A mother and daughter were arrested on assault charges this afternoon after they allegedly punched two people aboard a TriMet bus in Southeast Portland. The story is disturbing by itself – but it is also a reminder that personal injury attorneys don’t just handle car crash cases even though that is how we are often portrayed by tort reformists who want to paint personal injury attorneys as greedy ambulance chasers. I fight for victims of all sorts – including crime victims. I doubt that tort reformists would attack me for helping out an assault victim or sexually abused child, but of course that sort of legal representation is never discussed within the rhetoric of “tort reform.”
Back to today’s unfortunate assault. Tina Duckett, 36, and Markishia Duckett, 19, boarded a bus on Southeast 122nd Avenue and Southeast Market Street about 3 p.m. and tried to use invalid transfer tickets, said Sgt. Pete Simpson, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau. The driver moved to the next stop, on 122nd Avenue at Division Street, and told the women they needed to leave the bus unless they had valid fare.
That’s when the women reportedly started yelling at the driver, Simpson said. A passenger identified as Michael Cooke, 23, asked the women to leave so the bus could get moving. At that point, Simpson said, Markishia Duckett punched Cooke in the face.
Another passenger, Natasha Van Warmer, 23, asked the younger Duckett to stop, Simpson said. The two women then turned on Van Warmer — Tina Duckett held her by the hair while her daughter punched Van Warmer. Van Warmer was traveling with a small child, Simpson said.
Officers responded to the scene and arrested the Ducketts. Markishia Duckett faces charges of third- and fourth-degree assault and interfering with public transportation. Her mother faces the same charges, with an additional count of third-degree theft. Both were booked in the Multnomah County Jail.
If you or someone know has been a victim of crime, call now for a free consultation. As a former prosecutor, I am familiar with the criminal process and can help you or yours navigate these waters, as well as see to it that you receive compensation for your injuries through the civil process.
https://paulgalmlaw.com/personal-injury-wrongful-death/victims-of-crime