Thank you all for your support through endorsing and raising awareness of the injustice due to the wrongful death laws.
Although we had a victory in Senate, the wrongful death bill unfortunately failed to advance in the House of Representatives. This occurred as the legislative session hit the final cut-off time for passage of policy bills from the opposite House. The Bill was called up and on the Board for a vote as the last bill before cut off, and then both sides went in to caucus discussion and a vote count. When they returned to the floor, the whole Republican caucus locked up against the bill. We had known for several weeks that we needed Republican votes, as the bill only had 49 of the 50 Democrats, and the one "no" vote was very solid against us. When they returned to the floor, there were still only 49 votes for the measure, despite every attempt to persuade the holdout, Rep. Steve Bergquist from the 11th District in South Seattle. We also had a potential problem with a several liability amendment being attached to the bill with 50 votes, but regardless of the amendment, the final passage vote was still 49-49. That is of course not a constitutional majority and the bill would have failed. The House finally adjourned with no action.
As noted, we had known for several weeks that we needed the Republican votes to pass this bill. We also knew that at some point, House GOP leadership would make a hard run to get the whole caucus against the bill. We had hoped we had enough Republican support to keep that from happening, but in the end, the whole GOP caucus locked up against us. With Rep. Bergquist, whorefused to really even hear our point of view on his concerns,that gave a solid 49 votes against. As to the GOP, this is an issue where we had the chance to break down some of the historic differences we have had, on an issue that many members had stated they agreed with us on it.
Although our coalition is very disappointed and feels hurt from this, we are more sorry for the families of victims from the "Ride the Ducks" incident and other communities who faced injustice due to the wrongful death laws. They will not get the recognition under the law that losses like theirs are recognized in the law, when they have had a child snatched away and killed by someone else's wrongful acts. Instead , 49 members of the House chose to stand with the archaic legal protections for those responsible for the death, rather than the rights of parents who suffered the ultimate loss. We will remember this fact. These families stuck together, supported each other, and worked as hard as humanly possible to help us advance this measure as far as it did go. Our hearts really go out to these people.
We would like to give huge recognition to Sen. Bob Hasegawa and Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos for their perseverance and efforts on sponsoring the wrongful death bills and continuing to address the needs of our communities. We also would like to recognize Sen. Sharon Nelson, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, courageous votes from Sen. Mark Miloscia, while in the House, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, Rep. Drew Hansen, rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, Rep. Timm Ormsby, and Rep. Markus Riccelli for their outstanding support. We have much to be proud of and grateful for, in the amazing help and support we got from so many to get this far. WE WILL COME BACK and WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. Thank you Wrongful Death Law Coalition
call to ACTION: Support the Wrongful Death LAW Campaign
C.A.C.A. Seattle joined the Wrong Death Law Coalition and endorses Washington State House Bill HB2262sponsored by Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, and Senate Bill SB6015 sponsored by Senator Bob Hasegawa, towards amending RCW 4.20.020 (Wrongful death - Beneficiaries of Action) concerning nonresident beneficiaries of wrongful death actions.We need your help to push this amendment through the state legislature:
Go to Olympia on January 18 to show support during the hearing for the senate bill.
Call your district representative or senator supporting HB 2262 and SB 6015. We provide a script here.
Share with your friends and ask for their support!
YOUR participation makes a huge difference to the outcome of this and other events. Get involved! Contact wrongfuldeathcoalition@gmail.com if you would like to get involved or provide support.
The Issue: On September 24, 2015, five students were killed and 69 others were injured from North Seattle Collegewhen their charter bus was hit by a neglected and defective Ride the Ducks of Seattle vehicle on Aurora Bridge. Those students were Haram Kim (South Korea), Runjie Song (China), Mami Sato (Japan), Ivan Putradanto (Indonesia), and Claudia Derschmidt (Austria).
Because of Washington’s “Wrongful Death Law” (RCW 4.20.020) from 1917, only immediate family who are U.S. residents at the time of death can claim damages. This statue was added during the time of racism and discrimination against Chinese laborers in the 1900s, leaving the state not liable for wrongful death based merely on national origin.
Haram Kim’s donated organs were utilized to save the lives of ten Washington State residents, yet her family has still not seen justice. Like other victim’s families of the Ride the Ducks accident, Haram’s family have tried suing and have been unsuccessful due to this old, anti-immigrant statute.
These families deserve justice. RCW 4.20.020 (Wrongful death—Beneficiaries of action) needs to be amended to include language in-line with current existing legislation, recognize the loss of an adult child to maintain a cause of action, and allow non-Washington residents to seek benefits of deceased persons.
Bill sponsors: Senator Bob Hasegawa is the main sponsor for the Senate bill- SB 6015 - Concerning actions for wrongful injury or death, while Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos is the main sponsor for the House Bill- HB 2262 - Concerning actions for wrongful injury or death.
Our ask: Please take the time today to show your support and endorse the SB 6015 and HB 2262.. Help us tell WA State policy makers that we need language in-line with current existing legislation to allow people the right to seek benefits of their deceased loved ones, regardless of residency status.
The Wrongful Death Law Coalition: Haram Kim’s family and the lawyer was looking for an organization to advocate on behalf of them and got connected with National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) Seattle Chapter in early 2016. Their request is to not have any family to experience the pain from losing their child and the injustice they faced from Washington State. Therefore at the request of Haram Kim's family, NAPAWF formed the coalition-the Wrongful Death Law Coalition along with other organizations in 2017 so that in the future, families can get justice. The organizations under the coalition are:
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) Seattle Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Greater Seattle Chapter (OCA) Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance- Seattle Chapter (APALA) Chinese American Citizens Alliance - Seattle Chapter (CACA)Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ) ASUW Asian Student Commission (ASUW ASC)