Plemmons v. Pierce County, 134 Wn. App. 449, 140 P.3d 601 (2006)

Outcome: Class Action setttlement on behalf of plaintiffs

Description: Innocent victim of identity theft was wrongfully searched by Pierce County officials. Once it was uncovered that the County did this routinely, the case was amended to add class action claims. The Court ruled that Pierce County violated the Constitution. The County appealed and the Court of Appeals ruled that the County's actions violated state law; the appellate court did not decide the constitutional question. The class action case was settled and the County agreed to pay damages to Abra Plemmons and to other class members, as well as attorneys' fees under federal civil rights law.