Virginia L. DeCosta

I was referred to Virginia after being terminated from a position of over 5 years with no notice. Friends had told me that Virginia had experience with this same employer in a different case, and there was a positive outcome. This job meant the world to me. I was a dedicated employee with national... awards to back up my performance. However, I was experiencing sexist remarks for almost the entire duration of my tenure there. After a particularly loud and hostile confrontation, I finally told my supervisor that I was going to go against the advice of HR and final a formal grievance. I was fired 4 days later. When I first met with Virginia I was a total wreck. I sobbed almost our entire meeting, and I wasn’t even sure myself of what I was looking for out of our initial meeting. She listened patiently, and at the end of my story she gave me a very honest account of what it would look like to pursue a lawsuit. She didn’t paint a rosy version of events, and she didn’t even commit to taking on the case. Instead, she told me what I would need to do to prepare, and gave me a choice. Throughout the case I felt confident that I was in good hands. Virginia was always open to questions, trustworthy, and diligent in her preparation of evidence. I truly believe that her reputation of ironclad groundwork played an emotional role in the final decision of my past employer. Virginia understood my needs from this endeavor where greater than the financial outcome. We have many healing (albeit concise) conversations about how these types of cases influence organizational behavior. In the end, I felt like I got to experience justice thanks to Virginia. I would recommend her to anyone.

It is never a good way to start the New Year being terminated from your current position. Not only was I taken by surprise when the HR Director asked to speak with me early morning of Jan 10, 2017, she was the only person besides myself in the the meeting. I was given termination paperwork and told t...hat I had 21 days to return it if I was going to receive any type of additional severance from the company. I was also told that I should be able to collect unemployment. Considering it was only myself and the HR Director in the meeting - it would come down to my word against hers if I was unable to collect unemployment or if there was an issue with the termination/severance paperwork. Virginia was able do an initial phone consult with me which put my mind at ease during this stressful time. She let me know what information and paperwork she needed from me to review my case and a fair estimate of the cost involved in the review. I put together all the necessary documentation and met with her at her Downtown Tacoma office. Meeting Virginia in person was one of the best things to come out of my employment being terminated from my previous employer in Fife. Virginia reviewed the paperwork and settlement agreement and set up a phone consult to let me know what she found. I was able to ask questions of her on the phone and was given step by step changes to the wording of the settlement agreement that she recommended. She explained some of the legal wording that was listed so that I would be able to understand what my previous employer was trying to impose on me. Talking to Virginia gave me the confidence to stand up to my previous employer and to ask for changes to be made to the settlement agreement that was mutually beneficial to both parties involved. If I had not contacted Virginia, I probably would have just signed the paperwork and took my chances. I am so glad that my previous employer made the necessary changes to the paperwork that Virginia recommended. I felt like I left the company on my terms, rather than theirs. I was able to collect unemployment as well. I have gone to work for another company and am grateful that Virginia was able to help out during the transition from unemployed to employed. I would recommend her to anyone looking for guidance/legal advise as a result of an employment termination. I will use Virginia's Legal services in the future if I find myself unemployed again or in a motor vehicle accident. She takes the time to communicate with you and follows-up in a timely manner. So many legal issues now a days are so time sensitive. I received e-mails from her over the weekend as well as in the evening. She genuinely cares about her clients.

Virginia was nothing short of amazing! I needed some legal help with a previous employer, and she went above and beyond. I called her and left a message, and she took the time to call me back on her day off and consult me. I was a bit nervous, because it was only 4 days before my hearing, but she was... VERY efficient! She got my paperwork, put it in order, informed me of everything I would need and what to say, in order, for my hearing. She wasn't on for the hearing part for me, due to money being tight for me, but she did EVERYTHING she could to help me win and I did! If you're looking for someone who will be on your side AND go above and beyond because they genuinely care, then Virginia is the person. I could go on and on, but just call her and find out for yourself.

I know, because they got results for me. Until 2011, I had never been in any type of vehicle accident. Then, within a matter of three weeks, I was involved in two motor vehicle accidents – leaving me an emotional and physical wreck. I was the driver in the first accident, which occurred while I w...as working, so the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) was involved. I was a passenger in the second accident. I needed an attorney to handle the legalities with the insurance companies and L&I. A friend recommended the DeCosta Law Firm, so I conducted a bit of research online to determine if this firm was a good fit for my circumstances. I discovered that Ms. DeCosta was held in very high regard by her peers and clients. I decided I needed to call and ask more questions to make a decision. When I did, Jenn, the firms’ legal assistant, answered my many questions and asked some of her own to determine if I could be assisted by the firm. We both decided that an initial consultation with Ms. DeCosta was warranted. I found Jenn to be personable, a good listener, and compassionate. Since I could not drive at the time, Ms. DeCosta offered to come to my home for the consultation. She listened to my account of both accidents, asked impressive questions, and explained what I could expect from her. She was empathetic, sympathetic, and realistic about my circumstances. After our consultation, I decided that the DeCosta Law Firm would be a good fit for me in the legal mess I was about to wade through. I wanted someone like Ms. DeCosta fighting for me and my legal rights as she was experienced with personal injury L&I cases and confident she could resolve the legalities to both our satisfaction. When Ms. DeCosta left my home, I felt very safe and secure in her legal care. For three years, Ms. DeCosta and Jenn spent many hours tirelessly working on my cases. Ms. DeCosta approached them as if we would go to trial even though most cases she worked on settled long before trial. Throughout the time, I was updated on everything about both cases - I never felt neglected, forgotten, or secondary to another client. They were available and responsive to my calls and emails. I was consulted with each time a decision needed to be made. I found Ms. DeCosta very forward-thinking. She anticipated events to come and was ready for them when they occurred. Thankfully, both of my cases were settled before the trial date. Since settlement, Ms. DeCosta and Jenn have continued to provide the same high quality assistance in closing out the cases as they did while working on them for trial. Even though legal issues are something I never want to be involved with again, if I found I was, I would turn to the DeCosta Law Firm again. I would recommend the firm to friends and family. This is a firm I trust. You can too!