Private right of action
Seattle Mun. Code § 14.28.230
in effect14.28.230 - Private right of action
A. Any person or class of persons that suffers injury as a result of a violation of this Chapter 14.28 or is the subject of prohibited retaliation under Section 14.28.120 may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the employer or other person violating this Chapter 14.28 and, upon prevailing, may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs and such legal or equitable relief as may be appropriate to remedy the violation including, without limitation, the payment of any unpaid compensation plus interest due to the person and liquidated damages in an amount up to twice the unpaid compensation; a penalty payable to any aggrieved party of no less than $100 and not more than $1000 for each day the employer was in violation. Interest shall accrue from the date the unpaid compensation was first due at 12 percent per annum, or the maximum rate permitted under RCW 19.52.020.
B. For purposes of this Section 14.28.230, "person" includes any entity a member of which has suffered injury or retaliation, or any other individual or entity acting on behalf of an aggrieved party that has suffered injury or retaliation.
C. For purposes of determining membership within a class of persons entitled to bring an action under this Section 14.28.230, two or more employees are similarly situated if they:
1. Are or were employed by the same employer or employers, whether concurrently or otherwise, at some point during the applicable statute of limitations period,
2. Allege one or more violations that raise similar questions as to liability, and
3. Seek similar forms of relief.
D. For purposes of subsection 14.28.230.C, employees shall not be considered dissimilar solely because their:
1. Claims seek damages that differ in amount, or
2. Job titles or other means of classifying employees differ in ways that are unrelated to their claims.
E. An order issued by the court may include a requirement for an employer to submit a compliance report to the court and to the City.
(Ord. 125930, § 1, 2019.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT14HURI_CH14.28IMACMECAHOEM_14.28.230PRRIACFetched: 11/1/2026