Litigation/Dispute Resolution

Litigation/Dispute Resolution

Defending lawsuits is an inevitable reality for Washington local governments. Lighthouse has extensive experience representing local governments in a variety of contexts:

• Civil rights/42 U.S.C. § 1983. We represent and defend public entities and officials in lawsuits alleging violations of constitutional rights, to include police liability, excessive force, unlawful arrest/prosecution, free speech, equal protection, and due process.
• Personal injury/Wrongful Death. We represent and defend public entities and officials in claims alleging personal injury, such as auto accidents, premises liability, and right-of-way design/maintenance.
• Recreational Immunity. We represent and defend public entities and officials in personal injury cases arising from the use of recreational land.
• Employment. We represent and defend public employers and officials in a wide variety of employment contexts such as claims alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wage violations.
• Public Records Act/Open Government. We represent and defend public entities and officials in lawsuits alleging violations of Washington’s Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act.
• Defamation/Reputational Liability. We represent and defend public entities and officials in claims arising out of communications made to third parties.
• Land Use Petitions. We represent and defend public entities in litigation arising from land use disputes, to include condemnation actions and petitions under the Land Use Petition Act.