Judge dismisses Solid Ground from Charleena Lyles lawsuit

A Seattle nonprofit is no longer part of a lawsuit filed by the family of Charleena Lyles. A King County judge dismissed Solid Ground from the wrongful death suit Friday.

Superior Court Judge Julie Spector ruled that Solid Ground was not legally responsible for the police shooting.

Lyles was killed by Seattle police last June inside her apartment provided through the supportive housing agency. In a statement Solid Ground said there’s still a lot of pain among residents and staff and that moving forward, the agency would focus on that healing.

An attorney representing the Lyles family, Karen Koehler, said the judge's ruling only applies to the law.

"But that doesn’t mean they are not morally responsible for their failures to care for her properly up to then," Koehler said.

Charleena Lyles was pregnant with her fifth child when she was shot seven times. Officers say she turned on them suddenly and tried to stab them with a knife.

A police review board determined the officers acted within department policy.

The lawsuit also names the City of Seattle and police officers Jason Anderson and Steven McNew.