Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

STATE: Don't appeal order to pay attorney fees

I was deeply disappointed to learn that Washington state health officials are appealing a federal court order to pay the attorney’s fees for mentally ill citizens who sued for being held inappropriately in our jails awaiting proper assessment and treatment (TNT, 7-23).

These citizens were grossly mistreated. No matter how many factors contributed to the creation of this faulty system, fail them we did.

I am asking the state to demonstrate the integrity this situation deserves by withdrawing the appeal with grace and humility.

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 3:33 PM with the headline "STATE: Don't appeal order to pay attorney fees."

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