King County settles lawsuit by two former deputies, one current deputy

  • Tuesday, April 11, 2017 3:44pm
  • News
King County Sheriff John Urquhart.

King County Sheriff John Urquhart.

King County has settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit brought by two former deputies and one current deputy for $1.35 million, according to Sheriff John Urquhart.

“The settlement was negotiated by King County,” said Urquhart in a King County Sheriff’s Office media release on Tuesday. “I did not take part in the negotiations because I was adamantly opposed to any settlement before trial.

“This settlement denigrates the anguish suffered by a Metro bus driver who was targeted by deputies. The public deserves to have all the facts laid out publicly where everyone would be forced to testify and be subject to cross-examination under oath, including myself. Now that will not happen.”

The original claim against King County totaled $8 to $9 million. The lawsuit was settled during mediation on April 6. It does not involve the re-hiring of two of the deputies, who were fired for cause in 2015.

The two terminated deputies, Amy Shoblom and Lou Caballero (then a sergeant,) were fired after they filed a complaint against a Metro bus driver. The incident began when the bus driver became frustrated because Caballero and his team had not removed sleeping passengers from his bus. Caballero and Shoblom claimed in writing that the bus driver had used profanity against them, and used the words “don’t do nothing.”

Their written reports of the contact were nearly identical, but they denied colluding. However, the county found a draft of Caballero’s complaint which had been changed to match Shoblom’s.

In addition, when the deputies wrote their reports they did not know the driver was wearing Google Glasses and the interaction was recorded. The recording proved that neither profanity nor poor grammar was used by the driver.

Shoblom was fired for dishonesty and Caballero was fired for dishonesty and retaliation against the Metro bus driver. The third plaintiff was not involved in this incident. She claimed she had been subjected to discrimination and then retaliated against for complaining, despite receiving positive evaluations and not being discipline for any reason.

“I am confident there was no discrimination or retaliation,” Urquhart said. “However I understand a jury could see otherwise, and therefore the desire by King County to mitigate that risk.”

Lincoln Beauregard and Julie Kays, attorneys for the plaintiffs, recently won a jury verdict of more than $3 million against the city of Seattle.

“Nevertheless, my strong preference would have been a trial,” Urquhart said. “I am extremely disappointed that now this will not occur.”


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

File photo
Man sentenced in Federal Way rock throwing death

Judi Kilma retrieved a fist-sized rock after a man punctured one of the tires on Kilma’s bicycle.

t
Kent Police Blotter: March 11-25

Incidents include commercial burglary, DUI arrest

Flowers for slain trooper Chris Gadd begin to collect outside Washington State Patrol District 7 Headquarters on Saturday, March 2 in Marysville. (Ryan Berry / Sound Publishing)
Lynnwood man pleads not guilty in crash that killed WSP trooper

Raul Benitez Santana arraigned Tuesday on vehicular homicide charge in Trooper Chris Gadd’s death.

Captain Ron Mead and Corporal Alexis Robinson embrace during a memorial for Washington State Patrol trooper Chris Gadd on Tuesday, March 12 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / Sound Publishing)
Man was reportedly driving 112 mph before crashing into Trooper Gadd

Charging documents reveal details of March 2 crash that killed Kentlake High graduate

t
Kent apartment shooting injures man, woman on East Hill

Incident began Sunday, March 24 as domestic dispute; woman’s brother gets involved and shots are fired

Chase Wilcoxson, father to Matilda, 13, and Eloise,12, places a family photo at the roadside memorial dedicated to his daughters, Buster Brown, 12, and Andrea Hudson, 38. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Families forgive Kent suspect involved in fatal crash near Renton

High-speed collision March 19 killed four; families of victims call to make the roads safer

t
Kent mayor plans to keep fighting for sales tax to hire more police

State of the City address also touches on new restaurants, roundabouts and walking paths

t
Crews to begin work on $13.8 million final phase of 76th Avenue upgrade

Street to be raised above Mill Creek floodplain, paved with concrete; bridges to replace culverts

t
Smoke alarms help Kent family of five escape house fire

Firefighters rescue one male from roof in March 19 fire on East Hill

File photo
Victims identified in ‘mass casualty’ collision that killed four near Renton | Update

Detectives say the collision was caused by an 18-year-old driver.

t
Semi-truck rollover blocks Green River Bridge in Auburn

Traffic had to be diverted from State Route 18; heavy impact on Kent streets

t
Seattle church’s donation to cover asylum seekers bill at Kent hotel

Group to remain at Kent Quality Inn for two more weeks