The lawyers at Budge & Heipt are distinguished in our area of focus: representing victims and their loved ones following death or serious injury that has occurred in jail or prison, as well as cases involving death or serious injury from excessive police force. Due to our experience and focus on these cases, we periodically blog about issues surrounding these cases. Because every case is different, our blog should not be taken as legal advice. To discuss your case specifically, contact our firm.
Prone restraint by police can cause asphyxiation, leading to serious injury or death. Restraining a person face-down can be a recipe for tragedy—particularly when it involves putting pressure on the upper back, shoulders, neck or head of the person being restrained. When police “pile on” to someone’s upper body—pushing him or her into the ground […]
When seeking answers about a wrongful death in jail, the answers don’t always come easy. A case handled by Budge & Heipt illustrates this point. Late one Friday afternoon, a man was arrested by county police officers as he was getting off a bus near the town of Lahaina, Hawaii. Officers brought the man to […]
Excessive force by police is increasingly featured in the national news. When police use excessive force against a citizen, the vast majority of police departments require that the officers complete a “use of force report” describing and justifying the force. In a perfect world, these reports would be detailed, complete, and objective. Unfortunately, this is […]
Reported by the Seattle Times: The state Department of Corrections has agreed to pay $2.5 million to a man who survived 16 gunshots fired by a corrections officer and King County sheriff’s deputy in 2012, ending a lawsuit in which the judge raised serious questions about what led to the barrage. The settlement comes on […]
Seattle Times reports on $1.75 million settlement obtained by police brutality lawyers, Budge & Heipt: The city of Seattle will pay $1.75 million to a mentally ill man who suffered severe brain damage during a violent arrest involving 15 Seattle police officers in May 2010. Brian Scott Torgerson’s father had filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit […]
Alcoholism is a disease, and jail deaths due to alcohol withdrawal are all too common but entirely avoidable. In the United States, approximately 1 out of every 12 adults is alcohol dependent. Alcohol dependence does not just mean that someone likes to drink alcohol or has difficulty resisting temptation. Rather, a person who is truly […]
Proving a wrongful police shooting requires hard work and attention to detail. Ultimately, a jury will need to answer this question: was the use of deadly force justified by the officer’s need to eliminate a threat? Or was it an overreaction in a situation that did not warrant it? Because wrongful police shooting cases often […]
Wrongful death in police custody occurs too often. The lawyers at Budge & Heipt handle in-custody wrongful death cases against police and jails or prisons. When someone dies in police custody, family members are often left to find answers on their own. Why did a loved one die? What were the facts and circumstances surrounding […]
Drug withdrawal in prison can be fatal, particularly when it involves withdrawal from Benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines (sometimes called “benzos” for short) are a class of drugs that are sometimes used to treat anxiety, insomnia, agitation, and other conditions. Commonly-prescribed benzos include Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, and their generic equivalents (e.g., alprazolam, clonezepam, diazepam, lorazepam, etc.). Benzos […]
If you or a loved one has been a victim of serious injury and/or death at the hands of police or in jail or prison, tell us about your case.