Need unemployment appeals attorney in Tacoma - ESD denied my dad's claim

I went through a similar situation last year and used Amanda Westbrook at Pacific Employment Law. She specializes in ESD appeals and unemployment hearings. She helped me overturn a misconduct disqualification. Be aware that most unemployment attorneys in WA charge between $1200-2500 depending on case complexity, but many offer payment plans. Make sure your dad requests all his employment records from the company ASAP - that's critical evidence for the hearing. Also, your dad should file his weekly claims even while appealing!

when u go to OAH hearing make sure ur dad has ALL the proof!!! my cousin got denied 4 "misconduct" but we had emails proving his boss was lying. the judge totally sided with us!!! ESD is sooooo biased toward employers its crazy. also we recorded all convos w/his boss (WA is one-party consent state) and that SAVED US. get a lawyer but also collect EVERYTHING

Honestly, you might not even need a lawyer. I successfully appealed my ESD misconduct denial on my own. The OAH judges are actually pretty fair if you present your case well. Here's what to do: 1. Request a complete copy of your dad's ESD file through their records department 2. Get statements from any coworkers who can confirm his version 3. Study the ESD handbook definition of misconduct carefully - it's narrower than you think 4. Practice what he'll say at the hearing - be concise and factual If you still want a lawyer, try the Unemployment Law Project in Seattle. They offer sliding scale fees and sometimes take cases pro bono: https://unemploymentlawproject.org/

Have you tried reaching ESD directly to discuss the determination before jumping to an attorney? Sometimes they'll reconsider if you can provide additional info they didn't have during initial review. I spent weeks trying to get through on the phone before I found Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an ESD agent in less than 2 hours when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3. Getting to actually talk to someone at ESD helped me resolve my issue without needing the appeal hearing. Might be worth trying before spending on a lawyer.

Whatever you do, DO NOT miss that appeal deadline!!! File the appeal right away even if you're still looking for a lawyer. You can always get representation later, but if you miss that deadline, you're completely out of luck. Check out the Washington Law Center - they have unemployment attorneys and offices in Tacoma. I think their initial consult is free.

I had to appeal an ESD decision last year and used Christopher Thayer at Pivotal Law Group. He's not cheap ($295/hr when I used him) but he knows unemployment law inside and out. He destroyed the employer's arguments and got my benefits approved plus all backpay. If the weekly benefit amount is really $856, that's over $22k annually, so spending a couple thousand on a good lawyer makes financial sense. One warning though - appeals are taking FOREVER right now. Mine took 4 months from filing to hearing date. Make sure your dad is looking for work while waiting and documenting his job search activities perfectly.

One more thing about ESD misconduct cases - the burden of proof is on the EMPLOYER to prove misconduct, not on your dad to disprove it. Make sure his attorney emphasizes this. The legal standard for misconduct in WA unemployment is pretty strict - it has to be a deliberate or willful disregard of the employer's interest, not just poor performance or a good faith error in judgment. This is why having an attorney who specializes in ESD cases specifically (not just any employment lawyer) is so important.