Blythe Chandler

Appeals Victories

Burnett v. Pagliacci Pizza, Inc., -Successfully argued Burnett v. Pagliacci in Washington Supreme Court, obtained affirmance of an order denying a motion to compel arbitration in a class action brought on behalf of pizza delivery drivers. The case resulted in a settlement of more than $3.75 million for delivery drivers.

Consumer Class Actions

Jammeh v. HNN Associates--Working with co-counsel, Terrell Marshall recovered $1.6 million for a certified class of tenants in low-income housing mistreated by their landlords and then charged unfair interest by a debt collector.

Miller v. P.S.C., Inc.—Filed in 2017 on behalf of Washington consumers who alleged P.S.C. filed lawsuits against them using unlawful debt collection forms. The Western District of Washington granted final approval of a settlement that provided injunctive relief and $1.52 million on January 10, 2020.

Jordan v. Nationstar Mortgage, LLC—Filed in 2012 on behalf of Washington homeowners who were improperly locked out of their homes by their mortgage lender. The Eastern District of Washington granted final approval of a $17 million settlement on May 2, 2019.

Environmental Protection Class Actions

Cmty. Ass’n for Restoration of the Env’t, Inc. v. Cow Palace, LLC, et al.—Three cases filed in 2013 on behalf Yakima Valley residents impacted by three mega-dairies’ improper manure management and operational practices. The case was the first in the country to find agricultural waste from industrial farming is solid waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Eastern District of Washington approved a consent decree requiring the dairies to change operations, including lining manure lagoons and reducing applications of manure to fields in May 2015. The Court found one dairy failed to comply in April 2020 and took further enforcement action.

Civil Rights Class Actions

Mitchell v. First Call Bail & Surety--In partnership with ACLU, Terrell Marshall filed suit on behalf of a Montana family whose home was attacked by a paramilitary group of bounty hunters hired by bail bondsmen after the client accidentally missed a court date related to traffic violations. The court ruled that terms in the bail contract that would have required the family to pay the bounty hunters’ and bail bondsman's legal fees and other costs were unfair and could not be enforced.

Professional Organizations & Activities

• Washington Employment Lawyers Association (WELA), amicus committee member
• Public Justice Board Member
• WSAJ Eagle member and co-chair of consumer protection section
• National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) member

Previous Experience

• Law Clerk to the Honorable Betty B. Fletcher, Senior United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Law Clerk to the Honorable John C. Coughenour, Senior United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington.
• Extern to the Honorable Robert S. Lasnik, United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington
• Extern to the Honorable Steven C. González in the King County Superior Court.

Publications & Press

• WSAJ Consumer Protection Deskbook (2017), associate editor and chapter author
• Comment, Balancing Interests Under Washington’s Statute Governing the Admissibility of Extraneous Sex-Offense Evidence, 84 Wash. L. Rev. 259 (2009), cited by State v. Scherner, 225 P.3d 248, 254 n.12 (Wash. Ct. App. 2009).
• Non-compete chapter in Washington State Association for Justice, Washington Employment Law Deskbook (Judith A. Lonnquist ed., 2d ed. 2009) (chapter co-author).