Estate of Leonard Thomas

$15 million jury verdict for the wrongful death of an unarmed black male killed by a SWAT sniper in Fife.

Families of victims of Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting settle lawsuit for $18 million

By Mike Carter  | The Seattle Times The families of the five Marysville-Pilchuck High School students shot on campus in 2014 have settled a lawsuit against the school district’s insurance company for $18 million, according to documents filed in Snohomish County Superior Court on Monday morning. The settlement stems from a lawsuit alleging that a substitute teacher had been told of … Read More

Jury awards more than $15M to family of unarmed black man killed by SWAT sniper in Fife

By Mike Carter  | The Seattle Times Pierce County Metro SWAT assault-team leader Mike Wiley described the police sniper bullet that killed Leonard Thomas on the front porch of his Fife home in 2013, his 4-year-old son clasped in his arms, as a “frickin’ million-dollar shot.” A unanimous jury in federal court on Friday decided that single .308-caliber round would … Read More

Jury awards $9.5M in case involving North Kitsap fire engine

SEATTLE — A King County Superior Court jury on Thursday awarded $9.5 million to the family of a Kingston man who died in a collision with a fire truck. On the morning of July 4, 2014, Jason Foster was was riding a motor scooter on Miller Bay Road, approaching its intersection with West Kingston Road. The traffic signal turned yellow, and … Read More

County to pay $1.35M settling lawsuit dogging Sheriff Urquhart

The Seattle PI King County will pay $1.35 million to settle a lawsuit that has dogged Sheriff John Urquhart for two years. Brought by three King County Sheriff’s Office deputies, the lawsuit raised a host of claims about Urquhart’s management style and conduct. Urquhart, a longtime employee of the office who was elected sheriff in 2012, continues to dispute the … Read More

State agrees to pay $3M to family of boy shot by gang member in 2010

 By Sara Jean Green | The Seattle Times The state Department of Corrections (DOC) has agreed to pay $3 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the parents of a 12-year-old Skyway boy shot in the back by a known gang member on community supervision. Alajawan Brown stepped off a Metro bus on April 29, 2010, after buying a pair of … Read More

Quantity of care | A lost voice

By Mike Baker   | The Seattle Times After enduring years of painful headaches and injuries, Talia Goldenberg — a lively, uninhibited artist — was ready for surgery to help stabilize her flexible spine. Talia Goldenberg emerged from the fog of anesthesia. The 23-year-old wiggled her toes. She wagged her feet. Good signs for a patient coming out of spinal … Read More