About Budge & Heipt PLLC · Seattle
Budge & Heipt PLLC is a Seattle-based law firm specializing in civil rights litigation, particularly wrongful death and serious injury cases stemming from police brutality, jail or prison abuse, and excessive force. Founded in 1998, the firm is known for its aggressive trial approach, taking only a few select cases annually to ensure personalized attention. It has secured over $180 million in jury verdicts and settlements, including some of the largest in U.S. history for victims of civil rights violations. The firm represents clients nationwide through federal courts and is recognized for its courtroom success against government agencies, police departments, and correctional institutions.
Budge & Heipt PLLC is a boutique civil rights litigation firm based in Seattle, Washington, with a national reach through federal courts. The firm focuses exclusively on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving police misconduct, jail or prison abuse, and excessive force. Led by partners Ed Budge and Erik J. Heipt — both with over 30 years of trial experience — the firm is known for its willingness to go to trial and its record-setting verdicts and settlements. It has handled cases across multiple states, including Washington, Texas, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Indiana, and has been featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, CNN, and The Seattle Times. The firm’s mission is to hold jails, prisons, police, and private correctional companies legally accountable for constitutional violations. It offers free consultations and emphasizes personal attention to each client, accepting only a limited number of cases annually.
- In business
- since 1998
- Owner
- Ed Budge and Erik J. Heipt
- Serves
- Seattle, Washington, and federal courts nationwide
Our Mission
Our mission at Budge & Heipt is to hold jails, prisons, police, and private correctional companies legally accountable for constitutional violations that cause wrongful death or serious injury.
What We Do
We handle civil rights cases involving catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death. We focus on cases involving egregious instances of jail or prison abuse or neglect resulting in death or serious injury. We also take select police misconduct cases involving police brutality, excessive force, and in-custody deaths.
Why Choose Us
We are trial lawyers. Our philosophy is simple: We put our heart and soul into every case we take, and we do everything in our power to achieve the best possible result for our clients. We purposefully take only a few select cases each year, so that every client receives the proper respect and personal attention that he or she deserves.