Understanding Your Rights Under Washington’s Vulnerable Adults Act
Nursing home neglect and abuse is an important public safety issue in our communities—especially as our population ages and families increasingly rely on nursing homes and assisted living facilities to care for our loved ones. Washington State’s Abuse of Vulnerable Adults Act (VAS), Chapter 74.34 RCW, provides important protections for elderly and...
Amazon’s Responsibility for Foreign Products
If you were injured by a product purchased on Amazon, there’s a good chance something on the product packaging says “Made in China.” There’s also a good chance the Amazon “selling partner” that listed the product is not the actual manufacturer. The product brand also may not be the actual manufacturer. This...
Recent Devastating Injury at Goodwill
On June 15, 2026, KREM 2 news in Spokane reported that a 21-year-old employee at the Goodwill Outlet Store in Airway Heights had both hands severed in a piece of machinery while at work. He was life-flighted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where doctors were able to reattach his right hand...
Finding Edwin Pratt
Some Union Army general tells human beings in bondage in Galveston they have been emancipated.
Some 150 years later, we have a national holiday to remember it. To remember is to learn. And to learn is...
No More Get-Out-of-IFCA-Free Card: Washington Court of Appeals Closes a Loophole for Insurers Who Commit Bad Faith
On June 16, 2026, Division Two of the Washington Court of Appeals decided Labeaume v. First National Insurance Company of America and answered a question that has split federal judges in this state for more than a decade: can an insured still bring an Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA) claim after the...
Government Liability for Negligent Response to 911 Calls
When people call 911 because someone is in imminent threat of serious harm, prompt response by law enforcement or emergency response personnel is essential. If help is delayed because a 911 operator misclassifies a call as a low priority, the 911 agency can be held responsible for a resulting death or injury.
Darcy Covert Presents at WACDL Annual Conference on Civil Rights in Jails and Prisons
On June 12, 2026, I presented at the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual Conference on the topic of civil rights in jails and prisons. When I was a public defender, many of my clients had...
What Can You Do When Your Own Insurance Company Won’t Play Fair? You Have Options
It’s a tale we’ve heard over and over. You’ve been with the same insurance company for years. You’ve paid your premiums diligently. But then, when something bad happens and you need them, they leave you hanging, drag their feet, lowball your claim, or flat-out refuse to pay.
It’s a...
Washington Government Injury Claims: Notice Requirements, Deadlines, and Common Mistakes
One procedural misstep can eliminate your ability to recover...
Chemical Plant Injuries and Deaths in Washington
Chemical tank and piping systems at industrial plants contain extremely hazardous and high-temperature chemical solutions. Safety in the design and maintenance of chemical tank and piping systems is critical for the safety of workers.
Nippon Dynawave Explosion and the Rights of Washington WorkersThe horrific...