Fees double cost of lawsuit

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published November 15, 2008

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The amount that Thurston County must pay three women who won a sex- discrimination lawsuit against the county will total almost $3 million after attorney's fees are taken into account, the attorney for the women wrote in an e-mail to The Olympian on Friday.

Tacoma attorney Stephanie Bloomfield won a $1.5 million settlement against Thurston County in 2006, after a jury found that her three clients, all former Thurston County prosecutors, were forced to endure a hostile work environment and suffered retaliation after they complained about their treatment.

Bloomfield said Friday that she has not yet added up all of the attorney's fees the county is responsible for paying, including the attorney's fees to fight Thurston County's appeal of the jury's verdict.

The Washington Court of Appeals affirmed the jury's verdict in a written opinion Wednesday. The opinion stated that Thurston County is responsible for the actions of elected officials such as Thurston County Prosecutor Ed Holm, whom the women said participated in the discriminatory treatment. Holm denied the allegations in an interview Thursday.

Bloomfield wrote in her e-mail to The Olympian on Friday, "The Court of Appeals 42-page published decision is a victory for each of these women, and for other workers who suffer discrimination and retaliation in the workplace because it will help prevent other counties from trying to avoid liability for misconduct of their elected officials, like Holm."

Jeremy Pawloski covers public-safety issues for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.