Advancing justice and equality in the workplace and beyond.
Employment
We advise and represent employees against their employers. Whether you have an employment contract that you need help to understand, or you have been discriminated against, harassed, or been fired wrongfully, we fight for equality in the workplace for employees.
Personal Injury
At McHugh Law, we have represented clients in many types of different injuries including car accidents, dog bites, wrongful death, and much more. If you have been injured, we will work your case hard, leave no stone unturned, and make sure to achieve the best financial position for you.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment & assault take many shapes and forms and can happen in a multitude of ways. We have held countless sexual harassers accountable for using gender or sex to discriminate and gain power over our clients. We stand up tall to harassers in court and in the press.
Colin McHugh was my counsel for a labor matter. I was most impressed with his command of the facts in a complex case. He was attentive to and patient with his anxious client.
– John • Employment Law Client
What We do
McHugh Law is a civil litigation law firm that focuses on plaintiff-side employment and personal injury cases. We pride ourselves on standing up for the little guy and fighting against the goliaths. Whether the opposing party is a Fortune 500 company, a top insurance company, or a government entity, we are not afraid to speak truth to power and fight hard for results for our clients.
Sexual Harassment
We have successfully represented victims of sexual harassment against small, medium, and large employers. If you are experiencing sexual harassment at work, you don’t have to deal with it alone.
Race Discrimination
McHugh Law can help you stamp out race discrimination. We represent clients experiencing race, national origin, and immigration status discrimination of all kinds. McHugh Law is here to help.
Non-Competes
Our employment lawyer reviews, negotiates, drafts, and litigates restrictive covenants including non-competes, non-solicitations, and confidentiality agreements. Reach out today!
Family & Pregnancy Leave
The law protects your job for taking leave regarding health issues, pregnancy, and family leave. Whether you are planning leave, need accommodations, or you were fired or retaliated against for taking leave, we represent a wide range of clients. McHugh Law is here to help.
Dog Bites
Dog bites or other animal-caused injuries can be very serious. Our attorney has represented numerous clients that have been injured. We work hard for our clients to attain compensation for their injuries. Let us help you navigate the personal injury law so you can heal and move on.
Car Accidents
McHugh Law has represented clients from small fender benders all the way up to wrongful death cases related to car accidents. We take the pressure off of our clients, deal with the insurance companies, and if necessary, fight hard in court for our injured clients.
Our Personal Injury & Employment Attorney
Since beginning his practice approximately a decade ago, Colin has focused his practice representing marginalized individuals in both employment and personal injury cases. He has represented clients in many types of employment cases including sexual harassment, employment discrimination, retaliation, and restrictive covenants, such as non-competes.
Although Colin has advised and represented employers in the past (which gives him a unique and balanced perspective), he currently exclusively represents individual plaintiffs in employment and other civil cases. He also has experience in many types of civil litigation matters such as personal injury cases, slip and fall issues, and animal-related injuries such as dog bites.
- Super Lawyers 2023 WA Rising Stars List
- Super Lawyers 2022 WA Rising Stars List
- Super Lawyers 2021 WA Rising Stars List
- Accomplished & Under 40 Award 2021 – Vancouver Business Journal
- Super Lawyers 2020 WA Rising Stars List
With his assistance and guidance, I was able to resolve a multitude of issues and complications that I was experiencing stemming from work, which had a profound effect on my personal life.
Thank you Colin.
– Steve • Employment Law Client
Our Goals
Our goal is to attain the best possible results for our clients and make sure they are made whole to the best of our ability.
At McHugh Law, we look forward to the day that our clients can move on from some of the worst experiences of their lives and know that they are better off from working with us.
Our Focus
Colin has focused his practice representing marginalized individuals in both employment and personal injury cases since 2014.
He currently exclusively represents individual plaintiffs in employment law and personal injury law civil cases.
Our Results
Colin’s breadth of experience makes him a compassionate counselor and a fierce advocate in the courtroom, recovering millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for his clients. At McHugh Law, we are here to listen to your story, provide the tools to prepare your case for trial, and work hard to achieve the best results possible.
Mission
I seek justice for my clients and empower them through the law.
Happy Clients
Recent Press Stories
Camas Pregnancy Discrimination
A hair stylist at a salon was fired while on maternity leave and requesting a modified schedule to return to her position. Mr. McHugh sued the Camas salon and its owner for pregnancy discrimination and wrongful termination.
Disability Discrimination at Ridgefield Barn
Mr. McHugh represented an employee of a Ridgefield equestrian center who was terminated when he informed his employer that he was in the hospital for a heart condition. On behalf of the employee, Mr. McHugh sued the barn and its owners for disability discrimination and retaliation.
Sexual Harassment and Religious Discrimination
Mr. McHugh represented a former employee of a real estate development firm in Vancouver, Washington, claiming sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and religious discrimination. The employee alleged that she was strongly encouraged to go to prayer meetings, was sexually harassed by a co-worker and one of her supervisors, and when she reported her concerns, management did not take reasonable steps to address the hostile work environment.
PeaceHealth Race Discrimination Case
In a complaint filed in Clark County Superior Court, a former PeaceHealth employee alleges the hospital system subjected him to months of racial discrimination. Vancouver attorney Colin F. McHugh filed the lawsuit Friday on behalf of Washougal resident, who worked as a project manager for PeaceHealth.
CalPortland Work Safety Retaliation Case
McHugh Law, PLLC represents a deck hand and “miner” on a dredge and barge who worked for CalPortland and was terminated for reporting dangerous hours and working conditions to his supervisor. The miner has been awarded around $500,000.00 in backpay, attorneys’ fees and costs. The case is currently under review by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission after being repeatedly appealed by CalPortland.
Disability Discrimination Case Against WA DOC
Mr. McHugh represented Corrections Officer employed by the Washington Department of Corrections, who was being discriminated against for having a hearing condition and using cochlear implants. The facility’s managers forced the officer to go through a series of hearing “tests” on an open radio line that could be heard by virtually all of his co-workers and inmates at the facility, and prevented the officer from returning to work, despite being released back to work by his medical providers.
Legal Resources
What Types of Comments or Behaviors Qualify as Sexual Harassment at Work?
I am often asked what “counts” as sexual harassment in the workplace. As a sexual harassment attorney, and a frequent litigator of sexual harassment cases in Washington and Oregon, I am constantly learning about new behaviors that qualify as sexual harassment, because harassers are always…
Antisemitism in the Workplace: What Counts as Race or Religious Discrimination Against Jewish People at Work?
Antisemitism, or anti-Jewish hate, is something that unfortunately many Jewish folks have to deal with in their daily lives. Despite strong protections against discrimination against Jewish folks, instances of antisemitism are on the rise. According to a new report by the Anti-Defamation…
Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace: An Overview of Pregnancy Laws in Washington State
I am pregnant and I am working in Washington State. What rights do I have as a pregnant or expecting parent at my job? In Washington, parents have a number of rights related to pregnancy and parental leave. Washington has a patchwork of laws that protects pregnancy…
FAQ
Common Questions
I am being sexually harassed at work, what should I do?
If you are the victim of sexual harassment or a hostile work environment at work there are many things that you should be doing. First, make sure you are documenting and keeping detailed notes about the harassment you are receiving. Take pictures of offensive media like photos, pictures, drawings, or graffiti. Make copies of offensive emails, texts, or other messages and keep them in a safe place away from the office or work environment. If there is an HR department or person that you can safely report to, make a written complaint of the harassment. Find allies in the workplace and build rapport with them, exchange contact information, and if safe, discuss the harassment in writing with them and keep copies of your messages with your allies. Finally, contact an attorney that can help you address the sexual harassment head-on. Find an attorney before it is too late who can help you come up with a plan.
I am being harassed at work. Can I record conversations with my harasser?
It depends. Often, you must notify the person that is harassing you that you are going to be recording them, if it is a private conversation. In Washington, it can be a crime to record someone if you do not let them know you are recording. If you are considering recording a conversation, you should contact an attorney to see if it is something that you can legally do.
I am pregnant and I am considering taking medical leave and getting accommodations for my pregnancy. What should I do?
You should inform your human resources department or supervisor in writing that you are pregnant and seeking leave or accommodations. Depending on what state you are in, you may have several rights including the ability to go to your prenatal appointments, breastfeeding at work in a quiet space, taking medical leave during pregnancy, parental leave (such as maternal or paternal leave), more frequent bathroom breaks, the ability to sit more frequently during your shift, a reduced or modified schedule, or other accommodations. In Washington, you can request and apply for paid medical leave through the Washington Paid Family Medical Leave Act. You should contact the Employment Security Department to request and schedule this paid leave. You should discuss with an attorney if you are planning on utilizing medical leave or accommodation before your pregnancy, during your child’s birth, and upon your return from leave.
I was just injured in a car accident. What should I do?
If you are injured you should dial 911 and seek medical attention immediately. Don’t wait to seek medical attention, and do exactly what the doctor says. You should start keeping track of your medical bills, your mileage when going to medical appointments, and any missed time from work. Additionally, you will want to keep treating your injuries until your doctor feels that you are back to where you were before the accident. You should avoid talking to the other party’s insurance company and leave those discussions for your attorney. Contact an attorney immediately who can help take the pressure off of you so that you can focus on getting better, and the attorney can focus on your case.
I was bitten by a dog but the person that owns the dog has no money. What should I do?
Just because the owner of the dog may not have any money does not mean you don’t have a case. It is possible that the owner of the dog, or the owner of the building where the dog was kept, or the community wherein the dog lives has “deep pockets” or has an insurance policy that could cover the cost of your treatment as well as compensate you for your pain and suffering. If this happens to you, don’t give up, call an attorney experienced in tracking down money or insurance policies that cover these types of injuries.
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