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Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Controversial Seattle Police Officer Files Civil Suit for 2006 Melee

posted by on July 2 at 13:26 PM

Seattle Police Officer Zsolt Dornay has filed a personal injury lawsuit against four men who kicked and punched him during a 2006 melee in Post Alley.

On June 24th, 2006, Dornay—who was off-duty and out of uniform—got into a fight after he tried to ride his motorcycle through a crowd in Post Alley.

A 24-year-old woman standing in the middle of the alley would not move for Dornay, even after he reportedly identified himself as a police officer.

Dornay moved forward on his motorcycle, with the woman on his windshield. The bike fell and Dornay pushed the woman into a garage door. He was then allegedly attacked by the men named in the suit.

Dornay was knocked to the ground, where he fired six shots, striking a 52-year-old criminal defense attorney—who is not named in the suit—twice in the stomach.

After the incident, the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild took out ads in several local papers hoping to find witnesses to the attack. But two months later, King County Prosecutors decided not to press charges because of questions about whether the force used against Dornay by bystanders aiding the 24-year-old woman was justified.

Now, two years later, Dornay has filed suit against the men who allegedly attacked him, seeking unspecified damages for his injuries, emotional distress and lost wages.

Dornay, a 14-year veteran of the Seattle Police Department, has previously been in the news for a 1995 road rage incident where Dornay chased a man to Woodinville, put a gun to the man’s head a pushed his face into the parking lot.

Earlier this year, the Seattle PI also reported that Dornay has also been responsible for issuing a considerable amount of obstruction charges over the years.

Dornay is being represented by the Stafford Frey Cooper law firm, which frequently represents the Seattle Police Department and the city in civil suits.

RSS icon Comments

1

So, does that mean anyone can say they're police while riding a motorcycle in an alley?

Because I sure as heck wouldn't have believed him ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | July 2, 2008 1:35 PM
2


Shouldn't it constitue conflict of interest if the firm that represents the department as a whole also takes on personal civil cases for off duty officers?

Posted by bohica | July 2, 2008 1:39 PM
3

What a jackass. They should sue him and he should have been the one facing charges.

Posted by keshmeshi | July 2, 2008 1:39 PM
4

Didn't the criminal defense attorney who was shot file charges against Dornay and/or SPD?

Posted by DOUG. | July 2, 2008 1:50 PM
5

If he loses, I hope he end up on the hook for the defendant's legal fees.

Posted by Westside forever | July 2, 2008 1:57 PM
6

Can I sue this turd for embarrassment at having to live in a city where whiny-ass titty baby pussies get to wear my city's badge?

Grow a pair, then sit down and shut the fuck up, Officer Pantload.

Posted by syngen_polevaulter | July 2, 2008 2:04 PM
7

@4 yes i think there is a suit pending.

Posted by vooodooo84 | July 2, 2008 2:06 PM
8

it's rather unfortunate that there were no card carrying libertarians around. had my uncle witnessed this, more than one person would have been shot.

Posted by holz | July 2, 2008 2:08 PM
9

So, off-duty officers retain all their police powers, but also the right to take civilians to civil court when the proper channels determine it wasn't clear who was in the right?

This case is bullshit. I hope the officer is thoroughly embarrassed by the outcome.

Posted by Dougsf | July 2, 2008 2:17 PM
10

What an asshat.

And why would he think it was a good idea to ride his motorcycle through Post Alley in the first place?

Posted by Hernandez | July 2, 2008 2:22 PM
11

Sociopath.

Posted by umvue | July 2, 2008 2:43 PM
12

syngen_polevaulter..

No YOU shut the fuck up bitch! None of you bafoons knows of what you speak!

Posted by Sheeple Herder | July 2, 2008 2:48 PM
13

Dornay is a total piece-of-shit cop from a piece-of-shit cop lineage that includes his crooked father and sister. Look it up.

That fucker's drunken (yes, I said drunken) shennenigans give all us honest police a bad name. I don't know why we put ourselves out on a limb to protect him in the first place. You're not my brother anymore, Dornay.

Posted by SPOG Member | July 2, 2008 2:58 PM
14

SPOG Member @13: How about Jon Engstrom or James Patchen? You know those assholes?

Posted by DOUG. | July 2, 2008 4:16 PM
15

Um, why didn't that woman just step aside and let him pass? Seriously, why would you just stand in the road like a moron and not let somebody go through? A pissed off person on a bike, motorcycle, or in a car can do serious damage to a pedestrian. Something I keep in mind when a bike, motorcycle, automobile is aimed at me. I gotta wonder how drunk/dumb you've got to be to stand in the way of somebody who is a.)pissed off and b.)can squish you. Why not just step aside and avoid squishing?

Just a thought.

Posted by yucca flower | July 2, 2008 5:00 PM
16

@15,

I don't know. Maybe because no one has any business driving in Post Alley?

Posted by keshmeshi | July 2, 2008 5:34 PM
17

Sheeple Herder: Now I know Officer Buttmunch isn't the only brainless ass-clown in Seattle. Get out of my city, you ignorant mouth-breathing shitbird. GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY BELOVED CITY!

yucca flower: Because she didn't have to.

Posted by syngen_polevaulter | July 2, 2008 6:38 PM
18

Syngen Polesucker

Post Alley is a public roadway open to vehicular traffic. The motorcyclist was within his rights in riding his bike there. And the drunken bitch that tried to knock his bike down was committing the crime of "pedestrian interference" by deliberately impeding vehicle traffic in a roadway.

As far as it being "your" beloved city - you owe me rent, bitch!

Posted by snort | July 2, 2008 8:04 PM
19

@18

If that's the case, he could have arrested her. Of course he didn't, because he's a drunken, violent scumbag who should be behind bars.

Posted by keshmeshi | July 2, 2008 10:33 PM
20

Everybody knows that Pike Place Market is a special case when it comes to vehicular traffic vs. foot traffic, and that vehicular traffic is expected to give way or wait as long as necessary there, for pedestrians to pass or wander out of the way, or whatever. This would go doubly so for Post Alley. Anybody who would go roaring through there on a motorbike when a crowd is visibly milling about would have to be a complete jerk as well as a genuine menace. And when people got pissed as he plowed through and hit an old lady, he What!?, oh yeah, he got out his "gat" and let loose on the crowd, hitting of all people, a lawyer. Great. Just awesome. Makes me feel so much safer walking around here in Seattle knowing they keep psychopathic morons like that on the police force. Thank god they're not all like that.

Posted by db | July 3, 2008 1:59 AM
21

Perhaps the ignorant snotbag Snort will explain the circumstances under which it is LEGAL to run over a pedestrian on his way to the Washington Home for Erroneous Douchebags. Then perhaps he'll save himself further embarrassment and STFU.

Posted by syngen_polevaulter | July 3, 2008 10:12 AM
22

post alley has several motorcycle parking spots located right next to the market. not that the cop was in the right in this situation. as a motorcyclist I know not to fuck with people when I am on my bike, you need all the good motorcycle karma you can get otherwise you'll get run over by an SUV with some person on their cell phone. that cop needs to stop being a whiny bitch.

Posted by high and bi | July 3, 2008 10:22 AM

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