by Jake Goldstein-Street,

September 10, 2025

A Spokane jury has ordered Washington state to pay $42 million to a woman the state failed to protect from years of childhood sexual abuse.

The striking payout in Jessica Hilton’s case adds to the for a range of misconduct, from wrongful terminations to deaths in prison and mishandled child welfare cases.

Washington’s payouts jumped from $72 million in fiscal year 2018 to about $500 million in the most recent fiscal year that ended June 30, according to state data. Since the beginning of July, the state has already paid out nearly $89 million, not including the $42 million verdict.

A series of court rulings over the past few years opened up the state to further liability. Unlike many other states, Washington has no cap on the damages that c

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