County to pay $495,000 to former death investigator

EVERETT — A former death investigator at the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office has reached a half-million-dollar settlement with the county over workplace retaliation.

Shannon Impett, 44, of Granite Falls, worked as a county death investigator from 2004 until she was let go in 2011.

The Medical Examiner’s Office, led by Dr. Norman Thiersch, came under intense scrutiny in 2010 after questions about high employee turnover and the quality of autopsies being performed. Last year, the office again found itself under the microscope after Monroe Police detectives questioned why a pathologist declined requests to perform an autopsy on a 7-year-old boy who died of a drug overdose.

The settlement was reached last month and was unanimously approved by the County Council on Wednesday.

At the time of her termination, Impett had been seeking alternative work assignments because of an on-the-job back injury suffered while moving a cadaver.

In her lawsuit, Impett accused the county and Thiersch of subjecting her to retaliation, sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, gender discrimination, and failing to accommodate her disability. She sought compensation for back pay, emotional distress and other economic damages.

In her suit, Impett reports confronting Thiersch at work with a complaint about “messy, disrespectful, unethical and unprofessional conditions in the morgue.” Impett claimed Thiersch became angry and retaliated during an autopsy the next day.

“He then unethically and unprofessionally yanked and ripped the heart and lungs from a cadaver,” the lawsuit alleges. “Immediately Dr. Thiersch forcefully flung the organs back into the pool of blood within the chest cavity so as to intentionally splash and splatter blood on Plaintiff’s face and torso, thereby resulting in lasting psychological torment and potentially exposing her to bloodborne pathogens.”

Because the case never went to trial, the allegations were not proven in court.

Earlier this year, King County Superior Court Judge Barbara Linde ruled there was evidence to support Impett’s retaliation claim. Linde dismissed the other claims.

The settlement reached last month awards Impett $495,000 for “pain and suffering due to physical injury and attorneys’ fees and costs.”

The county admitted no wrongdoing. Impett cannot pursue the same allegations in future lawsuits. The settlement also includes a confidentiality clause barring Impett or her attorney, Judith Lonnquist of Seattle, from discussing the case.

Thiersch also is bound by a confidentiality clause.

“We settle cases based upon the risks and based upon the recommendation of legal counsel,” said Peter Camp, an executive director under County Executive John Lovick whose duties include overseeing the medical examiner.

Personnel problems, including high turnover, have percolated at the county morgue for years. Aaron Reardon was responsible for overseeing the office for nearly a decade, until he resigned as county executive in May.

A couple of the morgue’s personnel problems led to criminal investigations, though no charges were filed.

In 2009, an on-duty death investigator was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence after he appeared to be drunk at the scene of a quadruple traffic fatality. Another investigator resigned in 2011 amid allegations that he stole drugs seized during death investigations.

In 2010, the County Council demanded that Reardon’s office hire an independent consultant to review the morgue’s management practices. That followed Reardon’s office producing internal reviews that suggested little room for improvement.

The consultant delivered a series of personnel recommendations, including management coaching, better communication with morgue staff and standardized operating procedures. Area funeral homes, on the other hand, gave mostly positive feedback about Thiersch’s staff and the quality of the autopsies performed.

There have been no management shakeups since then, though the Medical Examiner’s Office did hire a new business manager in 2012 after the retirement of the office’s deputy director.

The Medical Examiner’s Office employs 14 people with a budget of more than $2.1 million.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.