The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) approached the class representative and class counsel several weeks ago and asked us to consider a settlement of the case before it files its appeal of the jury verdict and court decisions. W know that the class members have waited a long time for justice in this case. We want to make sure we get the best outcome for our clients. We want to explore any and all options to do so. We believe it is in the best interests of the class to explore whether the State has a reasonable offer at this time because the appeals process can take anywhere from a year and a half to three years before we learn whether the court system will allow us to recover the back wages owed in this case.
With that in mind, tomorrow and Thursday the lead attorneys and class representatives in the Rekhter v. DSHS class action lawsuit will be engaging with DSHS in a process known as mediation. Mediation is an attempt to come to a settlement agreement led by a neutral third-party, called the mediator. In mediation, both sides present proposals for a fair settlement. The mediator shuttles back and forth between the parties in order to bridge the gap between the alternate proposals. In this case, the mediator is a retired superior court judge. The process takes some time; this mediation is scheduled for two days. The mediator’s job is to bring the parties together. If a settlement is reached, the class will receive formal notice by mail and publication. However, if the parties fail to reach an agreement, the appeal process would continue as planned.
Please continue to visit our web site for additional updates with regard to this class action. We will post updates regarding any significant developments in the case.
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