Ex-Governor’s Relatives Sue Over Death Photos At Issue Are Pictures Taken Of Dixy Lee Ray After Her Death In 1994

Two relatives of the late Gov. Dixy Lee Ray have filed a $1 million claim against Pierce County over photographs of her body taken in the county medical examiner’s office, their lawyer said Friday.

The claim was filed by Ray’s niece, Karen Reid of Fox Island, on behalf of herself and her aunt, Marion Ray Reid, a sister of the late governor, said their Seattle lawyer, Joel Cunningham.

At issue are photographs taken of Ray after her death in 1994 at age 79. The photographs show Ray from the waist up, covered with a drape. A visitor said an autopsy assistant - later fired for insubordination - showed him the picture and bragged that he had the last photo taken of Ray.

County officials declined comment Friday on the claim, but reiterated their contention that the photo of Ray - and others also disclosed recently - were unauthorized.

The Reids’ claim also calls on County Executive Doug Sutherland to return to the family all photos of the deceased former governor and join with a medical examiner’s office spokesman in issuing an apology for “defiling the memory” of Ray.

The Reids seek damages for humiliation, personal indignity, invasion of privacy, violation of their civil rights and “outrageous conduct” by county officials.

The county has 60 days to consider the claim. If it is rejected, the claimants can proceed with a lawsuit.

The Reid claim also asks Sutherland to order an independent special investigation of the medical examiner’s office. The county medical examiner, Dr. Emmanuel Lacsina, was fired last month after he was accused by some current and former employees of fostering a sexually charged atmosphere at work.

Until such an investigation is complete, the Reids “do not know the entire extent of the damage done,” the claim said.

Without that knowledge, said the document filed Friday, they don’t have enough information to determine “reasonable damages” and retain the right to increase or reduce the amount being sought.

The fired county worker blamed for the photos, Eberhard Bruell, has said taking such snapshots was standard operating procedure. While county officials say photos of Ray, former Mayor Jack Hyde and others were found in his desk, he says the pictures were in a desk used generally by staff of the medical examiner’s office.

Hyde’s widow, Jacquie Hyde, filed a $3.5 million claim last week over the photos, saying she had been unaware that an autopsy had been performed on her husband when he died in 1994 after 17 days in office, and also was unaware photographs had been taken of his body.

Autopsies of prominent citizens are routine, county officials have said.

The Reids’ claim also notes that the photos, “improperly taken and distributed by employees of the Pierce County Coroner’s office … were further used in order to negotiate settlements and otherwise misused.”

The pictures came to light during negotiations to resolve Bruell’s claim that his firing last year was a result of discrimination due to his age and German background.

He used photographs of Lacsina posing bare-chested with a stripper to bolster his claim against the county, and county risk manager Mike Panagiotu countered by producing the snapshots of corpses.

Bruell had sought $500,000 but settled late last year for $140,000. His attorney denies the photos were a factor.