Justin’s practice is dedicated to employment law and healthcare litigation, in addition to general civil litigation. He defends healthcare providers, clinics, hospitals, and academic medical centers against claims of medical malpractice and corporate negligence. Justin also routinely defends healthcare providers and clinics in malpractice and licensing proceedings before administrative agencies. He also handles complex pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.
Justin's employment law practice encompasses both counseling and litigation. Justin regularly counsels and assists clients on maintaining productive and legally-compliant work forces in the following broad areas:
- Recruiting and Hiring Best Practices
- Employment Agreements
- Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation, and Non-Disclosure Agreements and Trade Secrets
- Employee Handbooks
- Drug and Alcohol Testing
- Workplace Violence Prevention
- Disability and Leave Management
- Wage and Hour Issues
- Equal Employment Opportunity Laws
- Risk Reduction Strategies for Terminations and Layoffs
- Workforce Training on Best Practices and Legal Compliance
- Workplace Investigations
Justin's approach in assisting clients is to identify potential problems early, develop a plan to stem the disruption and minimize the legal exposure, execute the plan quickly and diligently, and follow-up to ensure the problem has been resolved. He also helps clients implement policies and procedures and other best practices to foster positive employee relations and minimize the risk of compliance deficiencies and employment disputes.
Justin has experience in state and federal court and can successfully defend employers in nearly any employment claim, including:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Washington Law Against Discrimination
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- Equal Pay Act
- Family Medical Leave Act
- Washington Family Leave Act
- Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Wrongful Discharge
- Retaliation
- Breach of Contract
Justin also routinely handles employment-related claims before local, state, and federal agencies, such as the Washington Human Rights Commission, Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Justin's employment law experience includes virtually every industry, including manufacturing, construction, retail, restaurants, public entities, and professional services. In particular, Justin has deep experience assisting clients in healthcare and higher education. He possesses outstanding knowledge of the unique issues and in’s and out’s of healthcare and higher education.
Education
Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D.
Washington State University, B.A., History, magna cum laude
Admitted to Practice
- Washington
- Idaho
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
- United States District Court for the District of Idaho
Professional Experience
- Member, Mullin, Allen & Steiner PLLC, Seattle, WA — February 2017 to Present
- Shareholder, Bennett Bigelow & Leedom, P.S., Seattle, WA — January 2016 to January 2017
- Associate, Bennett Bigelow & Leedom, P.S., Seattle, WA — June 2012 to December 2016
- Associate, Givens Pursley LLP, Boise, ID — September 2008 to June 2012
Associations & Involvement
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
- Society for Human Resources Management
- Washington State Bar Association
Labor & Employment Law Section
- Idaho State Bar
Employment & Labor Law Section
- King County Bar Association
- Inns of Court No. 130 (2008-2010)
Publications & Presentations
- Equipping Your Workforce for Millennials, The Physicians Report (Summer 2016)
- Best Practices to Avoid Employment Disputes, The Physicians Report (Winter 2015)
- Efficient and Effective Non-Compete Agreements in a Down Economy, 57 The Advocate 8 (August 2010)
- What Every Non-Employment Lawyer Needs to Know About Employment Law — Idaho State Bar, Idaho Falls, Idaho (July 2010)
- Payroll Compliance in Idaho — Lorman Educational Services, Boise, Idaho (April 2009)
- Employment Law from A to Z in Idaho — Lorman Educational Services, Boise, Idaho (October 2008)
