Close-up of a police car with flashing red and blue lights at night in an urban setting, reflecting city lights and surrounded by other emergency vehicles.

Ninth Circuit Ruling in Estate of Soakai v. Abdelaziz Strengthens “Shock the Conscience” and State-Created Danger Claims in Police Chase Cases

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Background: A Tragic Outcome in Oakland

In the case of Estate of Soakai v. Abdelaziz, --- F.4th ----, 2025 WL 1417105 (May 16, 2025), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals addressed a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action involving two police officers, Walid Abdelaziz and Jimmy Marin-Coronel, who...

Ninth Circuit Ruling in Estate of Soakai v. Abdelaziz Strengthens “Shock the Conscience” and State-Created Danger Claims in Police Chase Cases Continue reading…
Female deputy in uniform smiling beside a K9 police statue, standing outdoors in front of greenery and stone landscaping.

Deputy’s Sexual Assault Lawsuit for Training Academy Misconduct Settles for $500,000

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A female deputy with the goal of joining police ranks to help better serve her community has settled her lawsuit against Washington’s law enforcement training academy, the Federal Way Police Department, and training officer Richard Klein.

The lawsuit alleged that the Academy (which is mandatory for law enforcement officers)...

Deputy’s Sexual Assault Lawsuit for Training Academy Misconduct Settles for $500,000 Continue reading…
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About Shannon

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Today, I felt inspired to write a haiku about my colleague Shannon Kilpatrick, whose partnership and expertise helped us secure over $80,000 in attorneys' fee sanctions for discovery violations against Amazon.

Yin and Yang

Bulldog’s fierce pursuit,
Wisdom’s calm shapes every move—
Balance wins the case.

About Shannon Continue reading…
"Group photo of students in suits with speaker at a conference event."

Dreams and Fears

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Dreams can lift us up,
Even when fears try to hold us back.
Each journey is unique,
And through sharing our stories,
We find strength together.

I had an amazing chance to speak to a few hundred students at DECA recently. If you’re not familiar, DECA is a program for high school...

Dreams and Fears Continue reading…
"Two people testify before a government panel in a formal hearing room."

For Chris

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Grief fuels her to strive,
In Olympia, alive,
For safe roads, we thrive.

Cammryn Gadd, the widow of Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher Gadd (Chris), has turned her heartbreaking loss into a mission to save lives. Chris was killed on March 2, 2024, when an impaired driver slammed into his patrol...

For Chris Continue reading…