Verdicts & settlements

Case digests for litigators.

Recent verdicts and settlements from Washington, Oregon, and beyond, summarized for the lawyers who try and settle these cases.

August 24, 2026

Washington Employer Recovers $623,808.53 in Attorney's Fees and Costs After Winning Defense Verdict: Frates v. Coastal Transportation, Inc. (Since Amended)

A King County jury cleared Coastal Transportation, Inc. on all claims in a disability discrimination and retaliation case under Washington's Law Against Discrimination. The court then ordered the plaintiff to pay $623,808.53 in the defendant's attorney's fees and costs, a fee-shifting outcome that rarely runs against a plaintiff in Washington employment litigation. After judgment, the court amended the cost bill, reducing the cost award to $1,662.06. This post records the trial court result as originally entered.

August 6, 2026

Byrne v. Ameris Bank: How a Founder’s Wage Complaints Became a $79.5 Million Whistleblower Judgment

A Central District of California jury found Ameris Bank liable on every claim it decided in Balboa Capital founder Patrick Byrne’s whistleblower retaliation and wage case, returning verdicts totaling $82.19 million. The July 27, 2026 judgment entered $79.55 million after applying Labor Code section 203’s 30-day waiting-time cap.

July 28, 2026

Oregon Federal Jury Awards Over $7.5 Million in Punitive Damages in Sex Discrimination Case: Hender v. Nike, Inc.

An Oregon federal jury awarded a former Nike engineer $15 million in punitive damages on parallel federal and state pay and promotion claims. The verdict form split the award across two tracks, only one of which is subject to the Title VII statutory cap,…

June 24, 2026

Case digests for litigators.

Washington Employer Recovers $623,808.53 in Attorney's Fees and Costs After Winning Defense Verdict: Frates v. Coastal Transportation, Inc. (Since Amended)

Byrne v. Ameris Bank: How a Founder’s Wage Complaints Became a $79.5 Million Whistleblower Judgment

Oregon Federal Jury Awards Over $7.5 Million in Punitive Damages in Sex Discrimination Case: Hender v. Nike, Inc.

White Employee Wins $4.3 Million in Racial Discrimination: Pinnelli v. Community Medical Centers

A $23 Million Verdict Capped: Andrea Garcia v. Walmart, Inc.

Misappropriation Found, $0 in Damages: Applied Medical Distribution Corp. v. Jarrells

The Post-Groff Undue Hardship Defense Comes to Healthcare: Williams v. Legacy Health

WA Court of Appeals Upholds $21 Million Verdict in Race Discrimination Case: Danielson v. Seattle Children’s Hospital

From $103 Million to $20 Million: Judge Vacates Record Punitive Damages Award in Age Discrimination Case

$5 Million Jury Verdict for Racial and Disability Harassment at Cemex: Sample v. Cemex Construction

Case to Watch: Stonelake v. Meta

Hard Drives, Text Messages, and Personnel Files: How Columbia Sportswear Built Its Trade Secrets Case

From MSJ Granted to a $5 Million Jury Verdict: Elward v. Sealy, Inc.

$15.4 Million Federal Jury Verdict in Racial Discrimination Case: Wilson v. City of Fresno

HR Employee Wins $5 Million Verdict in Title VII Retaliation Case

California Appeals Court Affirms $4.1 Million Verdict in Maas v. McKinnon Broadcasting Equal Pay Case

Ninth Circuit Affirms COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate: Curtis v. Inslee

$229 Million Wage-and-Hour Class Action Verdict Affirmed: Bennett v. Providence Health & Services

Acquisition Deal to Trade Secret Litigation: Propel Fuels, Inc. v. Phillips 66 Company

Gratton v. UPS: How One Discrimination Case Led to a $237 Million Jury Verdict

Colorado Jury Awards $11.5M in Rehab Mohamed v. SHRM Discrimination and Retaliation Case

Case digests for litigators.

Washington Employer Recovers $623,808.53 in Attorney's Fees and Costs After Winning Defense Verdict: Frates v. Coastal Transportation, Inc. (Since Amended)

Byrne v. Ameris Bank: How a Founder’s Wage Complaints Became a $79.5 Million Whistleblower Judgment

Oregon Federal Jury Awards Over $7.5 Million in Punitive Damages in Sex Discrimination Case: Hender v. Nike, Inc.

White Employee Wins $4.3 Million in Racial Discrimination: Pinnelli v. Community Medical Centers

A $23 Million Verdict Capped: Andrea Garcia v. Walmart, Inc.

Misappropriation Found, $0 in Damages: Applied Medical Distribution Corp. v. Jarrells

The Post-Groff Undue Hardship Defense Comes to Healthcare: Williams v. Legacy Health

WA Court of Appeals Upholds $21 Million Verdict in Race Discrimination Case: Danielson v. Seattle Children’s Hospital

From $103 Million to $20 Million: Judge Vacates Record Punitive Damages Award in Age Discrimination Case

$5 Million Jury Verdict for Racial and Disability Harassment at Cemex: Sample v. Cemex Construction

Case to Watch: Stonelake v. Meta

Hard Drives, Text Messages, and Personnel Files: How Columbia Sportswear Built Its Trade Secrets Case

From MSJ Granted to a $5 Million Jury Verdict: Elward v. Sealy, Inc.

$15.4 Million Federal Jury Verdict in Racial Discrimination Case: Wilson v. City of Fresno

HR Employee Wins $5 Million Verdict in Title VII Retaliation Case

California Appeals Court Affirms $4.1 Million Verdict in Maas v. McKinnon Broadcasting Equal Pay Case

Ninth Circuit Affirms COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate: Curtis v. Inslee

$229 Million Wage-and-Hour Class Action Verdict Affirmed: Bennett v. Providence Health &amp; Services

Acquisition Deal to Trade Secret Litigation: Propel Fuels, Inc. v. Phillips 66 Company

Gratton v. UPS: How One Discrimination Case Led to a $237 Million Jury Verdict

Colorado Jury Awards $11.5M in Rehab Mohamed v. SHRM Discrimination and Retaliation Case

$229 Million Wage-and-Hour Class Action Verdict Affirmed: Bennett v. Providence Health & Services