sexual harassment or employment discrimination include compensatory damages, such as back pay and compensation for wages and increases you would have earned. Punitive damages are generally prohibited in Washington, but may be awarded by statute. Some employers will respond to a pre-filing demand, offering a settlement to avoid investigation. If not, we will represent you in filing an official complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and/or the Washington Human Rights Commission. An equitable remedy may also be appropriate in some cases, which would result in the employee getting his or her job back.  Regardless of the remedy,  Cortes Maguddayao, PLLC can guide you through the entire process.

Unemployment Insurance
Mr. Maguddayao represents workers when (a) they are turned down for unemployment insurance or (b) when the former employer is challenging the unemployment claim. We handle your claim as efficiently as possible, understanding that you need those weekly checks to pay your bills.

Unemployment benefit claims are typically turned down on the grounds that the employee provided insufficient information, was fired for misconduct, or quit without good cause. In representing employees, we seek to provide the missing information, or refute the employer’s arguments about why you were terminated or resigned.

Cortes | Maguddayao, PLLC represents clients at an administrative hearing to appeal the unemployment benefits denial or counter the employer’s appeal of your approved benefits. If the hearing judge does not rule in your favor, we can also appeal the decision to the Commissioner of the Employment Security Department.

Contact the Seattle employment lawyers of Cortes | Maguddayao, PLLC to discuss your situation. You will meet with an attorney, not a paralegal, and we strive to be accessible and responsive to our clients throughout the duration of your case.

Cortes | Maguddayao, pllc
Attorneys at Law
The Interurban Building
157 Yesler Way
Suite 509
Seattle, WA 98104
206.464.7302 | F: 206.624.3214

The information you obtain on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.  You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

Copyright © Cortes | Maguddayao, PLLC.  All rights reserved.  You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution.  All copies must include this copyright statement.