Introduction

In 1998, Ed Budge and Erik Heipt founded a firm with a specific mission: holding jails, prisons, police, and private correctional companies accountable in federal civil rights court. Since then, Budge and Heipt has obtained more than 160 million dollars in jury verdicts and settlements, including the historic 26.75 million dollar jury verdict against a correctional healthcare company in a jail death case, among the highest such verdicts in the country.

The firm operates from 808 E. Roy St., Seattle, WA 98102, reachable at 206.624.3060, taking only a select number of cases each year so that every client receives substantive personal attention.

Practice Areas

Budge and Heipt handles federal civil rights cases involving wrongful death and serious injury in custody or at the hands of law enforcement.

Wrongful Death in Custody

The firm represents families of individuals who died in jails or prisons due to negligence, deliberate indifference, or constitutional violations. Landmark results include a 26.75 million dollar jury verdict against a correctional healthcare company and a 25 million dollar jury verdict in a separate jail injury case. Additional settlements range from 1 million to 9.8 million dollars for wrongful death and excessive force cases.

Police Misconduct and Excessive Force

The firm holds police accountable for constitutional violations including excessive force, wrongful death, and civil rights abuses, having litigated in federal district courts across Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, and Indiana.

Jail and Prison Abuse

Corrections cases include serious injury from systemic failures in correctional healthcare, inadequate supervision, and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.

Attorney Profiles

Ed Budge is a trial attorney with more than 30 years of litigation experience, known for courtroom skill and winning some of the highest verdicts and settlements in the country for victims of jail and prison abuse and police brutality.

Erik J. Heipt brings nearly three decades of trial experience to civil rights litigation, having won many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in high-profile police brutality and jail misconduct cases.

Together, Budge and Heipt attribute their litigation success directly to the work invested in each case. The firm was founded in 1998.

Location and Service Area

Budge and Heipt is based in Seattle at 808 E. Roy St., Seattle, WA 98102, reachable at 206.624.3060. The firm takes federal civil rights cases throughout the United States, with cases in Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, and Indiana.

The firm website is at budgeandheipt.com/

Client Focus

Budge and Heipt deliberately limits its caseload to ensure every client receives proper respect and personal attention. The firm philosophy is to put heart and soul into every case and do everything possible to achieve the best result for each client.

By concentrating on a narrow case type and maintaining a selective caseload, the firm brings the full weight of two experienced trial attorneys to each family it represents. For families who have lost someone in custody or to police violence, the firm provides a path to accountability that targets institutions responsible for systemic failures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of cases does Budge and Heipt handle?
The firm handles federal civil rights cases involving wrongful death in jails and prisons, police misconduct, excessive force, and serious injury from constitutional violations in custody settings.

How much has the firm recovered for clients?
Since its founding in 1998, Budge and Heipt has obtained more than 160 million dollars in jury verdicts and settlements.

What is the firm most notable result?
The firm obtained a 26.75 million dollar jury verdict against a correctional healthcare company in a jail death case, among the highest such verdicts in the country. A separate 25 million dollar verdict was obtained against a correctional healthcare company in a jail injury case.

Does the firm handle cases outside Washington state?
Yes. Budge and Heipt takes federal civil rights cases throughout the country, with cases litigated in federal courts across Washington, Alaska, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, and Indiana.

Why does the firm limit its caseload?
The firm takes only a few select cases each year so every client receives proper respect and personal attention, ensuring full commitment rather than high-volume case processing.

When was the firm founded?
Budge and Heipt was founded in 1998.

Closing

Budge and Heipt has spent over 25 years building one of the most successful civil rights litigation practices in the country, recovering over 160 million dollars for families devastated by wrongful deaths and serious injuries in jails, prisons, and at the hands of law enforcement. The deliberate choice to remain small and selective means each client benefits from the full attention of attorneys whose record in federal civil rights court speaks directly to their capabilities.

Contact Budge and Heipt at 206.624.3060 or visit budgeandheipt.com/ to discuss a potential case.