Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

Introduction

Season 3 of Suits escalates the legal drama, diving into high-stakes maneuvers that blur the line between strategy and criminal conduct. But how would these actions be judged under Washington State law?

Let’s examine the most notable criminal activities in Suits Season 3—from document tampering to insider threats—and break them down from a Washington legal perspective.

1. Document Tampering – RCW 9A.72.150: Tampering with Physical Evidence

When Mike and Harvey destroy or alter documents to protect themselves or the firm, it goes beyond legal maneuvering—it’s evidence tampering.

  • Washington Definition: Knowingly destroying, altering, or concealing physical evidence to impair its use in an official proceeding.
  • Penalty: Gross misdemeanor
  • Max Punishment: Up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine

Even a seemingly small alteration—like redacting a key line—could trigger criminal liability in Washington courts.

2. Corporate Espionage – RCW 9A.56.100: Theft of Trade Secrets

Season 3 features several characters crossing ethical boundaries to gain access to corporate secrets.

  • Washington Law criminalizes knowingly acquiring trade secrets without consent.
  • Applies to: Electronic files, databases, customer lists, internal strategies.

This is a Class C felony in Washington, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

3. Unauthorized Access to Systems – RCW 9A.90.210: Computer Trespass in the First Degree

Louis Litt gains unauthorized access to protected internal systems—a form of computer trespass.

  • RCW 9A.90.210 covers intentional, unauthorized access to data or networks with intent to commit another crime.
  • This is a Class C felony.

In Washington, even accessing a system with valid credentials but improper intent could meet the threshold for prosecution.

4. Wire Fraud & Deception – Federal but Relevant

While Suits often depicts fraud as a corporate chess move, many of these acts—especially across state lines—would qualify as federal crimes, including wire fraud.

  • Note: Wire fraud is governed by 18 U.S.C. § 1343
  • If the fraudulent communication crosses state lines (e.g., email, phone), the FBI could get involved.

While not under Washington State law specifically, any firm located in WA engaging in interstate deception would still be at risk.

5. Conspiracy – RCW 9A.28.040: Criminal Conspiracy

Much of Season 3 revolves around Harvey and Mike’s secretive collaborations.

  • Definition: Two or more people agreeing to commit a crime.
  • Example from show: Planning to withhold evidence or mislead a judge.

In Washington, conspiracy is charged at the same level as the crime being planned. That means conspiring to commit a felony like fraud could carry felony-level penalties, even if the crime isn’t fully carried out.

Final Thoughts

Suits Season 3 shows how blurred the line between bold strategy and criminal liability can be. In Washington State, many of these “grey area” actions would result in criminal charges, including felonies.

Whether it’s tampering with evidence, stealing trade secrets, or accessing computer systems, the criminal activities in Suits Season 3 would not be tolerated under Washington law.

Additional Resources

Review our client resources here

Contact us anytime for your urgent legal needs.

About Blanford Law:

We are no-nonsense, relentless, fair, and honest. We are great listeners instead of fast talkers, that is just who we are. More than 20 years ago, Ken began practicing law with a deeply-seeded belief that every person has the right to the best legal representation available. He built his law firm on that belief. Another belief that he strongly adheres to is his fundamental belief that clients deserve respect, with no assumptions or preconceived notions.  If you or someone you know is accused of a crime or injured as a result of the negligence of another, please have them call us at 253-720-9304 or email us info@blanfordlaw.com