Government liability for unsafe roads – pavement edge drop offs
Pavement edge drop offs are a well-recognized hazard for motorists. In addition to causing drivers to lose control and crash in single-vehicle crashes, drivers who encounter pavement edge drop offs sometimes also cross into the oncoming lane of travel and cause head-on collisions as a result of steering sharply to the left...
Child window falls at apartment buildings
The danger of young children falling from upper-story apartment windows has been recognized for decades. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 25 children age 10 and younger die each year as a result of falls from windows. The King County Department of Public Health estimates that nationwide, almost 5,000 children are...
12 Stritmatter Attorneys Selected to 2026 Super Lawyers
We are proud to announce that 12 Stritmatter Law attorneys have been named to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists for 2026. Karen Koehler once again earned a spot on the Top 50 Women and Top 100 Overall lists, an honor reserved for the very best in the profession.
What Is Super Lawyers?Super...
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...
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.
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...
Seattle to Review Roadway Safety to Avoid Pedestrian Accidents
Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka, chair of the STEPS Committee (Safety, Transportation, Engineering Project, Sports & Experiences), recently called for an independent audit of Seattle’s traffic safety practices to determine if the City is taking effective measures to improve safety and avoid pedestrian accidents. The purpose of the STEPS Committee is to...
Lawsuits Filed Against Washington Counties for Decades of Child Sexual Abuse in Juvenile Detention
SEATTLE, WA — Stritmatter Law has filed two separate civil lawsuits against Benton-Franklin County and Grays Harbor County on behalf of nine survivors who were allegedly sexually abused as minors while detained in county-operated juvenile detention facilities. The plaintiffs—now adults—allege that detention officers used their positions of authority to groom, coerce,...
Hospital Fall Prevention: What Patients and Families Should Know
Patient falls in hospitals have been recognized as a major patient safety issue for many years.
In 2005, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations added reducing the risk of patient falls to its list of National Patient Safety Goals.
In 2013, the Agency...
14 Stritmatter Attorneys Selected to 2025 Super Lawyers
We are proud to announce that 14 Stritmatter Law attorneys have been named to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists for 2025. Karen Koehler once again earned a spot on the Top 50 Women and Top 100 Overall lists, an honor reserved for the very best in the profession.