FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A lawsuit has been filed against Shawn Harju, a local attorney and business owner, accusing her of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that resulted in nearly $20 million in losses for Highmore Financing Company. The allegations, detailed in a recent filing in King County Superior Court, include multiple charges ranging from breach of fiduciary duty to civil conspiracy.
Harju, who practices law under Chrysalis Solutions, also owns Three Trees Yoga in Federal Way and holds the position of vice chair on the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce board of directors. These roles have placed her in a prominent position within the community, now overshadowed by the legal controversies.
The complex case unfolds with accusations that highlight a sophisticated financial scheme involving fake invoices and unauthorized fund disbursements. According to court documents, Harju and her associated firm, Equinox Law Group of Bellevue, allegedly diverted funds intended for high-end computer servers and equipment from a company named Storbyte, to other businesses under false pretenses.
Highmore Financing had entered into an escrow agreement with Harju beginning September 20, 2019, and ending January 30, 2020, to manage the funds for the purchase of equipment by Jason Greig’s company, The Greig Companies (TGC). The initial agreements stipulated that these funds were to be paid exclusively to Storbyte. However, the lawsuit alleges that a considerable portion of these funds was instead illegally redirected.
The fallout from these transactions came to light when TGC, despite earlier repayments, defaulted on a payment due on May 30, 2020, leaving a staggering unpaid amount of $19.95 million. Investigations revealed that Greig had strategically positioned Equinox as the escrow agent, exploiting a pre-existing attorney-client relationship to facilitate these illicit financial flows to his advantage and to that of his accomplices, including Harju’s firm.
The lawsuit further suggests that TGC misrepresented its financial stability and ability to repay the funds, setting off a domino effect similar to a Ponzi scheme, utilizing incoming investor funds to cover previous debts while presenting an illusion of financial health.
Anonymous sources close to the matter have indicated that Harju and Equinox not only broke the escrow agreement terms but also engaged in self-dealing by redirecting $114,000 to themselves. This act of enriching at the cost of Highmore has been labeled as not just a breach of contract but a blatant misuse of trust placed by Highmore in the escrow arrangement.
The legal repercussions for Harju and Equinox are mounting as they have filed motions to dismiss the allegations, with a court hearing scheduled for October 18. Meanwhile, a separate but related lawsuit continues against Storbyte, whose motion to dismiss was recently denied.
As Highmore seeks justice and reparations in court, the business and legal communities are closely watching the outcome of this case, anticipating its implications on escrow management and fiduciary responsibilities in business transactions. The trial is set for June 30, 2025, promising a lengthy legal battle ahead.