Oregon Public Broadcasting

The family of slain Lakewood police officer Tina Griswold has filed a $5 million claim against the estate Maurice Clemmons. He’s the Arkansas parolee who gunned down Griswold and three other officers last November.

The attorney for Officer Tina Griswold’s husband and children says it was a surprise to learn Maurice Clemmons’ estate was not insolvent.

After all, at least one of the houses Clemmons owned was facing foreclosure when he was shot dead by a Seattle police officer after a massive manhunt.

Attorney Michael Hanbey was also surprised when he learned the probate case for Clemmons’ estate had been filed in Seattle’s King County, not Tacoma’s Pierce County where Clemmons lived.

Michael Hanbey: “It’s certainly possible that the reason why it was filed in King County to avoid notice being given to others. If I were the attorney who had been responsible for filing the probate action, I certainly would have notified someone in my circumstance.”

Hanbey says his claim of $5 million on behalf of Griswold’s family is based on a variety of factors including pain and suffering.

The attorney for Clemmons’ wife Nicole did not immediately return a phone call.