Education
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology (J.D., 2000)
- Washington State University (B.A. in Humanities, magna cum laude, 1997)
- Lewis-Clark State College (A.A.S., 1976)
Professional Memberships
- Washington State Bar Association
- Spokane County Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar
- Defense Research Institute
Areas of Emphasis
Litigation and counseling with regard to employment issues (discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, wage and hour claims, unemployment benefits, personnel policies, employment contracts); commercial and business disputes; unfair competition/trade secrets violations; personal injury; construction defects; and insurance defense.
Background
After a long career as a legal assistant and paralegal, Melody became a lawyer in 2000, and practiced in Chicago, Illinois with an insurance defense firm. She returned to her Washington roots in 2003, joining Stamper Rubens, P.S. Melody’s practice focuses on litigation, with an emphasis on employment law, commercial disputes, and personal injury.
Melody is admitted to practice before all Washington state courts, the U. S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as courts in Illinois.
Melody is a member of the Board of Directors of the Spokane Affiliate of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, a Director of Spokane North Rotary, a member of the Olive Crest Foundation Board of Trustees, and a member of EWI.
Publications
“Excluding Causation Evidence in Fibromyalgia Claims,” For The Defense, April 2006