Scott Blankenship

Scott Blankenship believes that no person, government, or corporate entity is beyond the reach of the law. He is committed to ensuring that our legal system protects and advances fundamental rights—not only for his clients but for the broader community and the integrity of our justice system.

As the founder and managing partner of The Blankenship Law Firm, PLLC, Scott has built a firm dedicated to enforcing justice for individuals and employees. For over three decades, his team of passionate and experienced trial lawyers has taken on some of the largest corporations and governmental entities, prevailing in both trial and appellate courts. The firm has a proven track record of securing multi-million-dollar recoveries in complex civil litigation, including class actions in both state and federal courts.

Notable Reported Case Results include:

• $4.25 million recovery for two scientists that suffered discrimination and retaliation by Washington State Department of Health (2025).
• $1.68 million recovery for two public servants fired for standing up against systemic discrimination by Washington State Dairy Products Commission (2025).
• $15 million multi-state class action recovery for approximately 150 mortgage loan officers against Banner Bank (Washington, Oregon, and California) (2024).
• $4 million total recovery after verdict  in Zhang v. American Gem Seafoods, Inc., 339 F.3d 1020 (9th Cir. 2003), where Mr. Blankenship served as lead counsel at trial and on appeal, including before the U.S. Supreme Court.
• $2.5 million class action recovery for sixty-seven physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants will receive $2.5 million dollars from Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI).  
• $2.5 million recovery in Anel v. CHI Franciscan, wrongful discharge.
• $2.3 million settlement in EEOC v. Fry’s Electronics Inc., Case No. 2:10-cv-1562-RSL (W.D. Wash. 2012), a sexual harassment and retaliation case where The Blankenship Law Firm also won court-ordered sanctions and a special master investigation due to the defendant’s discovery violations while prosecuting the case with the EEOC.
• $1.86 million recovery in Miranda v. Alaska Longline, No. 2:15-cv-00148 TSZ (W.D. Wash.), a case involving race discrimination and harassment.
• $1.85 million settlement in EEOC et al. v. Lowe’s HIW, Inc., 10 N.W.P.I. Lit. Rpts. 28 (2009), the largest per-employee EEOC sexual harassment settlement in the Western U.S.
• $1.72 million settlement in Miranda v. Alaska Longline, successfully negotiated before trial.
• $1.7 million class action recovery (2018), Main & Phelps v. Quick & Clear, Inc., King County Superior Court, No. 16-2-29685-8 SEA
• $1.65 million settlement in Sharma v. City of Vancouver, et al., No. C06-5799 BHS (W.D. Wash.), the largest individual employment discrimination settlement in the Northwest at the time.
• $1.185 million total recovery in Lindell v. City of Mercer Island, Civ. No. 08-1827 JLR (W.D. Wash.), including a $1 million sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation settlement and a $185,000 judgment for Public Records Act violations.
• $900,000 settlement in EEOC v. Mason County Forest Products, 2011 WL 6010562 (W.D. Wash.), a sexual harassment/hostile work environment case settled early in litigation.

Scott’s dedication to justice is reflected in his deep legal expertise and academic credentials. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA, graduating with the distinction of Chancellor’s Marshal. He further honed his legal acumen by studying at Cambridge University in England before earning his law degree from Tulane University Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Tulane Environmental Law Journal.

Beyond the courtroom, Scott is a sought-after legal educator, frequently lecturing at legal seminars and contributing to legal publications. He has also served as an Instructor for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), where he has trained lawyers in trial advocacy and litigation strategy.

With an unwavering commitment to protecting individual and employee rights, Scott continues to challenge powerful entities and fight for justice—ensuring that the law serves all, not just the privileged few.

Awards & Recognition

Scott has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” – one of the top 5% of lawyers in Washington – each year since 2003. Other honors and awards include being named as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Washington by the National Trial Lawyers, from 2007 – 2025, and being selected as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” from 2012-2025 by Best Lawyers. Scott also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from America’s Top 100 Attorneys, and has been named one of the state of Washington’s Top 25 Class Action Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers. Scott was recently featured in the Washington 2019 edition of Super Lawyers magazine, naming him “The Worker’s Warrior.” Scott was also featured by Washington CEO Magazine as one of the top ten Employment/Labor Lawyers in Washington State, and was the featured lawyer in the employment law edition of the King County Bar Bulletin. He is “AV Preeminent” ranked by his peers, the highest rating in Martindale-Hubbell’s National Law Directory, “A” signifying preeminent knowledge of the law and “V” signifying very high ethics.

Education

J.D. – Tulane University

B.A. – University of California, Los Angeles

Bar Licenses

Washington, Oregon, Alaska, U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, U.S. District Court of Oregon, U.S. District Court for Northern District of California, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court

Organizations

American Bar Association (ABA), Washington State Association for Justice (Eagle Member), National Employment Lawyers Association, Washington Employment Lawyers Association, and the National Trial Lawyer