WA lawmakers attempt to rein in runaway lawsuit costs

By: Jake Goldstein-Street

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: January 28, 2026

Words: 837

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 3 days ago

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Washington spent roughly $500 million last year in settlements and jury verdicts in cases involving government misconduct.

The skyrocketing lawsuit payouts are hamstringing state and local government budgets.

Lawmakers pitched one way of dealing with the issue Tuesday. They want to make these civil claims subject to arbitration to reduce costs. For one, legal fees often stack up in these cases, which can end with jury verdicts that reach tens of millions of dollars …

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