Contact:
PO Box 2317
Tacoma, WA 98401
E-mail
The Tacoma Division is comprised of 28 attorneys and 34 professional staff. The division is the “face of the AGO” in communities in Pierce and Kitsap counties. This division provides a wide variety of legal services for a number of different client agencies, such as the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Employment Security Department (ESD) and Department of Licensing (DOL). Employees in the Tacoma office also handle consumer protection and Medicaid fraud matters. In the near future, attorneys handling torts cases will be assigned to work out of the Tacoma office.
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DSHS
Most of the work of the Tacoma Division involves juvenile litigation, which is done on behalf of the Children’s Services Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services. The Tacoma Division attorneys also handle licensing actions relating to foster homes and daycare facilities, as well as licensing actions involving adult family homes and boarding homes for the Aging and Disability Services Administration of DSHS.
L&I
Attorneys Defend L&I orders before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals that are appealed by injured workers who are seeking benefits or additional benefits. To a lesser degree, they also defend L&I orders that assert worker fraud, as well as orders that are appealed by employers who challenge the amount assessed for their workers’ compensation premiums.
Consumer Protection
The Consumer Protection Division enforces consumer protection law to help keep the Washington marketplace free from unfair and deceptive practices. The division investigates and files legal actions to stop these practices, recovers refunds for consumers and imposes penalties on offending businesses.
ESD
Tacoma Division attorneys represent the Employment Security Department in litigation. Attorneys handle appeals to Superior Court that seek review of claims in which unemployment benefits were denied to claimants or granted to claimants and the matter is appealed by the employer.
DOL
Attorneys represent the Department of Licensing in litigation by handling appeals in Superior Court where drivers, whose license have been suspended or revoked, challenge their breath test results or their refusal to take breath tests when suspected of drinking and driving.
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DSHS – The AGO has worked to develop and implement the Child Sexual and Physical Abuse Investigation Protocols, the Drug Endangered Children Investigation Handbook and is currently working as a partner in the development of the Pierce County coordinated Response Protocol for Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment. The AGO continues to work as a primary participant in the Methamphetamine Family Drug Court Program in Pierce County.
L&I - The Tacoma Division now has the program advisor responsibilities for the Labor and Industries Fraud Program.
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