Piel v. City of Federal Way

¶1 This case requires us to consider whether a tort claim for wrongful termination in violation *607of public policy is viable based on provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW involving the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). The lower court dismissed Richard Piel’s suit against the city of Federal Way (City), concluding the existence of statutory remedies authorized under chapter 41.56 RCW prevented him from establishing the “jeopardy prong” of the common law claim. We take this opportunity to better explain our jeopardy analysis and harmonize our recent decisions in Cudney v. ALSCO, Inc.,…