Elizabeth A. Adams has practiced with Terrell Marshall Law Group since 2015. Examples of Elizabeth’s work include representation of workers wrongfully denied compensation for work performed and for missed breaks; constitutional challenges to state and local laws, policies, and practices; and appellate amicus briefing in support of worker and consumer rights.
Elizabeth graduated from UCLA School of Law with Order of the Coif recognition in 2012. Before joining Terrell Marshall, Elizabeth served as a law clerk to the Honorable Dean D. Pregerson, the Honorable George Wu, and the Honorable John A. Kronstadt, all of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Elizabeth was born and raised in Seattle. After many years in other parts of the country for college, Teach For America, law school, and clerking, Elizabeth is happy to be settled permanently back in the Pacific Northwest. When not practicing law, Elizabeth enjoys running, hiking, reading, puzzles, and trips to the park with her three young daughters.
Areas of Focus
Representative Matters
Employment
Rutter v. Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc. — Filed in December 2022 on behalf of current and former childcare workers at Bright Horizons childcare centers in Washington state. The suit alleges that the company’s $5,000 penalty for families that hire a Bright Horizons employee to work directly for them is unlawful under Washington’s non-compete law, a relatively new statute that offers additional protections for Washington workers.
St. Germain v. Phyt Rehab of Washington, Inc. — Filed in April 2019 on behalf of therapists and therapy assistants employed by Phyt and alleging violations of Washington rest and meal breaks, compensation, and overtime laws. The King County Superior Court granted final approval of the $1,000,000 settlement on behalf of a certified class in April 2022.
Lowry v. Ralph’s Concrete Pumping, Inc.—Filed in 2012 on behalf of 200 concrete pump truck operators who alleged violations of Washington rest and meal break, minimum wage, and prevailing wage laws. Elizabeth spearheaded the briefing, successfully obtained partial summary judgement and defeated the defendant's motions to decertify and for summary judgement, resulting in a $2.55 million settlement approved by King County Superior Court in December 2018.
Consumer Protection
Olson v. Unison Agreement Corporation — Filed in December 2022 on behalf of homeowners duped by Unison’s deceptive financial products. The suit alleges that Unison’s HomeOwner Agreements, which Unison purports are option contracts, are functionally reverse mortgage loans. Such loans are subject to specific rules regarding who can offer them, how much interest can be charged on them, and to whom they can be made. But Unison doesn’t follow any of those rules because it contends its product is “not a loan.”
Civil Rights
Fuentes v. Benton County — Filed in 2015 on behalf of persons who were affected by Benton County’s practice of incarcerating and threatening to incarcerate indigent persons who were unable to afford the fines, fees, and costs imposed on them by Benton County District Court. In November 2016, the Yakima County Superior Court granted final approval of a class settlement that achieved sweeping reforms in Benton County, including cessation of the challenged practices.
Involvements
Professional Organizations & Activities
- Public Justice Student Civil Rights Committee Member
- Washington State Association for Justice Member
- Washington Employment Lawyers Association Member
- Washington State Bar Association Member
- California Bar Association Member
Previous Experience
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Dean D. Pregerson, US District Court for the Central District of California
- Law Clerk for the Honorable George Wu, US District Court for the Central District of California
- Law Clerk for the Honorable John A. Kronstadt, US District Court for the Central District of California
Credentials
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles, J.D., Order of the Coif
- Comments Editor, UCLA Law Review
- Education and Law Society Member
- Research Assistant, UCLA Law Library
- Williams College – B.A., cum laude with Honors in Mathematics
Bar Admissions
- California
- Washington
Court Admissions
- USDC for the Western District of Washington
- USDC for the Eastern District of Washington
- USDC for the Northern District of California
- First Circuit Court of Appeals
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- United States Supreme Court
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