News Release – 2001-15
December 4, 2001
San Juan County Settles Lawsuit on Favorable Terms
San Juan County settled a million-dollar lawsuit after the plaintiffs agreed to dismiss the individual defendants from the case. The order dismissing the individuals was filed on October 30, 2001. "As a matter of business judgment, the County will pay $35,000. This decision was made with the County’s insurer, the Washington Counties Risk Pool, who felt that the modest payment would eliminate all risks and the potentially high costs of trial," said Randall K. Gaylord, San Juan County Prosecuting Attorney.
The case was based on a claim that sheriff deputies improperly entered a home without a search warrant. The County contends a warrant was not necessary because deputies were responding to a domestic violence incident and they were exercising a community care taking function.
"The sheriff and individual deputies felt confident that had this matter proceeded to trial, their actions were appropriate to protect a victim of domestic violence. In view of the increasing episodes of domestic violence in San Juan County and across the United States, and to effectively respond to such incidents, the sheriff’s department will continue training for deputies on many topics including search and seizure and domestic violence," said Gaylord.
Sheryl J. Willert and Yemi Fleming Jackson of the Williams Kastner & Gibbs law firm in Seattle assisted the San Juan County Prosecutor's Office on this case.
Randall K. Gaylord