Family can pursue organ-donation suit

Seattle

The family of a man whose brain was harvested when he died can pursue a lawsuit against King County as well as the institute that received the organ.

The Washington Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that a lower-court judge was wrong to dismiss all claims brought by the family of Jesse Smith, who died of heart problems shortly after his 21st birthday.

Smith was an organ donor, and his family consented to providing brain tissue to the nonprofit Stanley Medical Research Institute of Maryland. Instead of just providing a tissue sample, however, the King County Medical Examiner's office provided the entire brain; Smith's mother says that caused her grief and depression. She sued in 2006.

The high court says she can pursue claims of wrongful interference with a dead body and conspiracy.

Bothell

Expect delays on Highway 522

State Department of Transportation crews will take advantage of good fall weather and close eastbound Highway 522 between Highway 527 and Interstate 405 in Bothell from 11:30 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday.

When the highway reopens for the morning commute, eastbound 522 drivers will travel on new, straighter lanes, said the DOT.

"We recommend that drivers avoid the area and take alternate routes," said Project Engineer Janice Fahning, "but if you are traveling on eastbound SR 522 in Bothell this weekend, allow extra time and be prepared for a six-mile detour."

Drivers headed on eastbound 522 will follow a signed detour leading them to northbound Highway 527 and southbound I-405 to reach eastbound 522.

During the closure, crews will connect the eastbound lanes to a newly built and lower roadway that has improved visibility.

Once eastbound 522 traffic is moved on the new lanes, crews will continue the roadway work. If they get enough dry weather to excavate and pave, crews plan to close westbound 522 next month and shift traffic onto new lanes. Crews also hope to finish excavating the 95-foot retaining wall next to the University of Washington Bothell campus entrance and will place mulch and straw over it to help absorb winter rains and to prevent erosion.

The DOT is working with the UW and Cascadia Community College to build a new entrance to the south side of the college campuses. Crews will also build a new roadway for 522 (Bothell Way NE) from the I-405 interchange to Kaysner Way in Bothell. For more information and detour maps, visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR522/UW/.

Seattle

Dioxin found at Terminal 117

Preliminary analysis of samples taken at a defunct industrial site along the Lower Duwamish Waterway show dioxin is present, the Port of Seattle, which owns the property, reported yesterday.

Sixteen samples at eight locations at the Terminal 117 Site in South Park were contaminated with dioxin, with an average of 63 parts per trillion found. That is up from the 11 parts per trillion recommended for yards and streets recommended by public-health officials, but far below the 1,000 parts per trillion recommended for industrial sites.

The site, formerly used for manufacturing asphalt products, is locked and secure behind a chain-link fence, with no public access. The samples were taken beneath asphalt on the site. No immediate public-health risk is posed to the neighborhood, according to the port.

Dioxins are a byproduct of industrial processes and can have health effects ranging from rashes to cancer, depending on the level and type of exposure.

The dioxins will be incorporated in a cleanup plan for the site already that's under way, primarily for PCBs.

Kenmore

Church plans to restore wetlands

The pastor of a Kenmore church fined by the state Department of Ecology said the church is working on a restoration plan, which has been delayed partly by demands from a variety of agencies.

The First Romanian Pentecostal Church of Kenmore was assessed a $48,000 fine, announced Wednesday by Ecology, for allegedly destroying an acre and a half of wetlands and a tributary to Little Bear Creek in south Snohomish County.

Vasile Antemie, the church's senior pastor, said the damage was caused by overzealous church members, who did the work in late 2006 and early 2007 without his supervision. The church wants to build a new facility on the land.

"The intention was pretty much innocent with a desire to improve the buildable area. But not to break any rules or laws," he said.

He said the church plans to appeal the fine.

Bellevue

Natural-gas-rate increase approved

The state Utilities Commission has approved a 10 percent increase in natural-gas rates for customers of Puget Sound Energy.

Beginning in October, the average monthly residential bill will rise to nearly $91.

Bellevue-based PSE has 730,000 natural-gas customers in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, Lewis and Kittitas counties.

Three other natural gas companies, Avista, Northwest Natural and Cascade Natural, have rate increases pending.

Times staff and news services