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$14,000 Settlement in Seattle Jail Excessive Force and Failure to Treat Seizure Disorder

Washington State’s King County paid $14,310.10 to settle the claim of Nikki Stivers, who was arrested on October 1, 2002 by Federal Way police at her home on a warrant. Stivers’s partner warned police that she had a seizure disorder that was brought on by high stress.

As an officer escorted her to the police car by holding her left arm while she was handcuffed behind the back, Stivers had a seizure. She fell face down on the ground. When she finished convulsing, Officer Larry Murray hoisted her up by her arms and pushed her into the police car. She complained of severe injuries, which the police and personnel at the King County Jail ignored or failed to treat.

Upon being released from jail four days later, Stivers went to a local hospital where she was treated for a severely broken left arm and shoulder. Represented by Freeland attorney Peter Moote, Stivers settled the claim on September 2006 for $5,000 in damages and $9,310.10 in costs. The documents related to this claim are available on PLN’s website. See: Stivers v. City of Federal Way, et al., USDC, W.D. Wash., No. C05-0402RSM (2006).

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Related legal case

Stivers v. City of Federal Way, et al.,

Please see the brief bank for documents related to this case.