The Washington State Supreme Court ruled unaminmously that an injured Seattle firefighter and the widow of a Seattle police officer have the right to sue the city for negligence, according to an article in the Post-Intelligencer.

The court rejected Seattle's contention that such lawsuits are prohibited by the state constitutition, which the paper says grants sovereign immunity to cities.

In plain language, the city contended that it is protected from such lawsuits and the top court ruled "no" it's not!

The firefighter won a $1.8 million judgment against the city of Seattle in 2004, but the city appealed the award.  The widow of the police officer's suit is still working its way through the system.

LESSON: Government employees may have rights to recover for neligence, even if the city, state or other government body contends they don't.