Patrisha Rankin v. Alfoster Garrett, Jr. and Seattle-King County NAACP

Outcome: Arbitration award in favor of my client

Description: Plaintiff sued her former lawyer, alleging legal malpractice in connection with his representation of plaintiff in a race discrimination lawsuit. Plaintiff also sued my client, the Seattle-King County Chapter of the NAACP. Plaintiff alleged that her former lawyer was also a former officer of the local NAACP, and alleged that she was led to believe that she was being represented by both the lawyer and the NAACP. My client's position was that the lawyer's private law practice was separate and apart from his volunteer role as an officer of the local NAACP, and the local NAACP does not bring lawsuits on behalf of individual plaintiffs (although the NAACP may occasionally refer people to private attorneys). After mandatory arbitration, the arbitrator entered an award in favor of the Seattle-King County NAACP, and dismissed all of plaintiff's claims.