Attorneys
Matthew S. Sweeting
Matt Sweeting began his law practice in 1987 when first admitted to the Washington State Bar. Prior to practicing law he worked as a claims adjuster for a large insurance company and a claims consultant for a large insurance brokerage, with most of his time spent working on Longshore and Maritime claims. He also worked as a paralegal working on claimant’s Longshore claims for an attorney in Tacoma Washington. While finishing his undergraduate college education at Washington State University he worked as an investigator for a Portland, Oregon law firm that defended maritime personal injury lawsuits brought against ship owners. He worked full time while attending law school at the University of Puget Sound School of Law.
Since opening his practice in 1987, Matt has handled cases at all court levels in Washington, including arguing at the Washington State Supreme Court. He is also admitted to practice and has done so in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington.
Matt is on the Board of Directors for WILG, a national worker’s compensation association for attorney’s that represent injured workers. His current practice includes representing Longshore and Shipyard workers under the Longshore Act, Maritime personal injury cases, and other personal injury cases.
In his spare time Matt enjoys spending time with his son and daughter and three grandsons, and boating, fishing, and travelling.
Jeffrey L. Rhodes
Before moving to Tacoma to form Sweeting Rhodes, Jeff worked for the ILWU-PMA Welfare Plan recovering paid benefits under the Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, ERISA, and the laws of Washington, Oregon, and California. While at the Welfare Plan, he graduated cum laude from the University of San Francisco School of Law as an evening student on a scholarship. At USF, he served as a senior editor of the USF Maritime Law Journal and was honored as a Peggy Browning Fellow for his interest and experience in employee advocacy. Jeff also clerked at Neyhart, Anderson, Flynn & Grosboll, a San Francisco law firm representing labor organizations and injured workers. He is licensed to practice law in both Washington and California.
Taryn Harris
Prior to joining Sweeting Rhodes Law, Taryn Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts in History with a Minor in Spanish at the University of Washington. She later attended law school at the University of Washington School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Harris was a Student Attorney in the Civil Rights & Justice Clinic, the Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Washington International Law Journal, President of an affinity student organization, and Vice President of Mentorship of the Women’s Law Caucus. Based on her academic performance, Ms. Harris was awarded a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in White Collar Crime.
Ms. Harris has worked in law for over 10 years. Prior to law school, Ms. Harris worked for six years as a college intern, legal assistant, and trial paralegal at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in their Civil and Criminal Divisions. During law school, Ms. Harris interned in-house at Axon on their Litigation team, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, and as a Rule 9 Licensed Legal Intern at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Ms. Harris was previously a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney at King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where she gained valuable courtroom experience and completed many jury trials, various motions, and courtroom calendars. She is licensed to practice law in Washington State.
In her free time, Ms. Harris enjoys traveling, concerts, and trying new restaurants.