Matthew Crotty
Member
Tel: (509) 850 - 7011
Email: mzc@rnwlg.com
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Gonzaga University School of Law - Magna Cum Laude, J.D. (2007)
University of Washington - Magna Cum Laude, M.A. Teaching (2004)
Gonzaga University School of Law - Magna Cum Laude, B.A. History (1997)
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Washington
Idaho
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Idaho
U.S. District Court, C.D., E.D., N.D., and S.D. of California
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, M.D. and S.D. of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Montana
U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota
U.S. District Court, E.D. and W.D. of Virginia
U.S. District Court, E.D. and W.D. of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. Federal Court of Claims
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D. and W.D. of Washington
Matt grew up in Spokane, Washington. Upon graduating from Lewis and Clark High School, Matt attended Gonzaga University on an Army ROTC scholarship. After graduating from Gonzaga, Matt served four years on active duty as an Intelligence Officer. His final active duty posting was with the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment.
Matt left the active duty Army, moved to Seattle, and obtained a Masters in Teaching from the University of Washington. Shortly after graduating from teaching school the Army recalled Matt to active duty military service. Matt spent 2003 – 2004 in the Middle East and East Africa providing intelligence support to Army, Navy, and Air Force Special Operations Forces. Matt was accepted into the Gonzaga University School of Law while deployed overseas.
Matt graduated in the top five percent of his law school class and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Gonzaga Law Review. Matt spent the first five years of his legal career as an attorney in the litigation departments of Paine Hamblen and Witherspoon Kelley. During that time Matt litigated cases on behalf of, and against, major financial institutions, insurance carriers, and other corporations. From 2012 to 2022 Matt ran his own law firm focusing on labor law matters. In late 2022 Matt decided to form Riverside Law Group where Matt maintains his employment law practice.
Matt has tried federal and state jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations, is licensed to practice law in Idaho and Washington, and is motivated to represent clients in primarily in employment discrimination, wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, and wage and hour matters. Matt attended Pepperdine University’s week-long “Mediating the Litigated Case” seminar and is willing and able to serve as a neutral mediator to assist others in resolving disputes.
In addition to his general employment law practice, Matt represents members of the military who experience workplace discrimination in violation of the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA). Matt’s USERRA work allows him to advocate on behalf of service members ranking from Private to General. Matt’s USERRA endeavors pit him against some of the largest employers and law firms in the country. The successful results Matt obtained as part of his USERRA litigation practice are available at http://www.servicememberlaw.com.
Matt is a happily married father of three children who enjoys the outdoors and exercising. Matt retired from the Washington Army National Guard in 2016 following a 30-month assignment as the commander of a 350 Soldier intelligence collection and analysis unit.
Representative Work
Current Cases
Stephanie Hayden v. SCRAPS, Spokane Co. Sup. Ct. 24-2-00151-32
Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Services (SCRAPS), employed Stephanie Hayden. Ms. Hayden alleges that in the Spring of 2023 she opposed SCRAPs director Jesse Ferrari’s directive to euthanize two dogs as it was Ms. Hayden’s contention that directive violated local regulation and the SCRAPS’ contract with the City. SCRAPS fired her days after she made the complaint. In departing SCRAPS Ms. Hayden asked to adopt a dog named Bambi. SCRAPS refused to allow that adoption. Instead SCRAPS euthanized Bambi. Ms. Hayden further alleges that SCRAPS blacklisted her to potential employers. A copy of Ms. Hayden’s complaint is available at: Hayden v. SCRAPS
Suzanne Hawk v. Dog Sciences d/b/a Unleashed Academy & Mary Davies, Spokane Co. Sup. Ct. 23-2-00428-32
An employer cannot misclassify employees as “independent contractors” in order to avoid having to pay minimum wage and overtime.
On February 1, 2023, Suzanne Hawk, a former dog trainer (also known as a Behaviorist), filed a class action lawsuit against Dog Sciences and Mary Davies alleging that Defendants improperly designated her as an “independent contractor” so as to avoid paying minimum wages and overtime compensation. A copy of Ms. Hawk’s class action lawsuit is available here.
On August 11, 2023, the Spokane County Superior Court granted Ms. Hawk’s motion to certify her class action lawsuit. The class that the Court certified is:
“all persons who have worked as dog trainers or Behaviorists and classified as Independent Contractors for Defendants in Washington at any time between January 31, 2020 and the date of the final disposition of this action.”
On October 5, 2023, the Court approved Ms. Hawk’s motion to amend her class action notice to include the following language: “Mary Davies, Dog Sciences, LLC, and their agents may not communicate with you about this notice or lawsuit and may not retaliate against you for not opting out of the class.”
The Court approved Class Action Notice is available at: Class Action Notice.
Sundie Woodbury v. The Housing Authority of Asotin County, Adams Co. Sup. Ct. 23-2-00156-02
Sundie Woodbury alleges that her former employer, the Housing Authority of Asotin County (HAAC), discriminated against her on account of her actual and perceived disability. A copy of Ms. Woodbury’s complaint is available at: Woodbury v. HAAC.
Chris Graybill et. al. v. Walgreen, Eastern District of Washington, 2:23-cv-330-ACE
Chris Graybill and his former co-worker Nash Fahmy worked at the Walgreens store on the corner of 29th and Grand Blvd. in Spokane. On July 24, 2023, a band of criminals entered the store, assaulted Messrs. Graybill and Fahmy, and then fled the store. Disregarding their own safety, Messrs. Graybill and Fahmy briefly exited the store for the purpose of getting the license plate of the assaulters car and ensuring an elderly store customer would be protected in the event the assaulters returned. Walgreen fired both workers who allege Walgreen wrongfully fired them in violation of public policy. A copy of their lawsuit is available at: Graybill v. Walgreen.
Rolando Hernandez v. City of Othello, Washington, Eastern District of Washington, 2:23-cv-103-MKD
Mr. Hernandez alleges that the City of Othello violated his rights under USERRA, retaliated against him for reporting workplace sexual harassment, and wrongfully withheld documents under Washington’s public record act. A copy of his complaint is available here: Hernandez v. City of Othello
David Krzesni v. Wellpinit School District, Eastern District of Washington, 2:24-cv-40-MKD
Mr. Krzesni worked for the Wellpinit School District as a Project Director. One of his jobs was to oversee a grant from the federal Department of Education. Mr. Krzesni learned that the District planned on spending federal grant money on a trip to Hawaii. Mr. Krzesni told District managers that the money could not be spent on the Hawaii trip. When Mr. Krzesni learned that the money was, in fact, spent on the Hawaii trip he reported the spending to the Department of Education. Shortly after making his report to the federal government the District told Mr. Krzesni that it was not renewing his employment contract. A copy of his lawsuit is available here: Krzesni v. Wellpinit School District