Military veterans in Washington State Patrol asked to complete class action lawsuit survey

The Washington State Patrol is asking all employees who are also military veterans to complete a survey ahead of a potential settlement in a class action lawsuit.

Six agency employees sued the WSP in Spokane Superior Court last year, alleging violations of a federal law crafted to compensate veterans for lost time spent in service. The veterans, one of whom lives in Spokane County, said they were not awarded additional percentage points on promotion exams guaranteed under the law.

The plaintiffs, who are represented by two Spokane attorneys, have been negotiating a settlement with the WSP. A judge approved a class action lawsuit earlier this year, and employees now have until Jan. 8 to complete the survey that will determine if they are eligible for compensation.

In court records, the WSP said roughly 20 percent of its workforce had served or were serving in the military.

The civil lawsuit has been put on hold until attorneys can evaluate survey results. The survey can be found at http://www.wspveteranlitigation.com/.