BREMERTON — Jefferson County has agreed to pay $1.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed over an inmate’s death while in restraints at the county jail. Kevin Wayne Bledsoe, 23, died in 2001. His parents sued the county in federal court, alleging he was the victim of excessive force and gross mishandling by officers. “Kevin […]
The family of a Snohomish County man who died in a 1999 struggle with police in Portland, Ore., has been handed a victory by a federal judge who ruled a jury erred last fall in not holding police accountable for excessive force. U.S. District Court Judge Janice Stewart wrote she has “the definite and firm […]
Ralph Lowery sat in the courtroom, feeling old and tired and outnumbered. The deep wrinkles on the 69-year-old grandfather’s face and the slump in his shoulders showed what was going on inside. The Snohomish man was just holding on, waiting for one of the biggest battles in his life to finally end. A few feet […]
Harinder “Paul” Bains, with his son, Ikjot Bains at left, is one of three Sikhs brothers who were awarded $5 million in damages in a suit against Arco for discrimination after their contract to haul gasoline was abruptly canceled.Harinder “Paul” Bains, with his son, Ikjot Bains at left, is one of three Sikhs brothers who […]
In one of the largest police brutality verdicts in the history of the Northwest, Amy Conroy was awarded $8 million on Feb.2 by an Oregon federal district court jury. The jury found Oregon State patrolman David T. Henry guilty of excessive force. “I think the jury is sending a message, and they wanted their voices […]
The National Law Journal reports on $8 million jury verdict for wrongful shooting obtained by Seattle police brutality attorneys, Budge & Heipt: ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– AT 8 PM. ON Nov. 22, 1997, Amy L. Conroy had just driven through the town of Lakeview, Ore., when she was pulled over for speeding, said her attorney Erik J. Heipt. […]
The King County Housing Authority has settled a lawsuit with six current and former employees who say they were demoted or forced from their jobs after they reported shady dealings within the agency to federal investigators. Representatives of the housing authority would not disclose terms of the settlement. Ed Budge, representing the whistle-blowers, described it […]
Seven current and former staffers are suing the King County Housing Authority, saying they were punished for blowing the whistle on agency officials for a wide range of abuses. Complaints by the employees led to a federal investigation last year. The investigation found that officials had misused staff and equipment for personal projects and had […]
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