Frequently Asked Questions

COPPINGER CARTER P.S. LAW ​has a variety of fee agreements to meet different circumstances and needs which can include a flat rate one-time consultation fee, an hourly fee agreement or a contingency fee agreement.

Employment at will means that an employer may fire an employee for any reason or no reason at all—so long as it is not an illegal reason such as a termination due to somone’s protected class or in a retaliation for some protected activity.

A protected activity is an action taken by an employee which the law protects you from being treated adversely by your employer. In Washington, protected activities can include, but are not limited to, union activities, filing a complaint with an outside governing agency as to constitute a Whistleblower claim, or filing a complaint with regards to perceived discrimination.

Yes, most legal claims have a statute of limitations, meaning that you must file the lawsuit in a specific amount of time. In general a wrongful termination or discrimination lawsuit must be filed within three (3) years of the alleged wrongful act. However, many employment discrimination claims must be filed first within 180 to 300 days with administrative agencies like the Washington Human Rights Commission or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission before filing suit.

Other claims with outside agencies might need to be filed even sooner in order to fully preserve your civil claims. Each employment claim can trigger very different time periods for necessary legal action making it important to seek legal advice before making key decisions as to any workplace conflict or concerns as soon as possible.

First and foremost, we want our clients to focus on getting the medical care that they need so they can heal quickly. It is also important to gather all contact and insurance information from all the parties involved, file a police report, take photos and contact information for any witnesses. We also typically recommend that our clients keep a diary of important details while they are fresh in their mind, such as how the collision happened, the injuries they experienced, changes in symptoms, and how the injuries are impacting their daily life so that they have that information later on if there is a dispute with the insurance company.

In law, an appeal is the process in which cases are reviewed by a higher authority, where parties request a formal change to an official decision. Appeals function both as a process for error correction as well as a process for clarifying and interpreting the law. At Coppinger Carter, we offer a range of appellate services to fit your diverse needs.