Landmark $44.7 Million Jury Verdict in Motorcycle Injury Case Upheld by State Supreme Court
Three and a half years after a jury awarded $44.7 Million in a Stritmatter Law motorcycle collision trial, the Washington State Supreme Court ended the appeal of B.S. v. Holguin by denying the defendant's petition to review.
The plaintiff, a young man in his 20s, was an EMT and aspiring...
Former Child Pop Star, Stacie Orrico, Sues Christian Music Industry For Sexual Assault
Los Angeles, California - Former Christian music pop star Stacie Orrico has filed suit against the music companies and child predator manager who stole her childhood.
Ms. Orrico was discovered by the Christian music industry when at the age of 12 she won a singing competition in 1998. By...
UPEPA Meets #MeToo: The Washington Court of Appeals’ Blunt Message to Lawsuits Aimed at Silencing Survivors
(Content Warning: discussion of sexual assault and grooming behavior)
On December 30, 2025, the Washington Court of Appeals dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a pastor against his employee and parishioner after she referred to a sexual encounter between them as “rape.” While the outcome is notable, what I...
Year‑End Legal Realities: Understanding Washington’s Wrongful‑Death Statute of Limitations
Family members of individuals who have died due to negligence may have the right to pursue a wrongful death action against the at-fault party. However, they only have a certain amount of time to do so due to a deadline known as the statute of limitations.
If you lost...
Failures in Victim Protection Laws Exposed in $21.5M Wrongful Death Verdict
Karin Riebe loved her son, unconditionally. She was just 18 when he was born, and she raised him as a single mother. Their relationship was always close. As Shawn entered adulthood the relatively small age gap between mother and son transformed their relationship into one that was symbiotic—Karin depended on Shawn and...
Consumer Fraud in Washington—Your Right to Protect the Public
Consumer fraud can happen to anyone—whether through misleading advertising, hidden fees, or other deceptive business practices. Deceptive businesses often collect small amounts of money from numerous consumers because they assume consumers will not bother to enforce their rights over small amounts.
To encourage consumers to protect the public, Washington...
From KarenKoehler.com: Seattle Employs Age Old Propaganda Tactic Against Gas Works Park Victims
Karen Koehler recently wrote about the City of Seattle’s initial response to the Gas Works Park nuisance lawsuit following the death of fifteen-year-old Matthies Johnson and injuries to fourteen other young people.
This blog was originally published on Karen Koehler’s personal website.
Read the full post here:...
Justice Mary Yu Retires: Celebrating a Trailblazing Career on Washington’s Supreme Court
At the end of 2025, Washington will say goodbye to a remarkable jurist. Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu is retiring after 25 years on the bench. For many of us in the legal community, the news felt like a real loss. But it is also an opportunity to look back...
When Systemic Failures Lead to Wrongful Death: Holding Institutions Accountable
When a tragic death happens because of repeated negligence, it is not simply the result of a single mistake. Too often, it reflects systemic failures—patterns of carelessness, ignored warnings, or unsafe practices that go uncorrected until lives are lost. Families in Washington deserve to know that institutions can and should be held...
