Seattle

Former Seattle Port Police Chief Awarded $24.2 Million in Wrongful Termination Suit

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Seattle — A multi-million dollar verdict has been handed down by a Washington state jury which found that the Port of Seattle is liable for the unlawful termination of its former police chief. The ex-chief, who led the port’s police department, was awarded $24.2 million following a six-week trial centered on his allegations of wrongful dismissal. The basis of the lawsuit stemmed from claims that the port dismissed the police chief after he raised concerns regarding illegal and discriminatory practices within the organization. The jury’s decision underscores significant repercussions for workplace retaliation and wrongful termination … Read more

Seattle Jury Awards $13.1 Million to Ultramarathon Runner for Career-Ending Sidewalk Injury

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SEATTLE — A King County jury has awarded $13.1 million to Lesley Mettler Auld, an ultramarathon runner who suffered severe injuries after tripping on a neglected Seattle sidewalk. The verdict holds both the city of Seattle and the owners of a nearby apartment building liable for the accident that occurred in 2021. Auld, 53, a seasoned athlete and professional fitness coach, was navigating a sidewalk in the Queen Anne neighborhood when she encountered a section notoriously slick with algae and water. Her fall resulted in devastating injuries to her quadriceps, necessitating several surgeries and leaving … Read more

$700,000 Awarded to Seattle Protesters in Chalk Graffiti Civil Rights Case

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Seattle, WA — Four activists, detained after writing messages criticizing law enforcement on a barricade near a Seattle police station, have been awarded close to $700,000 as a jury found that their civil rights were breached. The award follows their arrest on New Year’s Day, 2021, in the aftermath of the widespread protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd. The jury determined that the arrest of Derek Tucson, Robin Snyder, Monsieree De Castro, and Erik Moya-Delgado was driven by retaliatory motives against their Black Lives Matter advocacy, violating their First Amendment rights. Each protester … Read more

Seattle Protesters Win $700K in Landmark Case Over Chalked Anti-Policing Messages

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Seattle, WA — In a verdict that underscores the tensions between police conduct and protest rights, a Seattle jury has awarded $700,000 to three protesters who were jailed after using chalk to write anti-police messages on a public barricade. This decision marks a significant moment in ongoing national debates over free speech and law enforcement’s response to civil dissent. The case stemmed from incidents during the heightened protests in Seattle, which were part of the larger national uprising against police brutality following the death of George Floyd in 2020. The demonstrators, whose chalked slogans included … Read more