Family of Charleena Lyles begins legal action against city of Seattle
A makeshift memorial for Charleena Lyles, who was fatally shot by Seattle police. (Seattle Times file
Seattle Times
August 11, 2018
By Sara Jean Green
Twitter sjgtimes
sgreen@seattletimes.com
In a six-page claim filed Friday against the city of Seattle, attorneys representing the estate of Charleena Lyles say two Seattle police officers “lost their composure” when the pregnant mother of four began waving a knife or knives around, then failed to order her to drop her weapon and warn her they would shoot.
The claim, which does not specify a dollar amount, is a first step toward filing a lawsuit alleging the officers violated Lyles’ civil rights and are responsible for her wrongful death. The claim also alleges negligence and violation of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.
The city has 60 days to respond to the claim before a suit can be filed.
Julie Moore, a spokeswoman for the city’s department of finance and administrative services (FAS), wrote in an email Friday that “FAS does not comment on open claims.”