South Hill Man Dies After Altercation with Neighbor at Party

Spokane, Washington – A 73-year-old man died seven months after an altercation with his neighbor during a party, prompting a wrongful death lawsuit.

Patrick Monahan discovered water on his bathroom floor and believed it was from a garden hose aimed at his house by his neighbor, Brennan “Boone” J. Schreibman, during a gathering on July 6, 2024. Monahan approached Schreibman to address the issue, not knowing a confrontation awaited him.

Schreibman, a 34-year-old lawyer and vice chair of the Spokane Human Rights Commission, allegedly pushed Monahan to the ground. Witnesses say Monahan fell hard and suffered severe injuries that eventually led to his death on February 11, 2025. The incident occurred shortly after fire crews had ordered Schreibman to extinguish a fire in his backyard.

Witness accounts detailed a chaotic scene, with Monahan rendered unconscious after the shove. Charles Cormier, Monahan’s stepson, reported that Schreibman dragged Monahan closer to his house, causing further head injuries on the concrete sidewalk. Cormier, who watched from a window, immediately called for help, but no one at the party dialed 911 for over nine minutes.

After the fall, Monahan was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he never regained full consciousness. Monahan’s family is now pursuing legal action against Schreibman, citing negligence and demanding accountability.

Martin Peltram, the attorney representing Monahan’s widow, Karen Monahan, expressed concern that the Spokane police have not thoroughly investigated the matter, even after an autopsy labeled Monahan’s death a homicide due to blunt force trauma from the July incident.

In a police report, Schreibman claimed that he reacted in fear when he saw Monahan had a box cutter and felt he was in imminent danger. He asserted he never intended to harm Monahan and described the incident as quick and instinctive.

As the case moves forward in court, it has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding Monahan’s death, raising questions about community safety and accountability.

The wrongful death lawsuit has been tentatively assigned to Superior Court Judge Rachelle Anderson and seeks damages yet to be determined.