Pierce County asked a court Friday to hold the state liable for legal claims involving juvenile detention facilities and probation departments, citing an increasing number of sex-abuse allegations at Remann Hall that threaten to cost the county potentially upward of $690 million.
In a lawsuit against the state filed in Thurston County Superior Court, Pierce County sought a ruling known as a declaratory judgment to affirm that Washington is exclusively liable for such cases and obligated to defend counties. Pierce County also asked that the state be ordered to take over the defense of pending and future cases and reimburse the county for all legal costs, the filing shows.
The lawsuit, which Snohomish County joined in filing, argues that state officers control juvenile facilities…