County one of 22 parties in lawsuit
SPOKANE — Spokane County is one of 22 counties suing the state Department of Social and Health Services.
The plaintiffs want to hold the state accountable for “fulfilling its obligation to evaluate and treat patients with behavioral health concerns and would reduce further strain on a crumbling behavioral health system that the state legislature and local governments are actively working to restore.”
The case, Pierce County v. Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, stems from the department’s decision to stop providing initial evaluation and treatment for “a rising number of patients” needing behavioral health support when exiting the criminal justice system, records show.
The lawsuit was filed in Pierce County Superior Court on Wednesday, Aug. 23.
“DSHS has selectively refused admission to civil conversion patients since at least December 2022, and, on information and belief, has refused to admit any civil conversion patients for statutorily required civil commitment evaluations since July 13, 2023,” the lawsuit claims. “(The department’s) statutory violations deny conversion patients necessary mental health treatment and impede public safety throughout the counties.”
The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare DSHS in violatation of multiple state laws by denying civil conversion patients evaluations and treatments. They also want the court to issue a writ of mandamus compelling the department. to accept the patients for evaluations.
Participating counties include Lincoln, Pierce, Spokane and others along with the Washington State Association of Counties.
A motion for preliminary injunction is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 8, according to the Pierce County Superior Court website.
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