An attorney for four current and former Seattle Police Department officers says the City of Seattle is dragging its feet on turning over key records in a high-stakes harassment lawsuit that is now barreling toward trial. The civil case centers on allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment under former SPD Chief Adrian Diaz. Depositions are slated to start soon, and the case is scheduled for trial in October 2026.
“Since we talked last, we filed a lawsuit, and we’re underway,” attorney Sumeer Singla said. He told reporters he has sued both the Seattle Police Department and the City of Seattle, alleging public records violations and mishandling of complaints from four female officers. Singla also says one client had to be escorted out of a department building when an accused harasser was present and the department did not assist, as reported by MyNorthwest.
Allegations Fit Into a Wider Pattern
The new suit arrives on top of a growing stack of civil claims and internal complaints that have trailed SPD leadership in recent years. Local reporting has detailed multiple lawsuits and allegations accusing Diaz and other commanders of gender discrimination, retaliation and other misconduct, with officers describing a workplace climate that makes speaking up feel risky. Those earlier accounts help frame the latest filings, as outlined by PubliCola.
Records Fight Could Shape the Trial Timeline
Singla says the city has “stalled production” and told his team it will not produce requested documents until September 2026, roughly a month before the October trial date. His side argues that timeline would squeeze the discovery process and leave little breathing room to sort through what could be a large volume of material. He said mediation attempts have not resolved the dispute and that depositions are set to begin soon, putting extra pressure on both sides to settle the records fight quickly. Those concerns about scheduling and discovery were described to MyNorthwest.
Why the Schedule Matters
When records arrive late in the game, lawyers end up cramming what should be months of preparation into a fraction of the time. That can limit what evidence is on the table for depositions, drive a flurry of last minute discovery motions or continuance requests, and generally turn case strategy into triage. Beyond the procedural scramble, the cluster of lawsuits and internal complaints aimed at SPD leadership has broader consequences for morale inside the department, for recruiting new officers and for public trust. Local reporting has tracked how these overlapping disputes have complicated leadership transitions at SPD and raised ongoing questions about workplace culture, as reported by PubliCola…