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Washington DOC Agrees to Pay $850,000 to Family of Victim Killed by Drunk Driver Under Community Supervision

On April 16, 2008, the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) settled a lawsuit brought by the family of a woman killed by a drunk driver under DOC community supervision for $850,000.

Charles Roberson III was placed on community supervision by the DOC in 2003 for possession of a controlled substance. While driving on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way South in Seattle, Washington, Roberson crossed the center line and struck and killed Gloria Daquep. Roberson had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit of .08 at the time, and had just been involved in a hit-and-run accident with another vehicle prior to colliding with Daquep’s vehicle. Roberson was later charged and convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Daquep’s estate sued the DOC, alleging that Roberson was improperly assessed during intake and that he should have been under stricter supervision.

The DOC agreed to settle the case for $850,000. Daquep’s estate was represented by Michael Withey of Seattle and James Johanson of Edmunds. See: Daquep v. Washington State Department of Corrections, King County Superior Court, Case No. 06-2-35768-0.

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Related legal case

Daquep v. Washington State Department of Corrections