Law Offices of John P. Martin

RCW49.60.030
Freedom from discrimination — Declaration of civil rights.

(1) The right to be free from discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability is recognized as and declared to be a civil right. This right shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) The right to obtain and hold employment without discrimination;

(b) The right to the full enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges of any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement;

(c) The right to engage in real estate transactions without discrimination, including discrimination against families with children;

(d) The right to engage in credit transactions without discrimination;

(e) The right to engage in insurance transactions or transactions with health maintenance organizations without discrimination: PROVIDED, That a practice which is not unlawful under RCW 48.30.300, 48.44.220, or 48.46.370 does not constitute an unfair practice for the purposes of this subparagraph;

(f) The right to engage in commerce free from any discriminatory boycotts or blacklists. Discriminatory boycotts or blacklists for purposes of this section shall be defined as the formation or execution of any express or implied agreement, understanding, policy or contractual arrangement for economic benefit between any persons which is not specifically authorized by the laws of the United States and which is required or imposed, either directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, by a foreign government or foreign person in order to restrict, condition, prohibit, or interfere with or in order to exclude any person or persons from any business relationship on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or national origin or lawful business relationship: PROVIDED HOWEVER, That nothing herein contained shall prohibit the use of boycotts as authorized by law pertaining to labor disputes and unfair labor practices; and

(g) The right of a mother to breastfeed her child in any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.

(2) Any person deeming himself or herself injured by any act in violation of this chapter shall have a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin further violations, or to recover the actual damages sustained by the person, or both, together with the cost of suit including reasonable attorneys’ fees or any other appropriate remedy authorized by this chapter or the United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, or the Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.).

(3) Except for any unfair practice committed by an employer against an employee or a prospective employee, or any unfair practice in a real estate transaction which is the basis for relief specified in the amendments to RCW 49.60.225 contained in chapter 69, Laws of 1993, any unfair practice prohibited by this chapter which is committed in the course of trade or commerce as defined in the Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW, is, for the purpose of applying that chapter, a matter affecting the public interest, is not reasonable in relation to the development and preservation of business, and is an unfair or deceptive act in trade or commerce.

Being a victim of discrimination in the workplace is one of the most heartbreaking experiences one can confront. Whether the discrimination you face is based on national origin, disability, gender, or other unlawful reasons , it is always a shock.

This day and age, especially, in the Seattle area, we like to believe that discrimination is a thing of the past. Being discriminated against is always a shocking and distressing experience. And, it is even more harmful when it happens in the course of our employment. Being discriminated at work hurts because it is where we are the most are the most vulnerable – especially during these rough economic times.

However, you can turn the tables, Washington has some of the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the country. Use them.

If you feel you have been discriminated against please give me a call or drop me an email. I often take cases on contingency or partial contingency.

Two years ago Nicholas Francisco mysteriously vanished, leaving behind two children and a pregnant wife.

He called his daughter Zea, promising he was coming to their SeaTac home to make Valentine’s Day cookies, then left his job on lower Queen Anne.

His disappearance triggered a frantic missing person search, including search parties, and his wife making televised appeals for information as to his whereabouts. Friends and family setup a website to help find him: www.findnicholasfrancisco.com

Now, that website is both eerie and pathetic, given that on Nov. 9, 2009, the King County Sheriff announced that Nicholas Francisco was safe-and-sound and living in another state.

The Sheriff closed the case. Once the man had been found safe and sound they had nothing more to do with the case. However, KIRO 7 TV has tracked him down and interviewed him. According to the story, he has changed his name and is over $16,000 behind in child support.

I guess it goes to show that you can run but you can’t hide. Though, he has managed to make things far worse and more complicated than they would have been if he had just filed for dissolution. His actions may have slowed down the DSHS and his creditors (Student loans he has hung on his ex-wife) they will catch up to him eventually.

Sometimes it can be hard to face the difficultly of a dissolution and the child custody and child support issues, but trying to disappear like this guy did is not the way to go. He has unnecessarily made things much harder for his kids and his ex-wife.