Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington

Re: age discrimination

Here's the answer to the question that you asked: If you want to bring your claim under state law, you can have it heard in superior court. If you want the claim heard under federal law, you must go to the EEOC first with your complaint. Once you get a right to sue letter from the EEOC, you would sue in Federal District Court.

Here is the answer to the question you might have meant to ask: If you have an age discrimination case, or you think you might have one, you can go to either the Washington Human Rights Commission or the EEOC and bring a complaint. They will review the case and try to resolve it. If they cannot, you will get a right to sue letter and you can follow up on your own. You can also sue under state law (but not federal law) without going through an agency.

If you think you might have an age discrimination case, you might do well to talk with an employment law attorney before going forward. Many will do initial consults without charge. Many claimants find working with the EEOC without help of an attorney to be a disappointing experience.