Filing Unpaid Wage Claims in Washington State

When you’re dealing with unpaid wages at your job in Washington, filing a claim is probably the last thing you want to think about. Most people just want to be paid fairly and move on. But the truth is, taking action is often the only way to make things right. That leads to an important question: what can I actually do if my employer hasn’t paid me what I’m owed? That’s where Nolan Lim Law Firm PS can help. Our team works with Washington employees every day who are facing wage and hour issues, and we’re here to explain your options, protect your rights, and fight for the pay you’ve earned. If you have questions, we offer free consultations so you can understand your next steps without pressure. How Can Nolan Lim Law Firm PS Help With an Unpaid Wage Claim in Washington? When your paycheck doesn’t reflect the time and effort you’ve put in, it’s frustrating—and often overwhelming. After all, your wages are what support you and your family. The good news is that Washington law gives workers strong protections, and Nolan Lim Law Firm PS knows how to use those laws to your advantage. Depending on your situation, there are a few paths forward, and we can help you decide which makes the most sense. Administrative Wage Claims In many cases, the first step is filing a wage complaint with a government agency. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I): L&I handles unpaid wage claims statewide and can investigate whether your employer violated wage and hour laws. If they find a violation, they can order back pay and, in some cases, assess penalties against the employer. https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/workplace-complaints/worker-rights-complaints Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS): If you work within Seattle city limits, you may also be able to file a claim with the Seattle Office of Labor Standards. OLS enforces Seattle-specific labor laws, including minimum wage, paid sick and safe time, secure scheduling, and wage theft protections—many of which are stronger than state law. https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards Nolan Lim Law Firm PS can: Review your pay records and work history before you file Help determine whether L&I, OLS, or another agency is the right place to start Make sure your complaint clearly reflects the full scope of what you’re owed Step in if the process stalls or your employer challenges the claim Filing a Lawsuit If an administrative claim doesn’t fully resolve the problem—or if a significant amount of wages is at stake—you may need to pursue a civil lawsuit. While lawsuits can take longer, they often allow workers to recover more than an agency claim alone. With the help of Nolan Lim Law Firm PS, you may be able to seek: Unpaid wages and overtime Back pay for missed earnings Liquidated damages (often doubling what you’re owed) Attorney’s fees and court costs If multiple employees are facing the same pay issues, you may also be able to bring a class action or group claim. These cases can hold employers accountable for widespread wage violations and strengthen each worker’s position. Why Do Workers File Unpaid Wage Claims? Unpaid wages don’t always happen all at once. In many cases, they show up gradually—and in ways that aren’t easy to spot right away. Nolan Lim Law Firm PS regularly helps workers dealing with: Unpaid overtime Working more than 40 hours a week without time-and-a-half pay, including off-the-clock work or altered time records. Misclassification Being labeled as “exempt,” a “manager,” or an “independent contractor” when your actual job duties don’t meet the legal requirements. Late or missing paychecks Washington law requires timely payment of wages. Repeated delays or excuses can signal wage theft. Unpaid breaks or meal periods If legally required breaks are skipped, shortened, or interrupted, you may be owed additional pay. Improper deductions for uniforms or equipment Employers generally can’t force workers to cover business costs by deducting pay for required gear or tools. At the end of the day, unpaid wage claims aren’t just about money—they’re about fairness and respect. You showed up, did the work, and earned your pay. Should I Talk to a Lawyer About Unpaid Wages in Washington? If you work in Washington—whether in Seattle or elsewhere in the state—you’ve earned every dollar on your paycheck. Some payroll mistakes get fixed quickly. But when an employer ignores your concerns, refuses to pay, or keeps changing their explanation, it’s time to get legal help. Here’s what Nolan Lim Law Firm PS can do for you: Review your pay records and scheduling practices Explain how Washington and Seattle wage laws apply to your situation Communicate directly with your employer or their legal team Fight for a fair outcome through negotiation, agency action, or litigation You don’t have to accept unpaid wages as “part of the job.” Nolan Lim Law Firm PS is here to help you understand your rights and take action with confidence. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us walk you through your options.

SOLTEZ, ET. AL VS. HOBAN AND ASSOCIATES DBA COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Washington Wage-and-Hour Class Action Filed Against Property Management Company A new class action lawsuit highlights common wage-and-hour issues in the property management industry across Washington State. The lawsuit was filed by a former maintenance supervisor against Coast Property Management, alleging the company failed to properly pay hourly employees working at apartment communities throughout Washington. According to the complaint, property management employees—including maintenance staff and on-site workers—were regularly required to work through legally required meal and rest breaks due to chronic understaffing. The lawsuit further alleges that employees were not paid overtime even when they worked more than 40 hours per week, that wages were capped regardless of actual hours worked, and that paystubs failed to accurately reflect all time worked. The complaint also claims that employees were not fully paid their wages upon termination. The case seeks to proceed as a statewide class action on behalf of current and former non-exempt property management employees and requests unpaid wages, overtime, double damages, penalties, and attorneys’ fees under Washington wage laws.   1 – 2025.06.16 – Complaint

WRIGHTMAN VS. ARAMARK

Matthew Wrightman has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Aramark, alleging that the company routinely violated Washington wage-and-hour laws for hourly employees across the state. The complaint claims Aramark failed to provide legally required meal and rest breaks, did not pay required premium pay when those breaks were missed or interrupted, and failed to pay overtime when total compensable work time exceeded 40 hours in a week. It also alleges that Seattle-based workers were subjected to last-minute schedule changes and canceled shifts without the predictability pay required by Seattle’s Secure Scheduling Ordinance. The lawsuit seeks to represent all non-exempt Aramark employees in Washington (with a Seattle subclass), and requests unpaid wages, break premiums, overtime, statutory penalties, and double damages for alleged willful wage theft. 18 – Wrightman Amended Complaint

Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act

In Washington State, the law requiring employers to disclose wage and salary ranges in job postings is found in RCW 49.58.110. This statute is part of the state’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). Under this law, employers with 15 or more employees must provide a salary range or wage scale, along with a description of benefits, in any job posting that seeks to fill a position. The law’s goal is to promote pay transparency and help reduce wage disparities, particularly for historically marginalized groups. Noncompliance with the wage disclosure requirements can result in civil penalties, making it essential for Washington employers to ensure that their job advertisements comply with these rules. Private Attorneys can bring civil actions based on violations of RCW 49.58.110. Please call Nolan Lim Law Firm, PS if you have any questions about this law and your rights under it.

Higley v Sportsman’s Warehouse

Higley v. Sportsman’s Warehouse, Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for King County, NO. 24-2-16440-5 KNT. About this Case: In this class action case, Kjersten Higley, on behalf of herself and similarly situated employees, alleges wage and hour violations by Sportsman’s Warehouse, Inc. The plaintiff claims the company systematically denied non-exempt employees meal and rest breaks, required them to work through these breaks to meet scheduling demands, and failed to properly compensate for overtime work exceeding 40 hours per week. Additionally, employees were required to use personal cell phones for work-related tasks without reimbursement, resulting in unlawful wage deductions. The case seeks recovery of unpaid wages, claiming Sportsman’s Warehouse violated several Washington state labor laws. Higley, a former cashier, asserts the company’s compensation practices willfully underpaid employees, leaving many earning below the state’s minimum wage, and requests class action status for over 40 affected employees. Case Status: This case is Pending in King County Superior Court with a trial date scheduled for July of 2025.

Mannin v Cambridge Management

Plaintiff Donya Mannin, representing herself and other similarly affected employees, accuses Cambridge Management, Inc. of alleged violations of wage and hour laws. The lawsuit alleges that Cambridge Management engaged in wage and hour violations, including the failure to provide meal and rest breaks, failure to pay overtime for hours worked beyond 40 per week, and improper deductions from wages. The plaintiff, a former Community Manager, claims that Cambridge’s policies forced employees to work through breaks and failed to compensate them fairly. The class action seeks to represent all hourly-paid or non-exempt employees working for Cambridge in Washington over the past three years. The suit accuses Cambridge of violating various Washington State labor laws, including failing to pay minimum wages, overtime, and business expenses. The class is believed to include at least 40 current and former employees, and the case seeks to recover unpaid wages and damages.

Underwood v Star protection Agency

Underwood v. Star Protection Agency, Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for King County, NO. 24-2-20175-1. About this Case: In the class action case filed in the Superior Court of Washington, plaintiff Dylan Underwood, on behalf of himself and similarly situated employees, alleges that Star Protection Agency, LLC engaged in wage and hour violations. The lawsuit claims that Star Protection Agency failed to provide legally mandated meal and rest breaks, did not compensate employees for using personal vehicles and cell phones for work, and did not pay overtime for hours worked beyond 40 hours per week. These unlawful policies allegedly affected non-exempt employees, such as security officers, across Washington State. The plaintiff seeks damages for unpaid wages and violations of Washington State labor laws. Case Status: This case is Pending in King County Superior Court with a trial date scheduled for  September of 2025.

Martinez v Comprehensive Healthcare

In a class action lawsuit filed in Yakima County Superior Court, Ramiro Martinez, on behalf of himself and similarly situated employees, alleges that Comprehensive Health Care, a Washington-based non-profit, engaged in widespread wage and hour violations. The lawsuit claims that the organization systematically denied non-exempt employees, including case managers, nursing assistants, and other healthcare staff, required meal and rest breaks, forcing them to work through breaks to meet job demands. Additionally, the suit alleges that employees were not properly compensated for overtime, received inaccurate pay stubs, and were not paid the state-mandated minimum wage. The case seeks compensation for unpaid wages, penalties for missed breaks, and attorney’s fees, citing violations of Washington State labor laws. The suit contends that these practices were part of a willful and ongoing scheme that affected at least 40 current and former employees.

Camby v Janicki Industries

In a class action lawsuit filed in Skagit County Superior Court, Daniel Camby, a former mechanic at Janicki Industries, along with other non-exempt employees, accuses the company of wage and hour violations. The plaintiffs claim Janicki Industries, which operates in aerospace, defense, and other industries, systematically denied meal and rest breaks, failed to pay overtime, and engaged in unlawful pay practices. The class action seeks damages for unpaid wages, meal and rest break violations, and penalties under Washington labor laws. The plaintiffs aim to recover compensation for these violations and prevent further unlawful practices by Janicki Industries.

Howe v The Truss Company

In this class action lawsuit, plaintiff Tamerra Howe, on behalf of all similarly situated employees, alleges that The Truss Company, LLC, a Washington-based manufacturer of wood trusses, engaged in widespread wage and hour violations. The lawsuit claims that the company failed to provide mandatory meal and rest breaks, required employees to use personal vehicles for work without compensation, and refused to pay overtime despite employees working more than 40 hours per week. These practices allegedly resulted in wages falling below the state minimum wage. The suit seeks damages for unpaid wages, overtime, and reimbursement for business expenses in violation of Washington state labor laws. The class consists of current and former hourly or non-exempt employees dating back three years from the filing of the complaint.

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