WASHINGTON STATE JUDGES BALK AT HANDLING LAWSUIT.

A lawsuit against the city of Tacoma, WA, for alleged negligence in hiring David Brame as sheriff has been moved to neighboring King County because eight of Pierce County Superior Court's 21 judges recused themselves or said they would.

Brame shot and killed his wife Crystal and himself last year. Her family has filed a $75 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city last month, pledging to devote some of the money to domestic-violence prevention. They say Crystal was forced to endure years of jealousy and abuse for fear of losing her children.

When she finally went to a divorce lawyer in 1998, they say, David Brame showed up at the meeting while several police officers waited in a cruiser outside. When she finally filed for divorce in 2003, he shot her and himself in front of their two children.

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