MOUNT VERNON, WA -
An attorney representing the family of one of six victims killed in a shooting rampage in Skagit County says the Washington Department of Corrections will face a $10 million lawsuit over how it handled the shooting suspect.
The Corrections Department was supervising Isaac L. Zamora prior to the Sept. 2 shootings that killed six and injured four others near the town of Alger.
A representative of the estate of Leroy Lange sent notice of the lawsuit to the Office of Financial Management Wednesday, giving the state 60 days to reply before a formal filing.
The notice claims that the Corrections Department failed to give Zamora sufficient supervision after he left an Okanogan County jail in August where he served drug possession charges.
"This is someone who had 21 prior offenses," said Dean Brett, the attorney representing the Lange family. "This isn't someone who was a second offender or a third offender." Brett specializes in major injury claims.
Department of Corrections Secretary Eldon Vail today issued the following statement regarding the reports of a tort claim filed against the department:
"We have not received a copy of any tort claim related to Isaac Zamora so we don't have any litigation to comment on.
"Aside from any litigation or court proceedings, I want the friends and family members of the victims to know that staff members at the Department of Corrections are deeply saddened any time a tragedy of this magnitude occurs. We are part of the community and share in the community's grief."
The notice cited eight different instances in which corrections officials improperly handled Isaac Zamora between his August release and the Sept. 2 shootings.
The notice said that the Corrections Department failed to classify Zamora as a "high risk to commit a violent crime" and did not complete several steps required for his ongoing supervision.
Zamora was under the supervision of a Corrections Department officer in Mount Vernon after his release last August and was supposed to undergo a court-ordered mental health evaluation.
The notice also said that the Corrections Department office in Mount Vernon is inadequately staffed, with 40 to 45 cases handled by six community corrections officers.
Brett said the case was filed Wednesday with the Department of Risk Management.
The Corrections Department was supervising Isaac L. Zamora prior to the Sept. 2 shootings that killed six and injured four others near the town of Alger.
A representative of the estate of Leroy Lange sent notice of the lawsuit to the Office of Financial Management Wednesday, giving the state 60 days to reply before a formal filing.
The notice claims that the Corrections Department failed to give Zamora sufficient supervision after he left an Okanogan County jail in August where he served drug possession charges.
"This is someone who had 21 prior offenses," said Dean Brett, the attorney representing the Lange family. "This isn't someone who was a second offender or a third offender." Brett specializes in major injury claims.
Department of Corrections Secretary Eldon Vail today issued the following statement regarding the reports of a tort claim filed against the department:
"We have not received a copy of any tort claim related to Isaac Zamora so we don't have any litigation to comment on.
"Aside from any litigation or court proceedings, I want the friends and family members of the victims to know that staff members at the Department of Corrections are deeply saddened any time a tragedy of this magnitude occurs. We are part of the community and share in the community's grief."
The notice cited eight different instances in which corrections officials improperly handled Isaac Zamora between his August release and the Sept. 2 shootings.
The notice said that the Corrections Department failed to classify Zamora as a "high risk to commit a violent crime" and did not complete several steps required for his ongoing supervision.
Zamora was under the supervision of a Corrections Department officer in Mount Vernon after his release last August and was supposed to undergo a court-ordered mental health evaluation.
The notice also said that the Corrections Department office in Mount Vernon is inadequately staffed, with 40 to 45 cases handled by six community corrections officers.
Brett said the case was filed Wednesday with the Department of Risk Management.
