Jin Zhu v. N. Cent. Educ. Serv. District

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: November 9, 2017
• Docket: 94209-9
• Status: Published

Opinion

yrriTE y/ IN CLERKS OFriCE This opinion was filed for record

SOTOC COUm;SnOE OF WRSHBI8TDM at CX)an on 9f DA7E_ m 0 9 It? i -feUyi iiU.4AA^iri fi C/. SUSAN L. CARLSON , CMIEFJUSTlCe SUPREME COURT CLERK

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

CERTIFICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON No. 94209-9 IN

JINZHU, EN BANC Plaintiff,

Filed: ml 0 9 tm NORTH CENTRAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT-ESD 171,

Defendant.

YU,J.— Washington law prohibits employers from discriminating against

job applicants and employees on the basis of protected characteristics such as race,

sex, or national origin. Washington law also prohibits employers from engaging in

retaliatory discrimination against employees who previously opposed the

employer's discriminatory practices. The question presented in this case is

whether prospective employers are nevertheless free to engage in retaliatory Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

discrimination in the hiring process. In the precise words of the district court,

"Does RCW 49.60.210(1) create a cause of action for job applicants who claim a

prospective employer refused to hire them in retaliation for prior opposition to

discrimination against a different employer?" Order Certifying Local Law

Questions to Wash. Supreme Ct., Jin Zhu v. N. Cent. Educ. Serv. Dist. — ESD 171,

No. 2:15-CV-00183-JLQ, at 7(E.D. Wash., Feb. 28, 2017)(Order Certifying

Question).

The answer is yes. In accordance with the plain language ofthe Washington

Law Against Discrimination(WLAD),chapter 49.60 RCW,retaliatory

discrimination against job applicants by prospective employers is prohibited by

RCW 49.60.210(1). Therefore, plaintiff Jin Zhu's claim that defendant North

Central Educational Service District-ESD 171 (ESD 171)refused to hire him

because of his opposition to his former employer's racial discrimination stated a

valid cause of action.'

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Jin Zhu V. Waterville School District No. 209

Waterville School District No. 209 hired Zhu as a math teacher in 2006. In

2010, Waterville issued a notice of probable cause for Zhu's discharge, which he

'ESD ITl's briefing refers to "Zin Zhu." Def.'s Opening Br. at 1. We defer to the plaintiffs spelling of his own name. Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

appealed. The hearing officer determined that there was not probable cause for discharge and restored Zhu to his position. Jin Zhu v. Waterville Sch. Dist. No.

209, No. CV-10-0333-LRS, 2012 WL 220273, at *2(E.D. Wash. Jan. 25, 2012)

(court order). Zhu then sued Waterville in federal district court, alleging that Waterville had subjected him to racially motivated disparate treatment, a hostile

work environment, and retaliation in violation of42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 2000e-2, and

2000e-3. Id. at*l.

Zhu is a United States citizen who emigrated from China in 2004. His

complaint alleged that he filed multiple grievances with Waterville regarding

hostile and abusive actions by his students. For instance,

Zhu described being called a chink, a communist, and gay by his students; in 2008 Zhu was the subject of a cartoon that depicted a border patrol shooting someone described as a communist chink; and in May,2009 a student scrawled a hateful racial attack against Zhu on a bathroom wall, saying he hoped Zhu's new house would bum down.

Id. at *3 n.2. Zhu alleged that instead of attempting to remedy the situation,

Waterville took retaliatory actions against him for filing the grievances, including

attempting to discharge him without probable cause. After the district court denied

Waterville's motion for summary judgment dismissal, the parties settled and Zhu

resigned from Waterville in March 2012. Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

B. Jin Zhu v. North Central Educational Service District-ESD 171

Three months after resigning from Waterville, Zhu applied for a position as

a "Math-Science Specialist" with ESD 171. Pretrial order, Zhu v. N. Cent. Educ.

Serv. Dist-ESD 171, No. 2:15-CV-00183-JLQ, at 1 (E.D. Wash. Sept. 8, 2016).

ESD 171 is an educational service district that "[p]rovide[s] cooperative and

informational services to local school districts," including Waterville, RCW

28A.310.010(1), and it is undisputed that members ofESD Hi's hiring committee

were aware ofZhu's lawsuit against Waterville. Zhu was one ofthree candidates

interviewed, but ESD 171 ultimately hired a different candidate, whom Zhu claims

was far less qualified for the position. Zhu sued ESD 171 in federal district court,

alleging that it refused to hire him in retaliation for his prior lawsuit against

Waterville, thereby violating WLAD's antiretaliation statute, RCW 49.60.210(1),

as well as other state and federal laws.

ESD 171 moved for summary judgment dismissal, asserting that Zhu's

WLAD antiretaliation claim should fail for the same reasons that his federal

antiretaliation claim should fail. However,the district court correctly noted that

WLAD is not identical to federal law, analyzed the WLAD antiretaliation claim on

its merits, and denied summary judgment. ESD 171 moved to reconsider, arguing

that Zhu's WLAD antiretaliation claim must fail because RCW 49.60.210(1) does

not prohibit retaliatory discrimination against job applicants by prospective Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

employers. The court denied reconsideration. Following a jury trial, Zhu

prevailed on his WLAD antiretaliation claim and was awarded damages.

ESD 171 then filed a motion for judgment as a matter oflaw or for a new

trial, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence and the jury instructions, and

asking in the alternative that the district court certify to us the question of RCW

49.60.210(l)'s scope. Despite its earlier ruling denying reconsideration, the

district court granted the motion in part and certified the following question

regarding the scope of RCW 49.60.210(1)to this court:"Does RCW 49.60.210(1)

create a cause of action for job applicants who claim a prospective employer

refused to hire them in retaliation for prior opposition to discrimination against a

different employer?" Order Certifying Question at 7. The court otherwise denied

the motion, ruling that

[i]f the Washington Supreme Court finds RCW 49.60.210(1) provides a cause of action to a prospective employee against a prospective employer not involved in the underlying discrimination claim the jury verdict in this case will be upheld. If the Washington Supreme Court finds RCW 49.60.210(1) does not provide such a cause of action, the jury verdict in this case will be vacated.

Id.

ISSUES

A. "Does RCW 49.60.210(1) create a cause of action for job applicants

who claim a prospective employer refused to hire them in retaliation for prior

opposition to discrimination against a different employer?" Id. Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

B. Is Zhu entitled to attorney fees on review?

ANALYSIS

WLAD "create[s] a private cause of action against any employer engaging in

an 'unfair practice.'" Kumar v. Gate Gourmet, Inc., 180 Wn.2d 481, 489, 325 P.3d

193 (2014)(emphasis omitted)(quoting Griffin v. Eller, 130 Wn.2d 58, 63,922

P.2d 788 (1996)). RCW 49.60.210(1) provides that it is an actionable unfair

practice for "any employer ... to discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate

against any person because he or she has opposed any practices forbidden by this

chapter." (Emphasis added.)

By rendering a verdict in Zhu's favor, the jury has already decided as a

question of fact that ESD 171 refused to hire Zhu because of his opposition to

Waterville's discriminatory practices.^ See Jin Zhu v. N. Centr. Educ. Serv. Dist. -

ESD 171, No. 2:15-CV-00183-JLQ, 2016 WL 7428204, at *12(E.D. Wash. Dec.

23, 2016)(court order). The certified question asks only whether, as a matter of

law, the cause of action created by RCW 49.60.210(1) prohibits retaliatory

discrimination in hiring, as well as in existing employment relationships.

In accordance with the plain language ofRCW 49.60.210(1) and WLAD as

a whole, the answer is yes. And because the federal district court already ruled that

^ The standard of causation for WLAD antiretaliation claims is whether "retaliation was a substantial factor behind the [defendant's] decision." Allison v. Hons. Auth, 118 Wn.2d 79,95, 821 P.2d34(1991). Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

if we answer in the affirmative, then "the jury verdict in this case will be upheld,"

Zhu is entitled to attorney fees on review in accordance with RAP 18.1(a) and

RCW 49.60.030(2). Order Certifying Question at 7.

A. The answer to the certified question is yes

Since its inception in 1949, WLAD has always contained an antiretaliation

statute. Laws of 1949, ch. 183, § 7(4). Like all antiretaliation statutes, RCW

49.60.210(l)'s primary purpose is "[mjaintaining unfettered access to statutory

remedial mechanisms." Robinson v. Shell Oil Co., 519 U.S. 337, 346, 117 S. Ct.

843, 136 L. Ed. 2d 808 (1997). As we have previously recognized,"[pjeople will

be less likely to oppose discrimination by bringing claims or testifying if this court

does not provide them some measure of protection against retaliation." Allison v.

Hons. Autk, 118 Wn.2d 79, 94, 821 P.2d 34(1991). Thus, in order to encourage

people to oppose discrimination, RCW 49.60.210(1) provides in full:

It is an unfair practice for any employer, employment agency, labor union, or other person to discharge, expel, or otherwise discriminate against any person because he or she has opposed any practices forbidden by this chapter, or because he or she has filed a charge, testified, or assisted in any proceeding under this chapter.

Very few opinions by this court have discussed this provision, and no Washington

court has considered whether RCW 49.60.210(1) prohibits retaliatory

discrimination against job applicants by prospective employers. Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

We decide this certified question of statutory interpretation as a matter of

law. Allen v. Dameron, 187 Wn.2d 692, 701, 389 P.3d 487(2017). In order to

give effect to the legislature's intent, we begin with the statute's plain language.^ Dep't ofEcology v. Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wn.2d 1, 10, 43 P.3d 4(2002).

When interpreting WLAD,we are particularly mindful that "a plaintiff bringing a

discrimination case in Washington assumes the role of a private attorney general,

vindicating a policy of the highest priority." Marquis v. City ofSpokane, 130

Wn.2d 97, 109, 922 P.2d 43 (1996). To further this important purpose, both the

legislature and Washington courts require that even in a plain language analysis,

WLAD's provisions must be given "liberal construction." Id. at 108 (citing RCW

49.60.020).

1. The ordinary meaning ofthe plain language of RCW 49.60.210(1) shows that the answer is yes

The plain language of RCW 49.60.210(1), in and of itself, strongly indicates

that the answer to the certified question is yes. That statute provides that it is an

unfair practice for "any employer ...[to] discriminate against any person because

he or she has opposed any practices forbidden by this chapter." Therefore, if

(1)ESD 171 is an employer,(2)Zhu is a person,(3)refusal to hire is

^ ESD 171 contends that a plain meaning analysis is inappropriate because the district court already ruled that RCW 49.60.210(1) is ambiguous. See N. Centr. Educ. Serv. Dist., 2016 WL 7428204, at *11. However, our review is de novo and we may answer certified questions of state statutory interpretation based on the statutes' plain language without finding any ambiguity. E.g., Lopez Demetrio v. Sakuma Bros. Farms, Inc., 183 Wn.2d 649, 656, 355 P.3d 258 (2015).

8 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

discrimination, and (4)suing for racial discrimination is opposition to practices

forbidden by WLAD,then RCW 49.60.210(1) clearly applies to Zhu's claim.

First, for purposes of WLAD,an "employer" is broadly defined as "any

person acting in the interest of an employer, directly or indirectly, who employs

eight or more persons, and does not include any religious or sectarian organization

not organized for private profit." RCW 49.60.040(11). ESD 171 is clearly "any

employer" in accordance with that definition, as there is no dispute that it employs

eight or more people and is not a religious or sectarian organization.

Next, as to whether Zhu is a person, WLAD defines a "person" in extremely

broad terms to include

one or more individuals, partnerships, associations, organizations, corporations, cooperatives, legal representatives, trustees and receivers, or any group of persons; it includes any owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, agent, or employee, whether one or more natural persons; and further includes any political or civil subdivisions ofthe state and any agency or instrumentality ofthe state or of any political or civil subdivision thereof.

RCW 49.60.040(19). Zhu is obviously a person.

Third, while WLAD does not define "discrimination," it would defy the

ordinary meaning ofthat word to hold that it excludes an employer's

differentiation between people in the hiring process based on an observable

characteristic, such as whether or not they have previously filed antidiscrimination

lawsuits. Therefore, when ESD 171's refused to hire Zhu because he had Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

previously sued Waterville for racial discrimination, ESD 171 discriminated

against Zhu.

Finally, discriminating against a person in "terms or conditions of

employment" because of race is clearly a practice forbidden by WLAD,and filing

a lawsuit for damages based on such discrimination is clearly opposing that

practice. RCW 49.60.180(3). Therefore, Zhu's prior lawsuit against Waterville

for racial discrimination in the terms and conditions of his employment constituted

opposition to a practice forbidden by WLAD.

Thus, all the elements of RCW 49.60.210(1) are met: An employer, ESD

171, discriminated against a person, Zhu, by refusing to hire him, and the jury

determined that it did so because Zhu opposed practices forbidden by WLAD by

suing Waterville for racial discrimination.

ESD 171, however, argues that the overall statutory context shows that the

legislature intended WLAD's antiretaliation provision to be significantly narrower

than WLAD's provisions prohibiting discrimination based on protected

characteristics, such that the antiretaliation provision applies only to a plaintiffs

current employer and prohibits only adverse actions that affect the plaintiffs

preexisting employment status. ESD 171 is correct that discerning a statute's plain

meaning requires us to consult the statute itself, "as well as related statutes or other

provisions ofthe same act in which the provision is found." Campbell & Gwinn,

10 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

LLC, 146 Wn.2d at 10. However,ESD ITl's interpretation is entirely inconsistent

with the plain language, structure, and purpose of WLAD as a whole. We

accordingly reject it.

2. As in the rest of WLAD,an "employer" is not limited to the plaintiffs current employer for purposes of RCW 49.60.210(1)

ESD 171 argues that RCW 49.60.210(l)'s reference to "any employer"

should be read as "the plaintiffs current employer." Because it is undisputed that

ESD 171 was not Zhu's current employer when it refused to hire him,ESD 171

thus argues that RCW 49.60.210(1) cannot apply as a matter oflaw. We disagree.

For purposes of WLAD,an "employer" is broadly defined as "any person

acting in the interest of an employer, directly or indirectly, who employs eight or

more persons, and does not include any religious or sectarian organization not

organized for private profit." RCW 49.60.040(11). This definition clearly

includes prospective employers, and nothing about the statutory context indicates

that "any employer" means something different for purposes ofthe antiretaliation

statute than it does for the purposes ofthe rest of WLAD. See Champion v.

Shoreline Sch. Dist. No. 412, 81 Wn.2d 672, 676, 504 P.2d 304(1972)(we assume

that when the legislature uses the same word in different parts of a single statutory

scheme, that word has the same meaning throughout).

First, ESD 171 correctly notes that RCW 49.60.210(1) does not explicitly

refer to prospective employers or job applicants. However,this is not a distinctive

11 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

feature of the antiretaliation provision because none of WLAD's provisions refer to

a "prospective employer" or a "job applicant." Exactly one provision in WLAD

refers to a "prospective employee," RCW 49.60.030(3), but none ofthe other

provisions that clearly apply to them do so. For instance, RCW 49.60.180 provides

in relevant part:

It is an unfair practice for any employer.

(1) 7b refuse to hire any person because of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification.

(Emphasis added.) We have therefore always treated WLAD references to

employers to include prospective employers where appropriate. E.g., Scrivener v.

Clark Coll., 181 Wn.2d 439, 334 P.3d 541 (2014); of. Robinson, 519 U.S. at 341

(noting that Title VII ofthe Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241,

does not use any "temporal qualifier").

Second, ESD 171 argues that the "Rinctionally similar" test Washington

courts have applied in other cases should apply here, thus restricting RCW

49.60.210(l)'s scope to the plaintiffs current employer. This is simply not a

context in which that test is appropriately applied. Washington courts employ the

"functionally similar" test to determine whether the defendant had sufficient

control over the plaintiffs employment to be held personally liable for

12 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

discriminatory actions. See Malo v. Alaska Trawl Fisheries, Inc., 92 Wn. App.

927,930,965 P.2d 1124(1998)(coworker without supervisory authority is not

personally liable for retaliation). As the entity making the hiring decision, ESD

171 had complete control over Zhu's possible employment, and the "functionally

similar" test has no relevance here.

A prospective employer, including ESD 171, easily fits within AtVLAD's

definition of an "employer," and RCW 49.60.210(1) explicitly applies to "any

employer." There is nothing in the statutory language or context to indicate that

RCW 49.60.210(1) does not mean exactly what it says.

3. RCW 49.60.210(1) prohibits all forms of discrimination by employers in their capacity as employers

ESD 171 also takes the position that RCW 49.60.210(1) prohibits retaliatory

discrimination only in the context of an established employment relationship

because the only forms of prohibited retaliation that the statute explicitly mentions

are "discharg[ing]" and "expel[ling]," both of which contemplate a preexisting

relationship. While the list of prohibited retaliatory actions in RCW 49.60.210(1)

is explicitly not exclusive, ESD 171 is correct to the extent that specific statutory

terms may reasonably inform courts as to the meaning of broader statutory terms.

RCW 49.60.210(1)(it is an unfair practice for an employer "to discharge, expel, or

otherwise discriminate'''(emphasis added)); Champion, 81 Wn.2d at 674.

13 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

However,ESD 171's proposed interpretation ofRCW 49.60.210(1) is an

unreasonable application of that general rule.

Certainly, there are some reasonable inferences we might draw from the

explicitly listed forms of prohibited retaliatory discrimination. For instance,

because RCW 49.60.210(1) explicitly prohibits employers "discharg[ing or]

expel[ling]" a person on a retaliatory basis, it might well be reasonable to infer that

its prohibition against employers "otherwise discriminat[ing]" is limited to actions

that employers undertake in their capacity as employers. It does seem unlikely that

the statute contemplates a cause of action against someone who engages in

retaliatory discrimination against a purely social acquaintance in a purely social

capacity, even if the discriminator otherwise happens to be an employer. This does

not help ESD 171, however, because a refusal to hire is unquestionably an action

taken by an employer in its capacity as such.

Likewise, it may be reasonable to infer that because RCW 49.60.210(1)

makes retaliation an unfair practice of"any employer, employment agency,[or]

labor union," the "other person[s]" mentioned as possible defendants might be

restricted to entities that are functionally similar to employers, employment

agencies, or labor unions. See Malo,92 Wn. App. at 930. This is not necessarily

true, as the Court of Appeals has held that it is an unfair practice for a credit union

to expel a member because he assisted credit union employees in an

14 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

antidiscrimination lawsuit, persuasively reasoning that a credit union is an '"other

person'" for purposes ofRCW 49.60.210(1). Galbraith v. TAPCO Credit Union,

88 Wn. App. 939, 951, 946 P.2d 1242(1997). We need not decide that issue

today, however, because ESD 171 is most certainly an employer.

Thus, there are likely some limitations to RCW 49.60.210(l)'s application,

but none are relevant here, and the statutory structure and context do not indicate

any legislative intent to limit its prohibition on retaliatory discrimination to

discrimination within existing employment relationships. Notably, RCW

49.60.210(1) explicitly applies to employment agencies, whose very purpose is to

"recruit, procure, refer, or place employees" who are not already in an established

employment relationship. RCW 49.60.040(12). Moreover, the Court of Appeals

has persuasively applied precedent from the Supreme Court ofthe United States to

hold that '"[a]n employment action is adverse if it is harmful to the point that it

would dissuade a reasonable employee from making complaints of sexual

harassment or retaliation.'" Boyd v. State, 187 Wn. App. 1,15, 349 P.3d 864

(2015)(citing Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. White, 548 U.S. 53, 68, 126 S.

Ct. 2405, 165 L. Ed. 2d 345 (2006)). If prospective employers are allowed to

engage in retaliatory refusals to hire, a reasonable employee might well be

dissuaded from opposing discriminatory practices for fear of being unofficially

"blacklisted" by prospective future employers.

15 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

BSD ITl's interpretation is further undermined by WLAD's statutory

structure. Since the time that WLAD was first enacted, it has included the

provisions now codified at RCW 49.60.180-.200 and .210. Those provisions have

always maintained the same basic form, and they have always been set forth in the

same order. Compare RCW 49.60.ISO-.210, with LAWS OF 1949, ch. 183 § 7(1)-

(4).

First, RCW 49.60.180 defines practices by employers that are unfair when

based on a person's protected characteristics, including refusing to hire the person,

discharging the person, discriminating against the person in the terms and

conditions of employment, and inquiring into the person's protected characteristics

in the hiring process.

Second, RCW 49.60.190 defines practices by labor unions that are unfair

when based on a person's protected characteristics, including denying the person

membership to the union, expelling the person from the union, and discriminating

against the person in the union's duty ofrepresentation.

Third, RCW 49.60.200 defines practices by employment agencies that are

unfair when based on a person's protected characteristics, including refusal to refer

the person for employment and inquiring into the person's protected characteristics

in connection with prospective employment.

16 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

Fourth, RCW 49.60,210 provides that it is an unfair practice for any

employer, labor union, or employment agency to discriminate against any person

for opposing practices forbidden by WLAD.

This structure strongly suggests that "otherwise discriminat[ing]" for the

purposes of RCW 49.60.210(1) must, at a minimum,include the preceding

explicitly specified unfair practices, one of which is an employer's refusal to hire.

RCW 49.60.180(1).

However, based on its reading of Washington case law,ESD 171 contends

that RCW 49.60.210(1) prohibits only an "adverse employment" action or decision

that affects the terms or conditions of an established employment relationship.

Def.'s Opening Br. at 37. Other published Washington cases considering

retaliatory discrimination by employers have used such language, but they were

clearly applying the statute in the context of existing employment relationships.

E.g., Allison, 118 Wn.2d at 86; Boyd, 187 Wn. App. at 6; accord 6A WASHINGTON

Practice: Washington Pattern Jury Instructions: Civil 330.05, at 358-59

(6th ed. 2012). No published Washington case has ever considered, much less

rejected, the question of whether RCW 49.60.210(1) prohibits retaliatory

discrimination in hiring. We therefore must apply the language ofthe statute,

rather than the language of distinguishable cases. The language of the statute

simply does not include the limitations that ESD 171 argues we should read into it.

17 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

In support of its interpretation, BSD 171 relies on Warnek v. ABB

Combustion Engineering Services, Inc., which held that RCW 51.48.025 does not

create a cause of action for former employees who claim that their former

employer refused to rehire them in retaliation for the employees' having previously

filed workers' compensation claims in another state. 137 Wn.2d 450,972 P.2d 453

(1999). In addition to the clear factual differences from this case, there are key

differences in the relevant statutory provisions, and "[a] close comparison ofthe

language of RCW 51.48.025 and RCW 49.60.210 . . . shows that the latter

condemns retaliation even more forcefully." Allison, 118 Wn.2d at 96.

RCW 51.48.025(2) specifically provides that an "employee" may file a

claim against his or her "employer," while RCW 49.60.210(1) provides that

retaliation against "any person" is an unfair practice, and RCW 49.60.030(2)

provides a cause of action for "[a]ny person" who has been subjected to an unfair

practice. And as Warnek itself noted, Title 51 RCW does not contain any

provision similar to WLAD's statutory mandate for liberal construction. 137

Wn.2d at 461. Because Warnek interpreted materially different statutes and its

conclusions were based on "the limited facts" presented, we do not extend its

holding to the situation presented here. Id.

Thus, based on its language, context, and structure, the nonexclusive list of

prohibited unfair retaliatory practices in RCW 49.60.210(1) does not indicate a

18 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

legislative intent to allow retaliatory discrimination in hiring by a prospective

employer against a job applicant.

4. The purposes of WLAD would be severely undermined by ESD 171's interpretation

Finally, any plain language interpretation of a WLAD provision must

consider the legislature's express statement of purpose and mandate for liberal

construction. These considerations erase any possible doubt about the plain

meaning of RCW 49.60.210(1) and make it clear that ESD IVl's interpretation is

not what the legislature intended.

WLAD's purpose is plain: the "elimination and prevention of discrimination

in employment, in credit and insurance transactions, in places of public resort,

accommodation, or amusement, and in real property transactions." RCW

49.60.010. As relevant to this case, the right to be free from invidious

discrimination includes "[t]he right to obtain and hold employment without

discrimination." RCW 49.60.030(l)(a). Such discrimination in hiring and

employment based on protected characteristics "threatens not only the rights and

proper privileges of its inhabitants but menaces the institutions and foundation of a

free democratic state." RCW 49.60.010. The overarching importance of

eradicating such discrimination requires that WLAD's provisions "be construed

liberally for the accomplishment ofthe purposes thereof." RCW 49.60.020.

19 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

It is well recognized that WLAD,like other laws prohibiting discrimination

based on protected characteristics, relies heavily on private individuals for its

enforcement. Allison, 118 Wn.2d at 86. This reliance would be unrealistic, to say

the least, "if this court does not provide them some measure of protection against

retaliation." Id. at 94; see Burlington, 548 U.S. at 61-67(observing that if

anything, antiretaliation provisions should be interpreted more broadly than

provisions prohibiting discrimination based on protected characteristics in order to

effect their purpose); Robinson, 519 U.S. at 346 ("exclusion offormer employees

from the protection of[the statute] would undermine the effectiveness of Title VII

by allowing the threat of postemployment retaliation to deter victims of

discrimination from complaining"). And it would make little sense to hold that the

legislature intentionally undercut its own purposes in enacting WLAD by adopting

an antiretaliation provision that allows employers to compile an unofficial "do not

hire" list of individuals who have previously opposed discrimination against

themselves and others. However,that is exactly what ESD 171 claims it has the

right to do."* We cannot believe that the legislature intended to allow such blatant

^ At oral argument the court asked counsel for ESD 171,"You're saying the legislature has decided that, and they've said that an employer can discriminate and not hire anyone who's ever complained about, or testified on behalf of anyone who's been, mistreated in employment?" Wash. Supreme Court oral argument, Jin Zhu v. N. Centr. Educ. Serv. Dist. -ESD 171, No. 94209-9(Sept. 12, 2017), at 39 min., 20 sec., audio recording by TVW,Washington State's Public Affairs Network, http;//www.tvw.org. Counsel acknowledged that was its position.

20 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

retaliatory discrimination in direct contravention of everything WLAD is meant to

accomplish.

RCW 49.60.210(1)'s plain language, read in context, does make retaliatory

refusal to hire an unfair practice, and RCW 49.60.030(2) plainly provides that any

person who has been subjected to an unfair practice has the right to bring a civil

cause of action. Therefore, Zhu's claim that ESD 171 refused to hire him in

retaliation for his prior opposition to Waterville's discriminatory practices stated a

viable cause of action in accordance with the plain language of WLAD. Because

there is no ambiguity, we need not reach ESD IVl's arguments about legislative

history, cases from other jurisdictions, and definitions of nonstatutory words.

The answer to the certified question is unambiguously yes.

B. Zhu is entitled to attorney fees

Because Zhu is the prevailing party, we grant his request for reasonable

attorney fees on review pursuant to RAP 18.1(a) and RCW 49.60.030(2). We

defer to the district court to determine the appropriate amount offees when it

enters final judgment for Zhu.

CONCLUSION

In accordance with the language, context, and purpose of WLAD,we hold

that RCW 49.60.210(1) prohibits prospective employers from engaging in

21 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

retaliatory discrimination againstjob applicants. Therefore, the answer to the

certified question is yes.

22 Jin Zhu V. ESD 171, No. 94209-9

WE CONCUR:

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y-