TNT, Sean Robinson, Friday August 1st, 2014, $118,000 Judge’s reversal means ex-deputy won’t pay fees. Pierce County prosecutors lost a round this week in a long-running legal battle with a retired sheriff’s deputy seeking to clear his name….Mell said “Detective Ames and I will continue all the way up as needed to make sure the prosecutor is accountable to police officers and their advocates.”
TNT, Sean Robinson, The Case of Four Little Words, Sunday June 22nd, 2014: A bitter fight over child porn evidence pits Pierce County prosecutors against a former detective. “As a police officer I have taken an oath to uphold the law, and to be truthful and honest even when doing so may conflict with the wishes of the Prosecuting Attorney.” Deputy Mike Ames, in a legal declaration.
TNT, Steve Maynard, Tuesday January 21st, 2014: Payroll issues led to safety chief’s paid leave, Pierce Transit audit cites problems with timekeeping and payments to off-duty police; investigation continues. Mell argues the shake up was the result of a power play..”It looks like this outside investigation may have been precipitated for reasons of self promotion and to achieve a strategic advantage in transitioning these contract services to Pierce County exclusively.”
Fox News, October 31st, 2012: Parents of boy allegedly bullied at school ask board to fire teacher. “Classifying it as classroom mismanagement to me is unfair, not only to my son but other kids in this district.” Kinney said.
TNT, Christian Hill, Sunday September 9th, 2012: Center of Detention. An immigration lockup. An illegal detainee. An American story. A Rare Look Inside: Thousands of illegal immigrants are detained at Tacoma facility every year while awaiting possible deportation.
CNN, Michael Martinez and Tom Laabs, September 1, 2012: Washington state teacher placed on leave again in pupil bullying case. “The game escalated out of control.” Mell told CNN. Referring to teacher Rosi, Mell charged: “He led it, he taught, … he incited it.”
Huffington Post, August 30th, 2012: John Rosi, Washington Middle School Teacher, Led Bullying Incident “Of Epic Proportions,” Family Lawyer Says
TNT, Sean Robinson, Tuesday March 13th, 2012: County requests Washam step down. Assessor: Council to discuss resolution today. … Washam’s actions violated that agreement, according to Joan Mell, the Fircrest attorney who represents Williams. On March 5, Mell sent a letter to McDonald and County Executive Pat McCarthy, demanding that leaders suspend Washam from office and fire Ugas.
TNT, Christian Hill, Sunday December 25th, 2011: Jewish family wins fight over autopsy Rainier: Judge agrees with religious argument.
TNT, Lewis Kamb, Sunday December 18th, 2011: Cheney renovation leader files claim over dismissal. Tacoma: He says he was wrongfully blamed, fired. In an interview Friday, Melvin and his attorney, Joan Mell, said the city never informed Melvin he was losing due-process rights or other protections when promoting him to a project manager in August 2010 at a salary of $103,000. Mell further argues that the city’s inclusion of the project-manager position in an unprotected class “is another example of the city systemically undermining its civil service system by just sprinkling it into an ordinance.” “So, Mr. Melvin gets to work for years thinking was working in a just-cause position, then the city suddenly fires him without cause or explanation,” she said. “…You can’t just make these decisions in a vacuum.”