On May 2, 2025, 13-year-old Emiliano Munoz, who often went by Emi, was “clotheslined” and killed by a dangerously placed braided metal cable while riding his bike. The cable was attached to a post on private land at one end. On the other end, the cable was attached to a concrete-filled steel bollard. As a result, the cable was suspended above private land on one end, and a public right-of-way (i.e., public land) belonging to the City of Everett at the other end. An investigation completed by the Everett Police Department determined that when Emi was struck by the cable, he was 100% on a public right-of-way belonging to the City of Everett. Two neighbors had strung the wire cable up and over city property and attached it to the city bollard, without apparent permission. One of the neighbors stated under oath that the cable, or similar line, had been in place for about ten years. About one year before Emi’s death, a truck had gone through the cable. The cable ripped the front grill off the truck. Everett police were aware of this prior incident and filed a report of it. The neighbor reinstalled the cable after the truck incident where, one year later, it killed Emiliano Munoz.
With the help of Harborview Medical Center, Emiliano and his parents donated seven of Emi’s vital organs to seven anonymous individuals in need. At time of writing, all organ donations are reported to have taken well, and no organ recipient has suffered rejection. Emi’s parents state the “Emi is love,” and wish the recipients the best of outcomes.
Now, with the help of attorneys Raymond Bishop and Derek Moore of Bishop Legal, Emi’s family has brought an wrongful death claim against the City of Everett and the two homeowners for the improper (i.e.., the cable was in violation of the City’s own code provisions) placement and maintenance of the dangerous braided cable that first ripped the grill from a GMC truck and, one year later, killed Emi.
City of Everett Sued for Negligence That Led to Child’s Death
In the lawsuit, Bishop Legal argues that because the City (i) knew that the unreasonably dangerous cable existed, (ii) knew that the cable had previously caused harm, (iii) knew it was on, and attached to, City property, and (iv) did nothing to remove it before someone was hurt, the City is liable. In fact, the cable was put back up after Emi’s death by a neighbor, as Everett police looked on. Emi’s mother, Maria, was so distraught that the police were allowing the cable to be reinstalled that she reached out to her employer to see if anything could be done to stop it. Maria’s employer happens to be Hector Godoy Priske, Head Consul of Mexico in Seattle. Mr. Priske spoke to Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and urged the City of Everett to remove the cable before another child rode “into it in a similar way.” Then, and only then, did Everett police finally remove the cable.
According to official records that we were able to uncover, the cable was originally placed by a neighbor, ten years prior to Emi’s incident. City records from 2024, including police reports, show that a truck ran through the cable. After that collision, the cable, suspended over city land, was reattached to the city-owned bollard. The two homeowners named as defendants in the lawsuit argue with each other over which of them reattached the cable to the city bollard, over city land, after each harmful incident involving the cable.
Regardless of who reattached the cable, the truck accident in 2024 clearly shows that the City of Everett knew about the cable. To this end, the city reasonably should have known that it was dangerous and could pose an extreme injury risk to children in the area, especially because it was near a soccer field that children and families frequent. The City right-of-way in question was also a well-worn footpath that children used to come and go from nearby Explorer Middle School, where Emi was a student. Despite this knowledge, the City allowed the cable to remain in place, ultimately leading to Emi’s wrongful death.
Attorney Ray Bishop, President of Bishop Legal, reported to King 5 news that, “It's the duty of every City in the State of Washington to ensure the safety of its citizens, particularly its children. Here, the City of Everett failed to do that.” He also explained that the lawsuit is not just about securing justice for Emi’s family, but also about protecting the community by encouraging proactive safety efforts from City of Everett when such neighborhood dangers are known to exist. Emi’s tragic and early demise reminds us that reactive safety is unacceptable when proactive safety measures are readily available as they were here.
For more information about this developing wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Everett, you can click here to view a full article from King 5 NBC News, featuring Attorney Bishop. If you need the help of Bishop Legal for a personal injury, car accident, or wrongful death claim, you can contact us online or call (206) 260-3316 at any time to arrange a free case consultation.