MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Report: Murray accuser files new lawsuit, includes Seattle

Oct 23, 2017, 2:40 PM | Updated: 4:33 pm

Ed Murray, heckard...

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray speaks at a news conference as his husband, Michael Shiosaki, right, stands nearby at City Hall Wednesday, June 14 after Delvonn Heckard dropped is sex abuse lawsuit against him. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Delvonn Heckard has filed a new lawsuit against former Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. But this time, he is also targeting the City of Seattle.

RELATED: Two cops sue Councilmember Kshama Sawant

The Seattle Times reports that Heckard, 46, has filed a new lawsuit in King County Superior Court. He has included the City of Seattle in the latest legal action. The lawsuit argues that the city enabled Murray to use his political position to slander alleged victims. It also calls out Councilmember Bruce Harrell and Sally Bagshaw for “empowering Murray’s attacks on victims by refusing to seek the mayor’s removal from office,” the Times reports.

The new lawsuit echoes Heckard’s first. It claims that when Heckard was 15 years old, he would often meet Murray — then 32 years old — on a bus in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Heckard again alleges that Murray fostered a relationship with him, often paying him in exchange for sex at Murray’s Capitol Hill apartment.

Old and new lawsuit against Murray

In April, Heckard accused Murray of molesting him as a minor in the ’90s. He filed a lawsuit against the then mayor. Since that time, a total of five accusers have come forth with similar allegations. Most recently, Murray’s cousin alleged that he molested him as a child. Murray resigned shortly after that and has denied the allegations.

Heckard dropped his first lawsuit against Murray in June, saying that he wanted to complete drug rehab before proceeding with legal action. He filed a $3 million legal claim with the city, arguing that Murray used his position as mayor to defame him.

Heckard’s new lawsuit connects information that the previous legal action alleged. For example, Heckard had previously described another boy that would visit Murray’s apartment. The latest lawsuit says that Jeff Simpson matches the description of that boy. Simpson has spoken publicly of his own allegations against Murray since Heckard first came forth in April. A total of five accusers have come forward since that time.

Heckard’s new lawsuit lays out a timeline of events following the first lawsuit, noting that Murray claimed the allegations were part of an anti-gay conspiracy against him. Heckard also claims that his first lawsuit could not be successful while Murray was in office, wielding political power. It references the recent controversy involving Harvey Weinstein as an example of persons using great power to silence victims.

The new lawsuit states (in part):

Mr. Murray, and his political hit team, used his position of power as mayor to immediately begin slandering the known victims, including Delvonn … Mr. Murray’s use and abuse of his position of power proved temporarily successful: Delvonn and his legal team became convinced that winning this lawsuit was impossible while Murray remained in office. Mr. Murray and his legal team employed unscrupulous tactics to defame Delvonn, and his legal team. Those efforts, and the mayoral influence, swayed public perceptions and Delvonn’s ability to receive fair and equal treatment in the court system … when Delvonn and his legal team attempted to respond in accord with civil rules, they system attacked them, including imposing sanctions at a court hearing without due process …

 

 

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

2 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

3 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

5 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

5 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

6 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

9 hours ago

Report: Murray accuser files new lawsuit, includes Seattle