Washington

Washington’s ‘Judge Judy’ Gets Five-Day Suspension for Rude Behavior

A Washington State judge who has been compared to television’s Judge Judy has been suspended for five days for rude behavior. Judge Judith Eiler was accused of belittling litigants and cutting them off as they spoke, while using words like “idiot” and “stupid,” according to the Seattle Times and the…

Aug 6, 2010 12:59 PM CDT

Naked Biker Was Wearing a Helmet, But Agrees to Say Otherwise and Pay a $50 Fine

Bike-riding in the nude has been found to be a form of constitutionally protected speech in Portland, Ore. But across the river in Vancouver, Wash., the courts apparently take a more minimalist view of the First Amendment. After a Clark County District Court jury deadlocked earlier this year on whether…

Jul 14, 2010 6:38 PM CDT

Bracewell Plants Flag in Pacific Northwest, Hires Ex-Davis Wright Energy Chief

Bracewell & Giuliani has expanded its footprint, taking a giant step from its established territory in Texas and New York to plant its flag in Seattle. Dave Domansky, who formerly headed the energy practice at Davis Wright Tremaine, will be a partner at Bracewell & Giuiliani’s new office, and Paul…

Jul 13, 2010 6:50 PM CDT

Squatters Add to Mortgage Lenders’ Woes; Eviction from $3.3M Listing a Civil Matter

As if banks didn’t have enough work to do with a record-breaking deluge of foreclosure cases, at least a few are dealing with an extra hurdle that must be cleared before they can gain possession–squatters who move into vacant homes. It happened with a mansion listed for sale for $3.3…

Jun 14, 2010 6:17 PM CDT

Judge Faces Ethics Case for Writing Letters to Court About Amanda Knox Murder Trial

A Washington state judge whose daughter is a friend of Amanda Knox is facing a legal ethics case for writing on King County court stationery to the Italian judges overseeing Knox’s high-profile murder case last year, among other alleged misconduct. In a disciplinary matter filed yesterday, the Commission on Judicial…

Jun 9, 2010 6:41 PM CDT

On the Campaign Trail

Court weighs arguments for anonymity on public petitions

Jun 1, 2010 7:30 AM CDT

Suits Claim Pampers Dry Max Diapers Cause Rashes, Burns; P&G Disputes Claim

Two lawsuits filed in federal court in Ohio claim Pampers diapers made with Dry Max technology are causing rashes and even chemical burns in babies, a claim Procter & Gamble says is “completely false.” The suits, filed by Seattle law firm Keller Rohrback, seek class action status, KOMOnews.com reports. More…

May 14, 2010 12:15 PM CDT

Fighting Crier with Ire, Anti-Panhandler Parades Own Sign: Keep Your Change!

Angered by what apparently struck him as blatant hypocrisy—a panhandler claiming in a sign, day after day, that he needed another $18 to afford a bus ticket to Mesa, Ariz.—John Fisher struck back. The 49-year-old Washington state man paid for his own double-sided sign—“Stop the Panhandlers Keep Your Change”—and began…

May 11, 2010 9:07 PM CDT

Political Spy Case Payout to Activist Includes Some $375K in Attorney’s Fees

A 22-year-old activist from the Evergreen State College in Washington will get $169,000 and his lawyers are expected to get twice as much in settlement of a political spying case that reportedly may have been sparked by a tip-off from the U.S. military that local authorities should keep an eye…

May 5, 2010 10:26 PM CDT

‘Eye in Sky’ Helps County Target Structures Put Up Without Building Permits

With the help of aerial photographs, a Washington state community is zeroing in on thousands of potentially dangerous structures put up without building permits. But the “eye in sky” program in Pierce County is controversial: Some say that the buildings at issue–mostly garages and sheds–are less of a problem than…

May 4, 2010 11:37 PM CDT

Attorneys General Target Two Companies Selling Pricey Auto Service Contracts

Attorneys general from nine states have filed suits claiming marketers are using misleading tactics to sell expensive automobile service contracts. Nine attorneys general have sued U.S. Fidelis, and five of them have also sued the Credexx Corp., which does business as Auto One Warranty Specialists, according to a press release.…

May 3, 2010 10:30 AM CDT

Con Census

Court OKs voting for felons, sets up circuit conflicts

May 1, 2010 7:45 AM CDT

Two-Sided Business Card, Potential Client Confusion Cited in Lawyer’s Suspension

A Seattle lawyer has been suspended, in part for mixing his law practice with his duties as president of the local chapter of a civil rights organization. Lawyer Alfoster Garrett Jr. was suspended for 2½ years, the Seattle Times reports. A disciplinary report by the Washington State Bar Association suggests…

Apr 29, 2010 12:51 PM CDT

Lawyer’s $500K Private Study Leads to Ground Beef Recall

Recalls of ground beef because of potential E. coli contamination ordinarily result from testing by the government, suppliers or retailers. But when the WinCo supermarket chain announced a recall last week, it was a result of a private testing program run by a Washington state lawyer, reports the Seattle Times.…

Apr 23, 2010 4:48 PM CDT

Jail Officials Recorded Inmate Threats to Murder Police But Did Nothing to Stop Him, Attorney Says

Jailhouse monitoring of prisoners’ phone conversations has previously ignited controversy from opponents of the practice over claimed violations of attorney-client privilege and inmates’ constitutional rights. But a planned $134 million lawsuit announced today in Washington state contends that officials in Pierce County haven’t been listening closely enough to prisoner phone…

Apr 9, 2010 12:06 AM CDT