Spokane Complaints/Settlements Related to 2020 Protests

Brianna Knibbs

Thank you for your interest in public records of the City of Spokane.  Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request has been given the reference number C001745-120523 for tracking purposes.
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Description of Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Copies of lawsuits that details police misconduct brought against the city's police officers and/or the department by civilians or protesters who were injured during the 2020 George Floyd Protests from May 2020 to December 2021.

Copies of settlements that details the amount that plaintiffs who were injured by police during the 2020 George Floyd Protests received.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Brianna Knibbs

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

Your request will be forwarded to the relevant City department(s) to locate the records you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request.  You will be contacted about the availability of the records in question.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed.  Again, thank you for using the Spokane Records Center.
City of Spokane

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If you wish to submit a response, update an existing request, check the status of an already submitted request, or submit a new public records request, please do so by replying to this notification or go through your “My Request Center” account on the City’s public records request portal
In accordance with the Public Records Act (PRA), RCW 42.56.520, this message acknowledges receipt of your PRA request, received by the City of Spokane on December 05, 2023.  This request has been assigned tracking number C001745-120523.  Please use this number in any communications concerning this request.

Specifically, you requested:
“To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

Copies of lawsuits that details police misconduct brought against the city's police officers and/or the department by civilians or protesters who were injured during the 2020 George Floyd Protests from May 2020 to December 2021.

Copies of settlements that details the amount that plaintiffs who were injured by police during the 2020 George Floyd Protests received.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Brianna Knibbs

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

Your request was forwarded to staff in the City's Risk Management and Legal Department for review and compiling of any responsive records. In addition, City Clerk’s Office staff performed a search of its OnBase system (document imaging system) for responsive records to your request.

This is to advise that a responsive record located by City Clerk’s Office staff is available by accessing your account via the My Request Center on the City’s public records request portal (GovQA).
The resolution being provided can also be viewed online by utilizing the City Clerk’s Public Records search tool on the City’s website at the following link: https://publicdocs.spokanecity.org/cityclerkrecords/. Once on the site type RES 2022-0050 into the File number field and hit the search button. If you have any issues utilizing the site, please let me know.

Upon review of the settlement resolution being provided, you will notice it advised there was a Claims for Damages filed with the City of Spokane. If you wish to receive a copy of the Claims for Damages that was filed, please advise at your earliest convenience.

Risk Management and Legal Department staff are in the process of reviewing your request and searching for/compiling any additional responsive records. We reasonably anticipate requiring approximately 30 days, or until on or about January 12, 2024, to provide a next installment for your request. We will follow up with you on or about that date regarding the status of your request. If responsive records become available in advance of this estimate, we will let you know. Conversely, if City staff encounters a need to extend our estimate, we will advise accordingly.

Sincerely,

Sabrina Groves
Administrative Specialist

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If you wish to submit a response, update an existing request, check the status of an already submitted request, or submit a new public records request, please do so by replying to this notification or go through your “My Request Center” account on the City’s public records request portal
This is a follow up to my December 13, 2023, message to you regarding your December 5, 2023, public records request assigned tracking number C001745-120523.

This is to advise that a second and final installment of responsive records located by Risk Management and City Clerk’s Office staff are available by accessing your account via the My Request Center on the City’s public records request portal (GovQA). The records being provided are two settlements and two claims for damages.

You will notice upon review of the record titled “PISKEL YAHNE KOVARIK LAWYERS ON BEHALF OF CHANDRA HAINE.pdf,” there was a three page letter and a USB drive that were provided with the claim. The three page letter is exempt pursuant to number 28 on the exempt log that is being provided to you via your GovQA account. The USB drive is exempt pursuant to number 33 on the exemption log.

Further, you will notice upon review of the record titled “JAMES NASON PISKEL YAHNE KOVARIK E.pdf,” there was a four page letter and thumb drive that were provide with the claim. The four page letter is exempt pursuant to number 28 on the exemption log and the thumb drive is exempt pursuant to number 33 on the exemption log.

In accordance with Section 6.5 of the City’s Public Records Request policy, if you wish to appeal a determination to withhold information, you may petition in writing or by email to the City Clerk’s Office for a review of the determination within sixty (60) days of the denial of access.  Please include a copy of, or reasonably identify, the part of the response to which you object.  Your petition will be forwarded to the Hearing Examiner, who will consider the petition and either affirm or reverse the determination within ten (10) business days following the City’s receipt of the petition, or within such greater period of time as the City and the requestor mutually agree to. You may obtain a court review of the denial of your request pursuant to RCW 42.56.520 at the conclusion of the two business days after the initial denial, regardless of any internal administrative review.  The complete Public Records Request Policy may be accessed at the following website: https://my.spokanecity.org/administrative/public-records/.

No additional responsive records to your request were located. This request is now concluded and closed. If you feel we have overlooked anything in responding to your request or if we may be of further assistance, please advise.

Sincerely,

Sabrina Groves
Administrative Specialist
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the Spokane Public Records Center (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HSVD4CrS9uFW2stupoI-2F3P-2FCR9v4w4dDGSabyWOuZGyKOxaNTcvv-2F4ALTGWf3-2FBgaPBaVltIhzYDixXBSmQVPYQLuPFTDdkmaa1TLdm7xAd2jt3hoNdL85Mh98Gvr4nmEVFirzbCnFjjP7Tn2l7pz1Y-3Df1xa_s54urphZxA5avD3Hzz7f7fc0WVutMy5onFebUyg0wf-2BDYjblEaAFMqO6-2B0NEQf2Xi3lyMqsL0KBC77uAYVliJWumWKJddaTc1oOv2W6PuazAOZHZeVxE7ECksBnLL1dww81EXgpI0jU-2FKKq7-2FL5-2BB0IdJW6Jcq73M-2BZppGoavgbP3DH4mZpvtCJlcFCohn2VuzOrVEuxJ5T2KiWr86WRiW00zEZQTjd01QeOMvCLfR0Ba6u0p-2FguWyMMEJt5NI7IALo0wszb0mhdEhiPjZV0vZcziTupjmoH99sF2iDbS16A4X-2F7IEDd75vKeyqVITKL5OrAQbBwQppe09jqa1qZnkXh2cV6LJO1D6cSkLXN3Bu-2FTY-2BJhHZhhV1RTVknGqd4ihsUIWHFZjM-2Fy9AYZeqfvg-3D-3D)