The Firm
Our mission at Budge & Heipt is to hold police, jails, prisons, and private companies accountable for constitutional violations that result in wrongful death or serious bodily harm.
We do this by thoroughly investigating each and every case we take, demanding answers, uncovering the truth, and pursuing fair compensation under the law for victims and their loved ones. In addition to our own experience and expertise, we work with the support and assistance of forensic investigators, medical examiners, experts in police work and corrections, and numerous other experts from a variety of fields appropriate to the case. Our proven success is related to our hard work, passion for what we do, and our efforts behind the scenes, long before we reach the inside of a courtroom. We pride ourselves on our thorough case preparation and our willingness to go all the way to trial. We accept only a limited number of cases so that each case receives the proper attention, respect, and thorough preparation required to win.
Ed Budge
Edwin Budge has been representing clients in civil rights cases and high-end injury and death cases for more than 28 years. Ed is a 1991 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Oregon. He graduated magna cum laude from Willamette University College of Law in 1994, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Willamette Law Review.
Erik J. Heipt
An experienced courtroom litigator with a passion for civil rights, Erik Heipt is a member of the Washington and California bars. Erik graduated from the University of Colorado in 1991 and received his law degree in 1994 from Willamette University College of Law, where he was Associate Editor of the Willamette Law Review.
Hank Balson
For nearly two decades, Hank Balson has devoted his legal career to helping individuals and groups challenge civil rights abuses by governments and corporations. He became of counsel to Budge & Heipt in 2017.
In The News
Due to the important nature of the jail and police cases we handle at Budge & Heipt, our cases are frequently featured in the news.
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Budge & Heipt has obtained a $7 million settlement for the death of a
May 1, 2023
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The Guardian is reporting on a federal lawsuit being handled by Budge & Heipt,
April 17, 2023
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CNN is reporting on a jail death case being handled by Budge & Heipt.
April 17, 2023
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The Huffington Post is reporting on a jail death case being handled by Budge
April 17, 2023
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The Washington Post is reporting on a lawsuit filed in federal court for the
January 14, 2023
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.