The Spokane Valley City Council voted Tuesday to accept a $3 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by the family of a man killed in a 2022 single-vehicle crash, bringing an end to three years of litigation, city officials said.
Settlement paid by insurance carrier; city denies liability
The city said its insurer, the Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA), will pay the settlement. The city noted that, while it agreed to the monetary resolution, it does not admit any liability for the collision or the resulting death.
“While the city believes it has strong defenses in this case, WCIA strongly recommended the city settle because of Washington's unique joint and several liability laws and the significant financial risk they create for cities – financial risks that are ultimately paid for by taxpayers,”
City Attorney Kelly Konkright called for reform of the state’s liability statutes in the city’s statement, saying the current rules can unfairly burden local governments and the taxpayers who fund them. Under Washington law, a party found even minimally at fault can be held responsible for the full amount of damages if other parties are unable to pay.
Crash details and legal claims
The lawsuit was filed by the family of Bryce Adame, who died after a single-vehicle accident at the intersection of E. 16th Avenue and Bowdish Road in 2022. At the time of the crash, Adame was a passenger in a car that the city says ran a stop sign-controlled intersection, left the roadway and crashed.
Although the city agreed to the settlement, officials emphasized that agreement to pay does not equate to an admission of fault.
Local consequences and broader implications
City officials framed the settlement decision as one made to limit financial exposure created by Washington’s joint and several liability framework, which can require a defendant to pay the entire judgment even if their percentage of fault is small. In its release, Spokane Valley warned that such exposure can place significant strain on municipal budgets and, ultimately, on taxpayers.
- Settlement amount: $3,000,000
- Payer: Washington Cities Insurance Authority (WCIA)
- Incident: Single-vehicle crash, 2022, E. 16th Avenue & Bowdish Road
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Victim | Bryce Adame |
| Settlement | $3,000,000 (paid by WCIA) |
| Year of crash | 2022 |
| Intersection | E. 16th Avenue & Bowdish Road |
City leaders face competing considerations when litigation threatens large judgments: the desire to defend the municipality's actions and the fiscal realities of potential exposure under state law. The city’s statement said WCIA counsel recommended settlement to avoid the financial risk created by joint and several liability.
Calls for legal reform
Spokane Valley officials reiterated a call for legislative change. City Attorney Konkright said the statutes create an inequitable system that can force local governments to shoulder damages disproportionate to their share of fault.
For Spokane Valley residents, the settlement closes a high-profile case but also highlights enduring questions about municipal risk, insurance practices and state-level liability rules. City budgets and insurance costs are closely watched by residents and elected officials, and large settlements such as this can shape future discussions about risk management, infrastructure and the design of public liability laws.
The settlement concludes three years of litigation in the matter. The city’s announcement did not provide additional details about the lawsuit’s specific claims or the family’s statements beyond the agreement to settle and the city’s continuing denial of liability.
City and county residents who want more information can follow further releases from Spokane Valley and WCIA as they become available.
