Medora A. Marisseau
Shareholder
Medora Marisseau provides employment, ERISA, and employee benefits advice and litigation services to large and small employers throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Ms. Marisseau has 15 years litigation experience defending clients involving discrimination, civil rights laws, disability accommodation, retaliation, and wrongful discharge claims, and assists clients with non-compete agreements and trade secret violation litigation. She counsels employers on all aspects of policies, procedures and training, offering creative and practical business solutions for avoiding disputes and claims by employees.
Ms. Marisseau represents employers, plan administrators, insurers, and other plan fiduciaries to ensure their compliance with ERISA, HIPAA, and COBRA. A substantial portion of her practice is devoted to defending clients in ERISA benefit and fiduciary liability claims, and in the defense of life, health, and disability insurance claims for many of the nation’s largest insurers. She also has significant experience in assisting clients with structured annuity transfer issues and serves as national coordinating counsel for a major life insurance company.
- White et al. v. Salvation Army, 118 Wn. App. 272 (2003) (established employer complies with meal and rest break rules through unscheduled, intermittent rest breaks and meal periods)
- Harris v. City of Seattle, et al., 302 F. Supp.2d 1200 (W.D. Wash. 2004) (established statutory immunity applied to human resources investigator’s good faith communications to agency)
- Rapid Settlements, Ltd. v. Symetra Life Insurance Company, 134 Wn. App. 329 (2006) (established the availability of attorneys’ fees and costs for insurer under the Washington Structured Settlement Protection Act)
- Rapid Settlements Ltd.’s Application for Approval of Structured Settlement Payment Rights v. Symetra Assigned Benefits Service Co., 133 Wn. App. 350 (2006) (established that anti-assignment clauses in structured settlement agreements enforceable by annuity campaign)
- Jack v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, 97 Wn. App. 314 (1999) (established insurer’s right to rely on “first manifest” provision, in spite of incontestability clauses of disability policy)
- United States District Court, summary judgment for employer in medical marijuana disability accommodation case.
- United States District Court, summary judgment for employer and administrator establishing short term disability payroll practice plan was not a contract and dismissing ERISA interference claims and ADA and other claims.
- King County Superior Court. Recovered over $80,000 on behalf of carrier in agent malfeasance case.
- King County Superior Court. Summary judgment for carrier in multi-million dollar agent commission case.
ARTICLES AND PRESENTATIONS
- Article, Washington State Supreme Court holds interstate drivers entitled to overtime compensation (2007)
- Article, How will same-gender marriage law impact insurers and benefit plans? (2005)
- Author, “Anatomy of a Lawsuit: Viatical Settlements,” The Brief, American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section (2002)
- Speaker, “Developing the Disability Claim During Investigation,” International Claims Association (2002)
- Co-Author, “Recent ADA Decisions: Is the Court Tinkering or Retrenching?,” For the Defense (2002)
- Speaker, “Viatical Settlement Practices,” American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section (2001)
- Speaker, “Employment Practices/Liability Insurance,” PIAW/A (2000)
- Speaker, “Top Ten Ways to Avoid Employment Litigation,” Seattle, Washington (2000)
- Co-Author, “1995 Life/Health Compendium of Cases,” Tort & Insurance Law Journal (1995)
- Author, “Conflict of Interest: The Key to Winning Your ERISA Motion for Summary Judgment” (1994)
- Author, “Oregon State Bar Health Law Manual,” Chapter 4 Update, Oregon (1992)
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Medora A. Marisseau
1201 3rd Avenue, Suite 2900
Seattle, Washington 98101
206-223-1313
206-224-8045 Direct
206-682-7100 Fax
mmarisseau@karrtuttle.com
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
· U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
· U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
· U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, 1984
· U.S. District Court of Oregon
· Alaska State Bar
· Oregon State Bar
· Washington State Bar
EDUCATION
· Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College – J.D., magna cum laude
· University of Massachusetts – M.S.P.A.
· University of Massachusetts – B.A., summa cum laude
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
·
American Bar Association
· Tort Practice Section
·
Employee Benefits Committee
·
Employer- Employee Relations Committee
·
Washington State Bar Association
·
Employment Law Section
·
Health Law Section
·
King County Bar Association
·
Employment Law Committee
·
Defense Research Institute
·
Employment Law Committee
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