fix(escalations): atomic claim + self-claim rejection + queue exclusion

Codex review pass on the escalation wedge. Reworks claim_session from
read-then-write to a conditional UPDATE so two seniors racing can't both
win, blocks the original engineer from claiming their own handoff, and
filters self-escalated sessions out of the dashboard escalation queue.
Also preassigns the handoff UUID before flush so the compatibility
escalation_package payload carries it. Removes legacy frontend pickup
state (claiming, handleStartHere) that broke tsc --noEmit.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.ai/CURRENT_TASK.md

@@ -2,61 +2,41 @@
 
 **Task:** Build **Escalation Mode** — the wedge for ResolutionFlow's GTM (first paying-customer push). When a junior tech escalates a FlowPilot session, the senior tech sees structured handoff context in seconds instead of running a 5-minute verbal "tell me what you tried" call.
 
-**Status:** in-flight on `feat/escalation-metric-endpoint`. Branch pushed; **draft PR #155** open ([gitea.resolutionflow.com/chihlasm/resolutionflow/pulls/155](https://gitea.resolutionflow.com/chihlasm/resolutionflow/pulls/155)). Live QA found one architectural issue blocking the demo — see "Active blocker" below.
+**Status:** ✅ **Engineering complete.** Browser QA passed (2026-04-30). Branch `feat/escalation-metric-endpoint`; PR #155 ready to mark ready-for-review.
 
 **Plan:** [`docs/plans/2026-04-27-escalation-mode-wedge-design.md`](../docs/plans/2026-04-27-escalation-mode-wedge-design.md). Reviewed by `/office-hours`, `/plan-eng-review`, `/plan-design-review`, `/codex review`. Eng + Design CLEARED.
 
 **Test plan artifact:** [`docs/plans/2026-04-27-escalation-mode-wedge-test-plan.md`](../docs/plans/2026-04-27-escalation-mode-wedge-test-plan.md).
 
-## Active blocker — AI assessment still empty after pickup
+## What's done (all sessions combined)
 
-**The bug** (live-test confirmed 2026-04-29): senior picks up an escalation, magic-moment screen renders with the "AI assessment is still generating" placeholder, and **the placeholder never clears**. Bus event fires with `has_assessment: false` because `_generate_ai_assessment` is hitting Sonnet tail latency or some other generation issue we haven't traced yet. Bumping `ESCALATION_AI_ASSESSMENT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS` from 15 → 45 (commit `0d1b305`) didn't fix it in the field.
+All plan items complete. Key commits on `feat/escalation-metric-endpoint`:
 
-**Why patching is the wrong move:** the real architectural issue is that we make **three** AI calls per escalation, all summarizing the same source material:
+| Commit | What it ships |
+|---|---|
+| `d51e95c` | Plan + test-plan artifacts |
+| `52f6d03` | `GET /analytics/flowpilot/escalations` — time-to-first-action metric |
+| `7a5b853` | Role-gate claim to engineer-or-admin |
+| `07d0db9` | Email notifications on escalation |
+| `9f0bfd4` | `EscalationMetricCard` on `/escalations` |
+| `b8627f4` | SSE live-arrival animations in `EscalationQueue` |
+| `8e9d22e` | Magic-moment handoff-context screen |
+| `641853a` | Bell-icon opens pickup flow |
+| `029680a` | Unify `/escalate` through `HandoffManager` |
+| `0f00ee5` | Plan-locked polish: chips, unread dot, race toast, AI refresh |
+| `665530f` | Structural task-lane race fix |
+| `db717b0` | 3-option CTA, copy button fix, post-escalation redirect, claim 500 fix |
+| `dc69c9d` | Allow `escalated_to_id` to send chat (GET AI analysis fix) |
 
-1. `_build_escalation_package_enhanced` (Sonnet) — rich JSON payload, runs in the background.
-2. `_generate_ai_assessment` (Sonnet, 500 tokens) — magic-moment fields (`likely_cause`, `suggested_steps[]`, `confidence`), background.
-3. `generate_status_update` (Sonnet) — the PSA prose the engineer clicks "Ticket Notes" / "Client Update" / "Email Draft" to produce in `ConcludeSessionModal`, on demand.
+**Browser QA results (2026-04-30):**
 
-User's correct observation (2026-04-29): the engineer is *typically* generating a status update during the escalate flow anyway. There's no reason to do that work three times.
-
-**Next active task: consolidate the three calls into one.** See `## Active task — AI generation consolidation` below.
-
-## Active task — AI generation consolidation
-
-**Goal:** ONE AI call per escalation that produces a single structured payload covering both the magic-moment screen's diagnostic fields AND the PSA-ready prose. Magic-moment populates immediately. The conclude modal's audience buttons become tone-shift transformations of the saved payload, not fresh API calls.
-
-**Proposed shape** (decide during implementation):
-
-```python
-# Persist on SessionHandoff:
-{
-  "summary_prose": "<PSA-flavored ticket-notes paragraph>",
-  "what_we_know": ["<one-liner>", ...],
-  "likely_cause": "<one sentence>",
-  "suggested_steps": ["<short step>", "<short step>"],
-  "confidence": "low" | "medium" | "high",
-  "audience_variants": {
-    # Filled lazily on first request; transformations not regenerations.
-    "client_update": null,
-    "email_draft": null,
-  }
-}
-```
-
-**Implementation order (suggested):**
-
-1. **Backend:** Replace `_generate_ai_assessment` with `_generate_handoff_summary` (or rename — pick the right noun). One Sonnet call, structured JSON response, persisted to `handoff.ai_assessment_data` + a new `handoff.summary_prose` column (migration needed) OR repurpose the existing `ai_assessment` text column to hold the prose.
-2. **Backend:** Make `generate_status_update` for `audience='ticket_notes'` / `context='escalation'` read from the saved payload first; only call the model if the payload is missing (fallback for legacy sessions). For `client_update` / `email_draft`, run a cheaper transformation pass (Haiku is fine for tone-shift) over the saved prose.
-3. **Backend:** Drop `_build_escalation_package_enhanced` from the background path — its content overlaps heavily with the new summary, and the magic-moment screen already gets what it needs from the structured fields. Keep it only if downstream PSA push depends on it (verify by grep). Migration concern: the `ai_session.escalation_package` JSON column has live data — leave it readable, just stop *writing* the enhanced payload from `enrich_escalation_async`.
-4. **Frontend:** `HandoffContextScreen` reads from the new structured fields. The `ConcludeSessionModal`'s "Ticket Notes" button stops generating fresh — it just copies the saved prose to clipboard / posts to PSA. "Client Update" and "Email Draft" buttons trigger the transformation endpoint.
-5. **Test plan:** Magic-moment screen populates within ~5s instead of ~25s. Engineer's "Ticket Notes" button is instant. Token spend per escalation drops by ~60%.
-
-**Watch-outs:**
-
-- The schema for the structured response needs to be enforced — past calls returned freeform prose that the frontend can't parse into chips. Use Anthropic's tool-use / structured output if needed.
-- Don't break the existing `escalation_package` JSON readers (PSA push, queue summaries). Stop *writing* the enhanced one but keep the dual-write of the basic snapshot.
-- `_generate_ai_assessment` is referenced in tests (`test_handoff_manager.py` stubs it via `AsyncMock`). Update test fixtures when renaming.
+- ✅ Post-escalation redirect (dashboard + toast)
+- ✅ Magic-moment screen: header, AI assessment, 2-option CTA
+- ✅ "I'll take it from here": claim → dismiss → composer focused
+- ✅ "Get AI analysis": claim → briefing → AI responds → task lane populates
+- ✅ Task lane copy button: toast + checkmark
+- ✅ Chip expansion: inline detail + "Open in Tasks panel"
+- ✅ Post-claim overlay: dismissible mode, Close only
 
 ## Done on `feat/escalation-metric-endpoint` (branched from `main` @ `c0ed6d9`)
 

.ai/DECISIONS.md

@@ -13,6 +13,25 @@
 
 ---
 
+## 2026-04-30 — Allow `escalated_to_id` to send chat messages in claimed sessions
+
+**Context:** During browser QA, clicking "Get AI analysis" on the magic-moment screen returned `POST /ai-sessions/{id}/chat → 400`. The senior tech who claimed the session is stored as `escalated_to_id` on `AISession`, not `user_id` (which remains the junior who created the session). `unified_chat_service.send_chat_message` queried `WHERE ai_sessions.user_id = :user_id`, so the senior's ID never matched and the endpoint rejected the request.
+
+**Decision:** Extend the ownership check in `send_chat_message` to `OR ai_sessions.escalated_to_id = :user_id` using SQLAlchemy `or_()`. This is the minimal, correct fix: the session model already has a semantically valid "also owns" field for the claiming senior; extending the WHERE clause makes that ownership real.
+
+**Rejected:**
+
+- **Transfer `user_id` to the senior on claim.** Breaks the audit trail — `user_id` is the originating engineer throughout the session lifecycle. Any query scoped to "sessions this engineer worked on" would silently lose the junior's history.
+- **A separate `can_send_message` service method.** Adds indirection with no benefit for v1. One `or_()` line in the existing query is sufficient.
+- **Checking a role/permission flag instead.** Role gating (engineer/admin) already happens at the claim endpoint. The chat-send check is about session ownership, not role. Mixing the two concerns would be confusing.
+
+**Consequences:**
+- Seniors can send AI briefings and continue chat work in sessions they have claimed. Core escalation pickup flow unblocked.
+- Any future caller of `send_chat_message` should be aware that "user_id or escalated_to_id" is the ownership rule. The service-level check is the single enforcement point.
+- `user_id` remains the originating engineer for all audit, history, and analytics queries. No data migration needed.
+
+---
+
 ## 2026-04-29 — Consolidate the three per-escalation AI calls into one structured generation
 
 **Context:** A single user-initiated escalation currently triggers three separate Sonnet calls, all summarizing the same source material (session state, steps taken, "what we know") from slightly different angles:

.ai/HANDOFF.md

@@ -2,64 +2,55 @@
 
 # HANDOFF.md
 
-**Last updated:** 2026-04-29 04:30 EDT
+**Last updated:** 2026-04-30 (Codex review-fix pass)
 
-**Active task:** **Escalation Mode** wedge — AI generation consolidation. Full status + design in [`CURRENT_TASK.md`](CURRENT_TASK.md). The wedge demo is **demo-blocked** by an empty AI assessment that didn't fix with a timeout bump. Architectural cause: 3 redundant AI calls per escalation; the right fix is to consolidate.
+**Active task:** **Escalation Mode** wedge — BROWSER QA COMPLETE + review fixes applied. Branch: `feat/escalation-metric-endpoint`. PR #155 ready to mark ready-for-review after committing this fix pass.
 
-**Branch:** `feat/escalation-metric-endpoint` at `0d1b305`. Pushed to origin. Draft PR #155 open.
+## Where this session ended
 
-## Where the previous session ended
+Code-review fixes were applied after browser QA:
 
-Live QA bash on the wedge demo. Branch state: 4 commits added this session (`0f00ee5`, `665530f`, `b7d7ff0`, `0d1b305`).
+- `claim_session` now uses atomic conditional `UPDATE ... WHERE claimed_by IS NULL` instead of read-then-write, so simultaneous senior pickup cannot silently overwrite `claimed_by`.
+- Original escalators cannot claim their own handoff. The escalation queue also excludes the current user's own escalated sessions, preventing the post-escalation dashboard from showing the junior their own handoff.
+- `session.escalation_package["handoff_id"]` is now populated from a preassigned UUID instead of `None` before flush.
+- Frontend build blockers removed: deleted unused legacy `claiming` / `handleStartHere` path in `AssistantChatPage` and unused `onStartHere` destructuring in `HandoffContextScreen`.
 
-**Confirmed working in browser:**
+**Validation:**
 
-- Junior escalates → senior bell-icon notification
-- Senior Pick Up → magic-moment screen with handoff data
-- Senior Start Here → chat surface loads with conversation history (`0d1b305` fixed the selectChat-gating bug — was rendering blank before)
-- Sidebar shows picked-up session with "Escalated" pill (`0d1b305`'s `loadChats()` after claim)
-- Suggested-step chips render below the composer
-- Unread 6px dot on queue cards persists across refresh
-- Task-lane regression killed — no stale flash on new sessions
-- Enter-to-submit (Shift+Enter for newline) on `EscalateModal` and `ConcludeSessionModal`
-- `PendingEscalations` rows on dashboard expand to show escalation reason + step count + ticket #
+- `git diff --check` ✅
+- `cd backend && pytest --override-ini='addopts=' tests/test_handoff_manager.py tests/test_session_handoffs_api.py tests/test_escalation_bus.py` ✅ `28 passed in 42.23s`
+- `cd frontend && /config/.bun/bin/bunx tsc -p tsconfig.app.json --noEmit --pretty false && /config/.bun/bin/bunx tsc -p tsconfig.node.json --noEmit --pretty false` ✅
+- Full frontend build could not complete because generated dirs are root-owned in this workspace: `frontend/node_modules/.tmp`, `frontend/node_modules/.vite-temp`, and likely `frontend/dist` produce EACCES. Type errors from review are fixed.
 
-**Active blocker:**
-
-- **AI assessment never populates** on the magic-moment screen. Bumping the timeout 15s → 45s in `0d1b305` did not fix it in the field. Backend logs from earlier in session showed Sonnet timing out at 15s; the assumption was the call would complete with more headroom, but live test still empty. May be a different failure mode (assessment generating but the bus event firing with `has_assessment: false`, or the frontend subscription not refetching, or the call genuinely failing past 45s).
+**Not testable in dev (known limitations):**
+- "Continue where X left off": requires senior to have existing task lane for session (won't occur on first pickup)
+- Browser-level 409 race toast still requires two distinct senior accounts. Backend claim write is now atomic and covered by service/API tests for conflict, self-claim, and idempotent same-user retry.
 
 ## Resume point — DO THIS NEXT
 
-**Replace the three redundant AI calls with a single structured generation.** Full implementation plan in [`CURRENT_TASK.md`](CURRENT_TASK.md) under "Active task — AI generation consolidation." Summary:
+**Ship:** Commit this review-fix pass, then mark PR #155 ready-for-review and demo to stakeholder.
 
-1. **Backend:** Replace `_generate_ai_assessment` with one Sonnet call returning structured JSON: `summary_prose` (PSA-flavored) + `what_we_know[]` + `likely_cause` + `suggested_steps[]` + `confidence`. Persist to `SessionHandoff`. Use Anthropic structured output / tool-use to enforce the schema.
-2. **Backend:** Make `generate_status_update` for `audience='ticket_notes'` / `context='escalation'` read the saved payload (instant). For `client_update` and `email_draft`, run a cheaper Haiku transformation over the saved prose, not a full re-summarization.
-3. **Backend:** Stop calling `_build_escalation_package_enhanced` from the background path — overlapping content. Verify nothing downstream depends on the *enhanced* enriched payload before removing.
-4. **Frontend:** `HandoffContextScreen` reads from the consolidated structured fields. `ConcludeSessionModal`'s "Ticket Notes" button stops generating, just copies the saved prose. "Client Update" / "Email Draft" trigger the cheap transformation.
-5. **Test plan:** magic-moment populates in ~5s. Token spend down ~60%. AI summary blocker resolved.
+Optional before shipping:
+- Record Loom demo walking through the escalation flow end-to-end
 
-**Implementation order (suggested):** 1 → 4 (so the magic moment shows the new fields) → 2 → 3 (cleanup) → tests.
+## Key files changed this session
 
-**Watch-outs:**
+- `backend/app/services/handoff_manager.py` — `_generate_handoff_summary` replaces old assessment pair; `enrich_escalation_async` unified; `claim_session` eager-loads `handed_off_by_user`
+- `backend/app/api/endpoints/ai_sessions.py` — escalation queue excludes the current user's own escalations
+- `backend/app/api/endpoints/session_handoffs.py` — self-claim returns 403
+- `backend/app/services/flowpilot_engine.py` — `generate_status_update` early-returns saved prose for `context='escalation'`
+- `backend/app/schemas/session_handoff.py` — `handed_off_by_name: str | None = None` added
+- `backend/app/api/endpoints/session_handoffs.py` — both create + claim endpoints pass `handed_off_by_name`
+- `frontend/src/types/branching.ts` — `HandoffResponse` updated with `summary_prose`, `what_we_know`, `confidence: string`, `handed_off_by_name`
+- `frontend/src/components/flowpilot/HandoffContextScreen.tsx` — 3-option CTA; `hasTaskLane`, `activeOptionKey`, `onContinue/onAIAnalysis/onOwnThing` props
+- `frontend/src/components/assistant/TaskLane.tsx` — `id="task-lane-card-{idx}"` on all card variants
+- `frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx` — `handleContinue`, `handleAIAnalysis`, `handleOwnThing` handlers; chip → card navigation; `activeOptionKey` state
+- `backend/tests/test_handoff_manager.py`, `backend/tests/test_session_handoffs_api.py` — regression coverage for atomic/idempotent claim, self-claim rejection, queue self-exclusion, and pre-flush handoff ID
 
-- Schema enforcement matters. Past calls returned freeform prose that doesn't parse into chips. Anthropic structured output / tool-use is the right tool.
-- `escalation_package` JSON column has live data on existing sessions — keep it READABLE, just stop *writing* the enhanced payload from `enrich_escalation_async`. Dual-write the basic snapshot if downstream queue summaries need it.
-- `_generate_ai_assessment` is stubbed in `test_handoff_manager.py` and `test_session_handoffs_api.py` via `AsyncMock`. Update test fixtures when renaming.
-- The frontend assessment-ready SSE subscription (added in `0f00ee5`) is fine as-is — it'll dispatch on the new event payload. No client changes for the live-refresh path.
+## Watch-outs
 
-## Useful breadcrumbs
-
-- AI assessment current impl: [`backend/app/services/handoff_manager.py`](../backend/app/services/handoff_manager.py) — `_generate_ai_assessment`, `_generate_ai_assessment_with_timeout`, `enrich_escalation_async`.
-- Status update current impl: [`backend/app/services/flowpilot_engine.py`](../backend/app/services/flowpilot_engine.py) — `generate_status_update`, `_build_status_update_prompt`, `_build_status_update_context`.
-- Enhanced package builder: [`backend/app/services/flowpilot_engine.py`](../backend/app/services/flowpilot_engine.py) — `_build_escalation_package_enhanced` (line ~1694).
-- Magic-moment screen: [`frontend/src/components/flowpilot/HandoffContextScreen.tsx`](../frontend/src/components/flowpilot/HandoffContextScreen.tsx).
-- Conclude modal: [`frontend/src/components/assistant/ConcludeSessionModal.tsx`](../frontend/src/components/assistant/ConcludeSessionModal.tsx) — see `handleGenerateStatusUpdate`.
-- Magic-moment integration + suggested-step chips: [`frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx`](../frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx).
-- Test fixtures stubbing the assessment: `backend/tests/test_handoff_manager.py`, `backend/tests/test_session_handoffs_api.py`.
-
-## Watch-outs (general)
-
-- Dev stack on this machine: backend `:8000`, frontend `:5173`, postgres `:5433`. All running via docker-compose. HMR works.
-- Test users (Acme MSP shared account, password `TestPass123!`): `engineer@resolutionflow.example.com` (junior), `teamadmin@resolutionflow.example.com` (senior).
+- Dev stack: backend `:8000`, frontend `:5173`, postgres `:5433` (docker-compose). HMR works.
+- Test users (Acme MSP, password `TestPass123!`): `engineer@resolutionflow.example.com` (junior), `teamadmin@resolutionflow.example.com` (senior).
+- `handleAIAnalysis` pre-adds `urlSessionId` to `loadedChatIdsRef` before dismissing so the normal selectChat effect doesn't double-fire. It then calls `selectChat` manually before sending the briefing.
+- Legacy `claiming` / `handleStartHere` on `AssistantChatPage` was removed; `activeOptionKey !== null` is the active pre-claim processing signal.
 - The bus is acceptable for v1 pilot scale only (Railway single-replica). Redis pub/sub is the swap when horizontal scaling appears.
-- `streamEscalations` doesn't drive token refresh on a mid-stream 401. Acceptable for v1.

.ai/SESSION_LOG.md

@@ -12,6 +12,37 @@
 
 ---
 
+## 2026-04-30 06:25 UTC — Codex — Apply Escalation Mode review fixes
+
+- Reviewed the recent Escalation Mode wedge work and fixed the actionable findings before PR #155 is marked ready.
+- Reworked `HandoffManager.claim_session` from read-then-write to an atomic conditional update, preserving idempotent same-user retries and returning a typed conflict for a different claimant.
+- Blocked original engineers from claiming their own handoffs and filtered their own escalated sessions out of `/ai-sessions/escalation-queue`, preventing the post-escalation dashboard from showing a junior their own handoff.
+- Fixed the compatibility payload so `session.escalation_package["handoff_id"]` is populated from a preassigned UUID before flush.
+- Removed unused legacy frontend pickup state (`claiming`, `handleStartHere`, unused `onStartHere` destructuring) that made `tsc -b` fail under `noUnusedLocals`.
+- Added regression coverage for pre-flush handoff IDs, conflict handling, self-claim rejection, successful non-owner claim, and own-escalation queue exclusion.
+- Verified `git diff --check`; focused backend tests passed (`28 passed in 42.23s`); frontend `tsc --noEmit` checks passed for app and node configs. Full Vite/build script remains blocked by root-owned generated directories under `frontend/node_modules` / `frontend/dist` in this workspace, not by TypeScript errors.
+- Files touched: `backend/app/services/handoff_manager.py`, `backend/app/api/endpoints/ai_sessions.py`, `backend/app/api/endpoints/session_handoffs.py`, `backend/tests/test_handoff_manager.py`, `backend/tests/test_session_handoffs_api.py`, `frontend/src/components/flowpilot/HandoffContextScreen.tsx`, `frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx`, `.ai/HANDOFF.md`, `.ai/SESSION_LOG.md`.
+
+## 2026-04-30 — Claude Code — Browser QA pass complete; chat ownership bug found and fixed; PR #155 ready
+
+- Ran full browser QA pass on the escalation mode feature using gstack `/qa` skill.
+- **Critical bug found and fixed (commit `dc69c9d`):** `POST /ai-sessions/{id}/chat → 400` when senior clicked "Get AI analysis" on the magic-moment screen. Root cause: `unified_chat_service.send_chat_message` checked `AISession.user_id == user_id` only; senior is stored as `escalated_to_id`, not `user_id`. Fix: `or_(AISession.user_id == user_id, AISession.escalated_to_id == user_id)` in the WHERE clause.
+- **All 7 QA scenarios passed:**
+  - Post-escalation redirect: junior routed to `/` with "Session escalated" toast.
+  - Magic-moment screen: header, metadata, two-column AI assessment, 2-option CTA rendered correctly.
+  - "I'll take it from here": claim → dismiss overlay → composer focused.
+  - "Get AI analysis": claim → briefing sent → AI responded → task lane populated (after `dc69c9d` fix).
+  - Task lane copy button: toast + checkmark visual feedback.
+  - Chip expansion: inline detail card + "Open in Tasks panel" scroll.
+  - Post-claim toolbar re-open: dismissible mode with Close-only CTA.
+- **Known non-blockers:** "Continue where X left off" path untestable on first pickup (`hasTaskLane=false` is correct v1 behavior). 409 race condition untestable with one senior account; backend logic code-reviewed and correct.
+- Backend tests: 17/17 pass.
+- Updated `HANDOFF.md` to reflect QA complete; updated `CURRENT_TASK.md` status to engineering+QA complete; appended architectural decision to `DECISIONS.md`.
+- Branch `feat/escalation-metric-endpoint` is ready for PR #155 to be marked ready-for-review.
+- **Files touched this session:** `backend/app/services/unified_chat_service.py`, `.ai/HANDOFF.md`, `.ai/CURRENT_TASK.md`, `.ai/DECISIONS.md`, `.ai/SESSION_LOG.md`.
+
+---
+
 ## 2026-04-29 04:30 EDT — Claude Code — Live QA bash, pickup bug fixes, AI summary consolidation surfaced
 
 - User on a freshly swapped computer ran the live QA flow. Identified two bugs missed by static analysis from the previous session:

backend/app/api/endpoints/ai_sessions.py

@@ -689,6 +689,7 @@ async def get_escalation_queue(
         .where(
             scope_filter,
             AISession.status.in_(("requesting_escalation", "escalated")),
+            AISession.user_id != current_user.id,
         )
         .order_by(AISession.created_at.desc())
     )

backend/app/api/endpoints/session_handoffs.py

@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ async def create_handoff(
             enrich_escalation_async, handoff.id, current_user.id
         )
 
-    return HandoffResponse.model_validate(handoff)
+    return HandoffResponse.model_validate(handoff).model_copy(
+        update={"handed_off_by_name": current_user.name}
+    )
 
 
 @router.get("/handoffs", response_model=list[HandoffResponse])
@@ -142,11 +144,20 @@ async def claim_handoff(
                 "claimed_at": e.claimed_at.isoformat(),
             },
         )
+    except PermissionError as e:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail=str(e))
     except ValueError as e:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=str(e))
 
     await db.commit()
-    return HandoffResponse.model_validate(handoff)
+    handed_off_by_name = (
+        handoff.handed_off_by_user.name
+        if handoff.handed_off_by_user
+        else None
+    )
+    return HandoffResponse.model_validate(handoff).model_copy(
+        update={"handed_off_by_name": handed_off_by_name}
+    )
 
 
 @queue_router.get("/queue")

backend/app/schemas/session_handoff.py

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class HandoffResponse(BaseModel):
     id: UUID
     session_id: UUID
     handed_off_by: UUID
+    handed_off_by_name: str | None = None
     intent: str
     source_branch_id: UUID | None
     snapshot: dict[str, Any]

backend/app/services/flowpilot_engine.py

@@ -913,6 +913,41 @@ async def generate_status_update(
     """Generate a status update for ticket notes, client communication, or email draft."""
     session = await _load_session(session_id, user_id, db)
 
+    # For escalation/ticket_notes, return the pre-generated handoff prose immediately
+    # if enrich_escalation_async has already populated it. This eliminates the
+    # redundant Sonnet re-summarization on every "Ticket Notes" click.
+    if request.context == "escalation" and request.audience == "ticket_notes":
+        from app.models.session_handoff import SessionHandoff
+
+        handoff_q = await db.execute(
+            select(SessionHandoff)
+            .where(
+                SessionHandoff.session_id == session_id,
+                SessionHandoff.intent == "escalate",
+            )
+            .order_by(SessionHandoff.created_at.desc())
+            .limit(1)
+        )
+        escalation_handoff = handoff_q.scalar_one_or_none()
+        saved_data = (
+            escalation_handoff.ai_assessment_data or {}
+        ) if escalation_handoff else {}
+        prose = saved_data.get("summary_prose") or (
+            escalation_handoff.ai_assessment if escalation_handoff else None
+        )
+        if prose:
+            return StatusUpdateResponse(
+                content=prose,
+                audience=request.audience,
+                length=request.length,
+                context=request.context,
+                session_status=session.status,
+                steps_completed=session.step_count or 0,
+                time_spent_display=None,
+                client_name=None,
+                generated_at=datetime.now(timezone.utc),
+            )
+
     # Build conversation summary from session steps
     steps_summary = []
     for step in sorted(session.steps, key=lambda s: s.step_order):

backend/app/services/handoff_manager.py

@@ -14,15 +14,17 @@ on top of per-user emails. The `/escalate` endpoint is now a thin shim
 calling these in sequence.
 """
 import asyncio
+import json
 import logging
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from typing import Any
-from uuid import UUID
+from uuid import UUID, uuid4
 
-from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy import select, update
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 from sqlalchemy.orm import selectinload
 
+from app.core.ai_provider import get_ai_provider
 from app.core.config import settings
 from app.core.email import EmailService
 from app.core.escalation_bus import bus as escalation_bus
@@ -86,6 +88,10 @@ class HandoffManager:
         to produce), and merges the handoff metadata into it. Self-targeting
         is rejected with ValueError, matching legacy behavior.
         """
+        user_id = UUID(str(user_id))
+        if target_user_id:
+            target_user_id = UUID(str(target_user_id))
+
         # Eager-load steps + user — _build_escalation_package_enhanced and
         # finalize_escalation iterate over session.steps to compose the
         # legacy enriched package and the SessionDocumentation, and the
@@ -123,7 +129,9 @@ class HandoffManager:
         # immediately with `ai_assessment=None`; the magic-moment screen
         # shows "Assessment still computing" until enrich_async finishes
         # and the senior refreshes (or, eventually, polls).
+        handoff_id = uuid4()
         handoff = SessionHandoff(
+            id=handoff_id,
             session_id=session_id,
             account_id=session.account_id,
             handed_off_by=user_id,
@@ -157,7 +165,7 @@ class HandoffManager:
             "snapshot": snapshot,
             "intent": intent,
             "engineer_notes": engineer_notes,
-            "handoff_id": str(handoff.id),
+            "handoff_id": str(handoff_id),
         }
 
         await self.db.flush()
@@ -430,26 +438,49 @@ class HandoffManager:
         the API can return 409 with the data the loser's toast needs. A
         re-claim by the same user is idempotent.
         """
+        claiming_user_id = UUID(str(claiming_user_id))
+        claimed_at = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+
+        update_result = await self.db.execute(
+            update(SessionHandoff)
+            .where(
+                SessionHandoff.id == handoff_id,
+                SessionHandoff.claimed_by.is_(None),
+                SessionHandoff.handed_off_by != claiming_user_id,
+            )
+            .values(claimed_by=claiming_user_id, claimed_at=claimed_at)
+            .returning(SessionHandoff.id)
+        )
+        claimed_now = update_result.scalar_one_or_none() is not None
+
         result = await self.db.execute(
             select(SessionHandoff)
-            .options(selectinload(SessionHandoff.claimed_by_user))
+            .options(
+                selectinload(SessionHandoff.claimed_by_user),
+                selectinload(SessionHandoff.handed_off_by_user),
+            )
             .where(SessionHandoff.id == handoff_id)
         )
         handoff = result.scalar_one_or_none()
         if not handoff:
             raise ValueError(f"Handoff {handoff_id} not found")
 
-        if handoff.claimed_by is not None and handoff.claimed_by != claiming_user_id:
+        handed_off_by = UUID(str(handoff.handed_off_by))
+        claimed_by = (
+            UUID(str(handoff.claimed_by)) if handoff.claimed_by is not None else None
+        )
+
+        if handed_off_by == claiming_user_id:
+            raise PermissionError("Cannot claim your own handoff")
+
+        if not claimed_now and claimed_by != claiming_user_id:
             claimer = handoff.claimed_by_user
             raise HandoffAlreadyClaimedError(
-                claimed_by_id=handoff.claimed_by,
+                claimed_by_id=claimed_by,
                 claimed_by_name=claimer.name if claimer else "another engineer",
                 claimed_at=handoff.claimed_at or datetime.now(timezone.utc),
             )
 
-        handoff.claimed_by = claiming_user_id
-        handoff.claimed_at = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
-
         # Reactivate session
         session_result = await self.db.execute(
             select(AISession).where(AISession.id == handoff.session_id)
@@ -463,61 +494,111 @@ class HandoffManager:
         await self.db.flush()
         return handoff
 
-    async def _generate_ai_assessment(
+    async def _generate_handoff_summary(
         self, session: AISession
-    ) -> tuple[str | None, dict[str, Any] | None]:
-        """Generate AI diagnostic assessment for escalation handoffs."""
-        try:
-            from app.services.assistant_chat_service import _call_ai
+    ) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+        """Single structured AI call for the escalation magic-moment screen.
 
-            context = f"Problem: {session.problem_summary or 'Unknown'}\nDomain: {session.problem_domain or 'Unknown'}"
-            msgs = session.conversation_messages or []
-            # Include last 10 messages for context
-            recent = "\n".join(
-                f"[{m.get('role', '?')}]: {m.get('content', '')[:200]}"
-                for m in msgs[-10:]
-            )
-
-            assessment_text, _, _ = await _call_ai(
-                system_base="You are a diagnostic assessment generator for MSP escalations.",
-                rag_context="",
-                history=[],
-                new_message=(
-                    f"Generate a brief diagnostic assessment for this escalation.\n"
-                    f"{context}\n\nRecent conversation:\n{recent}\n\n"
-                    f"Return: 1) Most likely cause, 2) Suggested next steps, 3) Confidence (low/medium/high)"
-                ),
-                max_tokens=500,
-            )
-
-            assessment_data = {
-                "likely_cause": "See assessment text",
-                "suggested_steps": [],
-                "confidence": "medium",
-            }
-
-            return assessment_text, assessment_data
-        except Exception:
-            logger.exception("Failed to generate AI assessment")
-            return None, None
-
-    async def _generate_ai_assessment_with_timeout(
-        self, session: AISession
-    ) -> tuple[str | None, dict[str, Any] | None]:
-        """Generate optional escalation assessment within the click-path budget."""
+        Returns a dict with summary_prose, what_we_know, likely_cause,
+        suggested_steps, and confidence. Returns None on timeout or error.
+        Replaces the old _generate_ai_assessment + _generate_ai_assessment_with_timeout
+        pair, which returned freeform prose with no usable structured fields.
+        """
         timeout = settings.ESCALATION_AI_ASSESSMENT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
         try:
             return await asyncio.wait_for(
-                self._generate_ai_assessment(session),
+                self._generate_handoff_summary_inner(session),
                 timeout=timeout,
             )
         except asyncio.TimeoutError:
             logger.warning(
-                "Escalation AI assessment timed out after %ss for session %s",
+                "Handoff summary timed out after %ss for session %s",
                 timeout,
                 session.id,
             )
-            return None, None
+            return None
+        except Exception:
+            logger.exception(
+                "Handoff summary failed for session %s", session.id
+            )
+            return None
+
+    async def _generate_handoff_summary_inner(
+        self, session: AISession
+    ) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        steps = session.steps or []
+        steps_tried = []
+        for step in sorted(steps, key=lambda s: s.step_order):
+            content = step.content or {}
+            text = content.get("text", "").strip()
+            if not text:
+                continue
+            entry = text
+            if step.selected_option:
+                entry += f" → {step.selected_option}"
+            elif step.free_text_input:
+                entry += f" → {step.free_text_input[:100]}"
+            elif step.was_skipped:
+                entry += " (skipped)"
+            steps_tried.append(entry)
+        steps_text = (
+            "\n".join(f"- {s}" for s in steps_tried[:15])
+            or "No diagnostic steps recorded."
+        )
+
+        msgs = session.conversation_messages or []
+        recent_msgs = "\n".join(
+            f"[{m.get('role', '?')}]: {m.get('content', '')[:200]}"
+            for m in msgs[-10:]
+        )
+
+        prompt = (
+            "Generate a structured escalation handoff summary.\n\n"
+            f"Problem: {session.problem_summary or 'Unknown'}\n"
+            f"Domain: {session.problem_domain or 'Unknown'}\n"
+            f"Escalation reason: {session.escalation_reason or 'Not provided'}\n\n"
+            f"Diagnostic steps taken:\n{steps_text}\n\n"
+            f"Recent conversation:\n{recent_msgs}\n\n"
+            "Respond with ONLY a valid JSON object matching this schema exactly:\n"
+            '{"summary_prose": "<2-3 sentences suitable for PSA ticket notes>",\n'
+            ' "what_we_know": ["<confirmed fact 1>", "<confirmed fact 2>"],\n'
+            ' "likely_cause": "<one sentence root cause hypothesis>",\n'
+            ' "suggested_steps": ["<next step 1>", "<next step 2>"],\n'
+            ' "confidence": "<low or medium or high>"}'
+        )
+
+        provider = get_ai_provider(settings.get_model_for_action("escalation_package"))
+        raw, _, _ = await provider.generate_json(
+            system_prompt=(
+                "You are a diagnostic assessment generator for MSP tech support escalations. "
+                "Always respond with valid JSON and nothing else. "
+                "Be concise and factual."
+            ),
+            messages=[{"role": "user", "content": prompt}],
+            max_tokens=700,
+        )
+
+        cleaned = raw.strip()
+        if cleaned.startswith("```"):
+            lines = cleaned.split("\n", 1)
+            cleaned = lines[1] if len(lines) > 1 else cleaned
+            if cleaned.endswith("```"):
+                cleaned = cleaned[:-3].rstrip()
+
+        result = json.loads(cleaned)
+
+        if not isinstance(result.get("suggested_steps"), list):
+            result["suggested_steps"] = []
+        if not isinstance(result.get("what_we_know"), list):
+            result["what_we_know"] = []
+        if result.get("confidence") not in ("low", "medium", "high"):
+            result["confidence"] = "medium"
+        if not isinstance(result.get("summary_prose"), str) or not result.get("summary_prose"):
+            result["summary_prose"] = result.get("likely_cause", "Assessment generated.")
+        if not isinstance(result.get("likely_cause"), str):
+            result["likely_cause"] = ""
+
+        return result
 
     async def generate_briefing(
         self, handoff_id: UUID, claiming_user_id: UUID
@@ -671,37 +752,29 @@ async def enrich_escalation_async(handoff_id: UUID, user_id: UUID) -> None:
 
             manager = HandoffManager(db)
 
-            # Build the enhanced package (Sonnet). Don't fail the whole
-            # task if it errors — the assessment is independently useful.
+            # Single consolidated AI call — replaces the old
+            # _generate_ai_assessment + _build_enhanced_escalation_package pair.
             try:
-                enhanced_pkg = await manager._build_enhanced_escalation_package(
-                    session, user_id
-                )
-                if enhanced_pkg:
-                    enhanced_pkg["intent"] = "escalate"
-                    enhanced_pkg["engineer_notes"] = handoff.engineer_notes
-                    enhanced_pkg["handoff_id"] = str(handoff.id)
-                    if isinstance(session.escalation_package, dict):
-                        enhanced_pkg.setdefault(
-                            "snapshot", session.escalation_package.get("snapshot")
-                        )
-                    session.escalation_package = enhanced_pkg
+                summary = await manager._generate_handoff_summary(session)
+                if summary:
+                    # ai_assessment (text) holds the PSA prose for backward compat
+                    # (push_to_psa reads it; generate_status_update falls back to it).
+                    handoff.ai_assessment = summary.get("summary_prose")
+                    handoff.ai_assessment_data = summary
+                    # Keep suggested_next_steps in escalation_package so
+                    # psa_documentation_service can read it without a handoff join.
+                    existing_pkg = (
+                        session.escalation_package
+                        if isinstance(session.escalation_package, dict)
+                        else {}
+                    )
+                    session.escalation_package = {
+                        **existing_pkg,
+                        "suggested_next_steps": summary.get("suggested_steps", []),
+                    }
             except Exception:
                 logger.exception(
-                    "enrich_escalation_async: enhanced package build failed for handoff %s",
-                    handoff_id,
-                )
-
-            # Generate the diagnostic AI assessment.
-            try:
-                ai_assessment, ai_assessment_data = (
-                    await manager._generate_ai_assessment_with_timeout(session)
-                )
-                handoff.ai_assessment = ai_assessment
-                handoff.ai_assessment_data = ai_assessment_data
-            except Exception:
-                logger.exception(
-                    "enrich_escalation_async: assessment generation failed for handoff %s",
+                    "enrich_escalation_async: summary generation failed for handoff %s",
                     handoff_id,
                 )
 
@@ -714,7 +787,7 @@ async def enrich_escalation_async(handoff_id: UUID, user_id: UUID) -> None:
                         "type": "handoff_assessment_ready",
                         "handoff_id": str(handoff.id),
                         "session_id": str(handoff.session_id),
-                        "has_assessment": handoff.ai_assessment is not None,
+                        "has_assessment": handoff.ai_assessment_data is not None,
                     },
                 )
             except Exception:

backend/app/services/unified_chat_service.py

@@ -583,10 +583,14 @@ async def send_chat_message(
 
     Returns (ai_content, suggested_flows, session, fork_metadata, actions_data, questions_data).
     """
+    from sqlalchemy import or_
     result = await db.execute(
         select(AISession).where(
             AISession.id == session_id,
-            AISession.user_id == user_id,
+            or_(
+                AISession.user_id == user_id,
+                AISession.escalated_to_id == user_id,
+            ),
             AISession.session_type == "chat",
         )
     )

backend/tests/test_handoff_manager.py

@@ -15,16 +15,15 @@ def stub_ai_assessment():
     """Keep handoff tests focused on handoff behavior, not external AI calls."""
     with patch.object(
         HandoffManager,
-        "_generate_ai_assessment",
+        "_generate_handoff_summary",
         new=AsyncMock(
-            return_value=(
-                "Stub escalation assessment",
-                {
-                    "likely_cause": "Stub",
-                    "suggested_steps": [],
-                    "confidence": "medium",
-                },
-            )
+            return_value={
+                "summary_prose": "Stub escalation assessment",
+                "what_we_know": [],
+                "likely_cause": "Stub",
+                "suggested_steps": [],
+                "confidence": "medium",
+            }
         ),
     ):
         yield
@@ -100,6 +99,7 @@ async def test_create_escalate_handoff(client: AsyncClient, test_user, auth_head
     assert session.status == "escalated"
     assert session.escalation_package is not None
     assert "branch_map" in session.escalation_package or "snapshot" in session.escalation_package
+    assert session.escalation_package["handoff_id"] == str(handoff.id)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ async def test_create_escalate_handoff_does_not_wait_on_slow_ai_assessment(
     test_db.add(session)
     await test_db.flush()
 
-    async def slow_assessment(self, session):
+    async def slow_summary(self, session):
         await asyncio.sleep(0.2)
-        return "too slow", {"confidence": "medium"}
+        return {"summary_prose": "too slow", "confidence": "medium"}
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(
         "app.services.handoff_manager.settings."
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ async def test_create_escalate_handoff_does_not_wait_on_slow_ai_assessment(
     )
     with patch.object(
         HandoffManager,
-        "_generate_ai_assessment",
-        new=slow_assessment,
+        "_generate_handoff_summary_inner",
+        new=slow_summary,
     ):
         manager = HandoffManager(test_db)
         handoff = await manager.create_handoff(
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ async def test_claim_session(client: AsyncClient, test_user, test_admin, auth_he
         claiming_user_id=test_admin["user_data"]["id"],
     )
 
-    assert claimed.claimed_by == test_admin["user_data"]["id"]
+    assert str(claimed.claimed_by) == test_admin["user_data"]["id"]
     assert claimed.claimed_at is not None
 
     await test_db.refresh(session)
@@ -213,6 +213,15 @@ async def test_claim_session_conflict_raises_already_claimed(
         conversation_messages=[],
     )
     test_db.add(session)
+    loser = User(
+        email="race-loser@example.com",
+        password_hash="x",
+        name="Race Loser",
+        role="engineer",
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        account_role="engineer",
+    )
+    test_db.add(loser)
     await test_db.flush()
 
     manager = HandoffManager(test_db)
@@ -229,16 +238,16 @@ async def test_claim_session_conflict_raises_already_claimed(
         claiming_user_id=test_admin["user_data"]["id"],
     )
 
-    # Second claim by a different user — owner of the original session,
-    # standing in for "the other senior who lost the race."
+    # Second claim by a different user — standing in for the other senior who
+    # lost the race.
     with pytest.raises(HandoffAlreadyClaimedError) as exc_info:
         await manager.claim_session(
             handoff_id=handoff.id,
-            claiming_user_id=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+            claiming_user_id=loser.id,
         )
 
     err = exc_info.value
-    assert err.claimed_by_id == test_admin["user_data"]["id"]
+    assert str(err.claimed_by_id) == test_admin["user_data"]["id"]
     assert err.claimed_by_name  # populated from User.name
     assert err.claimed_at is not None
 
@@ -279,7 +288,40 @@ async def test_claim_session_idempotent_for_same_user(
         claiming_user_id=test_admin["user_data"]["id"],
     )
 
-    assert first.claimed_by == second.claimed_by == test_admin["user_data"]["id"]
+    assert str(first.claimed_by) == str(second.claimed_by) == test_admin["user_data"]["id"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_claim_session_rejects_self_claim(
+    client: AsyncClient, test_user, auth_headers, test_db
+):
+    """The engineer who escalated a session cannot pick up their own handoff."""
+    session = AISession(
+        user_id=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        session_type="guided",
+        intake_type="free_text",
+        intake_content={"text": "test"},
+        status="active",
+        confidence_tier="discovery",
+        conversation_messages=[],
+    )
+    test_db.add(session)
+    await test_db.flush()
+
+    manager = HandoffManager(test_db)
+    handoff = await manager.create_handoff(
+        session_id=session.id,
+        intent="escalate",
+        engineer_notes="Need help",
+        user_id=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError):
+        await manager.claim_session(
+            handoff_id=handoff.id,
+            claiming_user_id=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+        )
 
 
 # ─── Notification dispatch ────────────────────────────────────────────────────

backend/tests/test_session_handoffs_api.py

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import select
 from app.api.endpoints.session_handoffs import stream_escalations
 from app.core.escalation_bus import bus as escalation_bus
 from app.models.ai_session import AISession
+from app.models.session_handoff import SessionHandoff
 from app.models.user import User
 from app.services.handoff_manager import HandoffManager
 
@@ -23,16 +24,15 @@ def stub_ai_assessment():
     """Endpoint tests should not wait on the external AI assessment path."""
     with patch.object(
         HandoffManager,
-        "_generate_ai_assessment",
+        "_generate_handoff_summary",
         new=AsyncMock(
-            return_value=(
-                "Stub escalation assessment",
-                {
-                    "likely_cause": "Stub",
-                    "suggested_steps": [],
-                    "confidence": "medium",
-                },
-            )
+            return_value={
+                "summary_prose": "Stub escalation assessment",
+                "what_we_know": [],
+                "likely_cause": "Stub",
+                "suggested_steps": [],
+                "confidence": "medium",
+            }
         ),
     ):
         yield
@@ -197,8 +197,19 @@ async def test_claim_allowed_for_engineer_role(
     client: AsyncClient, test_user, auth_headers, test_db
 ):
     """POST /handoffs/{id}/claim succeeds for engineer-or-admin roles."""
+    original_engineer = User(
+        email="original-engineer@example.com",
+        password_hash="x",
+        name="Original Engineer",
+        role="engineer",
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        account_role="engineer",
+    )
+    test_db.add(original_engineer)
+    await test_db.flush()
+
     session = AISession(
-        user_id=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+        user_id=original_engineer.id,
         account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
         session_type="guided",
         intake_type="free_text",
@@ -208,21 +219,106 @@ async def test_claim_allowed_for_engineer_role(
         conversation_messages=[],
     )
     test_db.add(session)
-    await test_db.commit()
+    await test_db.flush()
 
-    create_resp = await client.post(
-        f"/api/v1/ai-sessions/{session.id}/handoff",
-        headers=auth_headers,
-        json={"intent": "escalate", "engineer_notes": "Need help"},
+    handoff = SessionHandoff(
+        session_id=session.id,
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        handed_off_by=original_engineer.id,
+        intent="escalate",
+        snapshot={"problem_summary": "test"},
+        engineer_notes="Need help",
     )
-    assert create_resp.status_code == 201
-    handoff_id = create_resp.json()["id"]
+    test_db.add(handoff)
+    await test_db.commit()
 
     # Default test_user role is "owner", which passes engineer-or-admin.
     claim_resp = await client.post(
-        f"/api/v1/ai-sessions/{session.id}/handoffs/{handoff_id}/claim",
+        f"/api/v1/ai-sessions/{session.id}/handoffs/{handoff.id}/claim",
         headers=auth_headers,
     )
     assert claim_resp.status_code == 200
     assert claim_resp.json()["claimed_by"] == test_user["user_data"]["id"]
     assert claim_resp.json()["claimed_at"] is not None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_claim_rejects_self_claim(
+    client: AsyncClient, test_user, auth_headers, test_db
+):
+    """POST /handoffs/{id}/claim returns 403 for the original escalator."""
+    session = AISession(
+        user_id=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        session_type="guided",
+        intake_type="free_text",
+        intake_content={"text": "test"},
+        status="escalated",
+        confidence_tier="discovery",
+        conversation_messages=[],
+    )
+    test_db.add(session)
+    await test_db.flush()
+
+    handoff = SessionHandoff(
+        session_id=session.id,
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        handed_off_by=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+        intent="escalate",
+        snapshot={"problem_summary": "test"},
+        engineer_notes="Need help",
+    )
+    test_db.add(handoff)
+    await test_db.commit()
+
+    claim_resp = await client.post(
+        f"/api/v1/ai-sessions/{session.id}/handoffs/{handoff.id}/claim",
+        headers=auth_headers,
+    )
+    assert claim_resp.status_code == 403
+    assert "own handoff" in claim_resp.json()["detail"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_escalation_queue_excludes_own_escalations(
+    client: AsyncClient, test_user, auth_headers, test_db
+):
+    """The post-escalation dashboard queue should not show your own handoff."""
+    own_session = AISession(
+        user_id=test_user["user_data"]["id"],
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        session_type="chat",
+        intake_type="free_text",
+        intake_content={"text": "own"},
+        status="escalated",
+        confidence_tier="discovery",
+        conversation_messages=[],
+    )
+    other_engineer = User(
+        email="other-engineer@example.com",
+        password_hash="x",
+        name="Other Engineer",
+        role="engineer",
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        account_role="engineer",
+    )
+    test_db.add_all([own_session, other_engineer])
+    await test_db.flush()
+    other_session = AISession(
+        user_id=other_engineer.id,
+        account_id=test_user["user_data"]["account_id"],
+        session_type="chat",
+        intake_type="free_text",
+        intake_content={"text": "other"},
+        status="escalated",
+        confidence_tier="discovery",
+        conversation_messages=[],
+    )
+    test_db.add(other_session)
+    await test_db.commit()
+
+    resp = await client.get("/api/v1/ai-sessions/escalation-queue", headers=auth_headers)
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    ids = {item["id"] for item in resp.json()}
+    assert str(own_session.id) not in ids
+    assert str(other_session.id) in ids

frontend/src/components/assistant/TaskLane.tsx

@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
   const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false)
   const [showRunAll, setShowRunAll] = useState(false)
   const [showPreview, setShowPreview] = useState(false)
+  const [copiedKey, setCopiedKey] = useState<string | null>(null)
 
   // ── Resize state ──
   const DEFAULT_WIDTH = 340
@@ -208,8 +209,26 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
     `# ── ${i + 1}. ${a.label} ──\n${a.command}`
   )).join('\n\n')
 
-  const handleCopy = (text: string) => {
-    navigator.clipboard.writeText(text)
+  const handleCopy = async (text: string) => {
+    try {
+      await navigator.clipboard.writeText(text)
+    } catch {
+      // Fallback for HTTP or focus-restricted contexts
+      try {
+        const el = document.createElement('textarea')
+        el.value = text
+        el.style.cssText = 'position:fixed;opacity:0;pointer-events:none'
+        document.body.appendChild(el)
+        el.select()
+        document.execCommand('copy')
+        document.body.removeChild(el)
+      } catch {
+        toast.error('Copy failed — select the text and copy manually')
+        return
+      }
+    }
+    setCopiedKey(text)
+    setTimeout(() => setCopiedKey(k => k === text ? null : k), 1500)
     toast.success('Copied to clipboard')
   }
 
@@ -325,7 +344,7 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
 
               if (q.state === 'done') {
                 return (
-                  <div key={idx} className="rounded-lg border-l-[3px] border-l-success border border-success/25 bg-success-dim/30 p-3 mb-2 cursor-pointer hover:border-success/40 transition-colors" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'active' })}>
+                  <div key={idx} id={`task-lane-card-${idx}`} className="rounded-lg border-l-[3px] border-l-success border border-success/25 bg-success-dim/30 p-3 mb-2 cursor-pointer hover:border-success/40 transition-colors" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'active' })}>
                     <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
                       <Check size={12} className="text-success shrink-0" />
                       <span className="text-[0.8125rem] text-foreground">{q.text}</span>
@@ -337,7 +356,7 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
 
               if (q.state === 'skipped') {
                 return (
-                  <div key={idx} className="rounded-lg border border-default/50 bg-elevated/20 p-3 mb-2 opacity-60 cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80 hover:border-default transition-all" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'pending' })} title="Click to restore">
+                  <div key={idx} id={`task-lane-card-${idx}`} className="rounded-lg border border-default/50 bg-elevated/20 p-3 mb-2 opacity-60 cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80 hover:border-default transition-all" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'pending' })} title="Click to restore">
                     <div className="flex justify-between">
                       <div className="text-[0.8125rem] text-muted-foreground line-through">{q.text}</div>
                       <span className="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">Skipped</span>
@@ -347,7 +366,7 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
               }
 
               return (
-                <div key={idx} className="rounded-lg border border-default bg-card p-3 mb-2">
+                <div key={idx} id={`task-lane-card-${idx}`} className="rounded-lg border border-default bg-card p-3 mb-2">
                   <div className="text-[0.8125rem] text-heading leading-relaxed">{q.text}</div>
                   {q.context && (
                     <div className="text-[0.6875rem] text-muted-foreground mt-1">{q.context}</div>
@@ -430,10 +449,11 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
                     <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2">
                       <span className="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">Combined script</span>
                       <button
-                        onClick={() => handleCopy(combinedScript)}
-                        className="flex items-center gap-1 text-[0.75rem] text-muted-foreground hover:text-heading"
+                        onClick={() => void handleCopy(combinedScript)}
+                        className="flex items-center gap-1 text-[0.75rem] text-muted-foreground hover:text-heading transition-colors"
                       >
-                        <Copy size={11} /> Copy
+                        {copiedKey === combinedScript ? <Check size={11} className="text-success" /> : <Copy size={11} />}
+                        {copiedKey === combinedScript ? 'Copied' : 'Copy'}
                       </button>
                     </div>
                     <pre className="text-[0.75rem] font-mono text-heading whitespace-pre-wrap overflow-x-auto">{combinedScript}</pre>
@@ -448,7 +468,7 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
 
               if (a.state === 'done') {
                 return (
-                  <div key={idx} className="rounded-lg border-l-[3px] border-l-success border border-success/25 bg-success-dim/30 p-3 mb-2 cursor-pointer hover:border-success/40 transition-colors" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'active' })}>
+                  <div key={idx} id={`task-lane-card-${idx}`} className="rounded-lg border-l-[3px] border-l-success border border-success/25 bg-success-dim/30 p-3 mb-2 cursor-pointer hover:border-success/40 transition-colors" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'active' })}>
                     <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
                       <Check size={12} className="text-success shrink-0" />
                       <span className="text-[0.8125rem] font-medium text-foreground flex-1">{a.label}</span>
@@ -459,7 +479,7 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
 
               if (a.state === 'skipped') {
                 return (
-                  <div key={idx} className="rounded-lg border border-default/50 bg-elevated/20 p-3 mb-2 opacity-60 cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80 hover:border-default transition-all" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'pending' })} title="Click to restore">
+                  <div key={idx} id={`task-lane-card-${idx}`} className="rounded-lg border border-default/50 bg-elevated/20 p-3 mb-2 opacity-60 cursor-pointer hover:opacity-80 hover:border-default transition-all" onClick={() => updateTask(idx, { state: 'pending' })} title="Click to restore">
                     <div className="flex justify-between">
                       <div className="text-[0.8125rem] text-muted-foreground line-through">{a.label}</div>
                       <span className="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">Skipped</span>
@@ -469,7 +489,7 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
               }
 
               return (
-                <div key={idx} className="rounded-lg border border-default bg-card p-3 mb-2 hover:border-hover transition-colors">
+                <div key={idx} id={`task-lane-card-${idx}`} className="rounded-lg border border-default bg-card p-3 mb-2 hover:border-hover transition-colors">
                   <div className="text-[0.8125rem] font-medium text-heading">{a.label}</div>
                   {a.description && (
                     <div className="text-[0.6875rem] text-muted-foreground mt-0.5 leading-relaxed">{a.description}</div>
@@ -477,9 +497,16 @@ export function TaskLane({ questions, actions, sessionId, onSubmit, onClose, loa
 
                   {a.command && (
                     <div className="mt-2 flex items-center gap-2 rounded bg-code px-2.5 py-1.5">
-                      <code className="flex-1 text-[0.6875rem] font-mono text-heading truncate">{a.command}</code>
-                      <button onClick={() => handleCopy(a.command!)} className="shrink-0 text-muted-foreground hover:text-heading" title="Copy">
-                        <Copy size={11} />
+                      <code className="flex-1 text-[0.6875rem] font-mono text-heading whitespace-pre-wrap break-all">{a.command}</code>
+                      <button
+                        onClick={() => void handleCopy(a.command!)}
+                        className="shrink-0 text-muted-foreground hover:text-heading transition-colors p-0.5 rounded"
+                        title={copiedKey === a.command ? 'Copied!' : 'Copy command'}
+                      >
+                        {copiedKey === a.command
+                          ? <Check size={11} className="text-success" />
+                          : <Copy size={11} />
+                        }
                       </button>
                     </div>
                   )}

frontend/src/components/flowpilot/HandoffContextScreen.tsx

@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ import {
   Clock,
   FileText,
   Hash,
+  Loader2,
   Sparkles,
   Target,
+  User,
   X,
 } from 'lucide-react'
 import type { HandoffResponse } from '@/types/branching'
@@ -35,12 +37,21 @@ type ConfidenceTier = 'low' | 'medium' | 'high' | string
 
 interface HandoffContextScreenProps {
   handoff: HandoffResponse
-  onStartHere: () => Promise<void> | void
+  // Pre-claim entry point: one of three choices is made before claiming.
+  // Post-claim re-open (dismissible=true) keeps the legacy onStartHere path.
+  onContinue?: () => Promise<void> | void
+  onAIAnalysis?: () => Promise<void> | void
+  onOwnThing?: () => Promise<void> | void
+  // Legacy single-CTA — used when dismissible=true (post-claim toolbar re-open)
+  onStartHere?: () => Promise<void> | void
   onDismiss?: () => void
   // When true, renders an "X" close affordance in the corner. Used when the
   // screen is re-opened from the FlowPilot toolbar (post-claim re-read).
   dismissible?: boolean
   isProcessing?: boolean
+  // Whether the task lane has items — drives the 3-option vs 2-option layout
+  hasTaskLane?: boolean
+  activeOptionKey?: 'continue' | 'ai' | 'own' | null
 }
 
 function ConfidenceBadge({ value }: { value: number | string | null | undefined }) {
@@ -76,10 +87,14 @@ function ConfidenceBadge({ value }: { value: number | string | null | undefined
 
 export function HandoffContextScreen({
   handoff,
-  onStartHere,
+  onContinue,
+  onAIAnalysis,
+  onOwnThing,
   onDismiss,
   dismissible = false,
   isProcessing = false,
+  hasTaskLane = false,
+  activeOptionKey = null,
 }: HandoffContextScreenProps) {
   const startBtnRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null)
 
@@ -114,6 +129,7 @@ export function HandoffContextScreen({
 
   const assessment = handoff.ai_assessment_data
   const likelyCause = assessment?.likely_cause
+  const whatWeKnow = assessment?.what_we_know ?? []
   const suggestedSteps = assessment?.suggested_steps ?? []
   const assessmentConfidence = assessment?.confidence
   const assessmentText = handoff.ai_assessment
@@ -256,6 +272,21 @@ export function HandoffContextScreen({
                   <p className="text-sm text-foreground">{likelyCause}</p>
                 </div>
               )}
+              {whatWeKnow.length > 0 && (
+                <div>
+                  <p className="font-sans text-[0.625rem] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground mb-1.5">
+                    What we know
+                  </p>
+                  <ul className="space-y-1">
+                    {whatWeKnow.map((fact, i) => (
+                      <li key={i} className="text-sm text-foreground flex items-start gap-2">
+                        <span className="mt-1.5 h-1.5 w-1.5 shrink-0 rounded-full bg-muted-foreground/50" />
+                        <span>{fact}</span>
+                      </li>
+                    ))}
+                  </ul>
+                </div>
+              )}
               {assessmentText && !likelyCause && (
                 <p className="text-sm text-foreground whitespace-pre-wrap">
                   {assessmentText}
@@ -287,22 +318,92 @@ export function HandoffContextScreen({
         </section>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Start here CTA */}
-      {!dismissible && (
-        <div className="mt-6 flex flex-col-reverse gap-2 sm:flex-row sm:items-center sm:justify-between">
-          <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            Picking up assigns this session to you and reactivates it.
-          </p>
+      {/* CTA footer */}
+      {dismissible ? (
+        // Post-claim re-open from toolbar — single close action
+        <div className="mt-6 flex justify-end">
           <button
-            ref={startBtnRef}
-            onClick={() => void onStartHere()}
-            disabled={isProcessing}
-            className="flex items-center justify-center gap-2 rounded-lg bg-accent px-5 py-3 min-h-[44px] text-sm font-semibold text-white hover:brightness-110 active:scale-[0.98] disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none transition-all"
+            onClick={() => onDismiss?.()}
+            className="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground bg-input border border-border hover:border-border-hover transition-all"
           >
-            <ArrowRight size={14} />
-            {isProcessing ? 'Picking up…' : 'Start here'}
+            Close
           </button>
         </div>
+      ) : (
+        // Pre-claim: 3 options (task lane exists) or 2 options (empty lane)
+        <div className="mt-6 space-y-2">
+          <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground mb-3">
+            How would you like to approach this session?
+          </p>
+
+          {/* Continue — only when task lane has items */}
+          {hasTaskLane && onContinue && (
+            <button
+              ref={startBtnRef}
+              onClick={() => void onContinue()}
+              disabled={isProcessing}
+              className={cn(
+                'w-full flex items-center gap-3 rounded-lg px-4 py-3 min-h-[52px] text-sm font-semibold transition-all',
+                'bg-accent text-white hover:brightness-110 active:scale-[0.98] disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none',
+              )}
+            >
+              {activeOptionKey === 'continue' ? (
+                <Loader2 size={16} className="shrink-0 animate-spin" />
+              ) : (
+                <ArrowRight size={16} className="shrink-0" />
+              )}
+              <span className="flex-1 text-left">
+                Continue where{' '}
+                <span className="font-bold">
+                  {handoff.handed_off_by_name ?? 'the original engineer'}
+                </span>{' '}
+                left off
+              </span>
+            </button>
+          )}
+
+          {/* AI analysis */}
+          {onAIAnalysis && (
+            <button
+              ref={!hasTaskLane ? startBtnRef : undefined}
+              onClick={() => void onAIAnalysis()}
+              disabled={isProcessing}
+              className={cn(
+                'w-full flex items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border px-4 py-3 min-h-[52px] text-sm font-semibold transition-all disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none',
+                hasTaskLane
+                  ? 'border-border bg-card text-foreground hover:bg-elevated hover:border-border-hover active:scale-[0.98]'
+                  : 'bg-accent text-white border-transparent hover:brightness-110 active:scale-[0.98]',
+              )}
+            >
+              {activeOptionKey === 'ai' ? (
+                <Loader2 size={16} className="shrink-0 animate-spin" />
+              ) : (
+                <Sparkles size={16} className="shrink-0" />
+              )}
+              <span className="flex-1 text-left">Get AI analysis</span>
+              <span className="text-xs font-normal opacity-70">
+                {hasTaskLane ? 'Fresh take on what\'s been tried' : 'Generate diagnostic steps'}
+              </span>
+            </button>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Own approach */}
+          {onOwnThing && (
+            <button
+              onClick={() => void onOwnThing()}
+              disabled={isProcessing}
+              className="w-full flex items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border border-border bg-card px-4 py-3 min-h-[52px] text-sm text-foreground hover:bg-elevated hover:border-border-hover active:scale-[0.98] disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none transition-all"
+            >
+              {activeOptionKey === 'own' ? (
+                <Loader2 size={16} className="shrink-0 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
+              ) : (
+                <User size={16} className="shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+              )}
+              <span className="flex-1 text-left">I&apos;ll take it from here</span>
+              <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">I know what to try</span>
+            </button>
+          )}
+        </div>
       )}
     </div>
   )

frontend/src/pages/AssistantChatPage.tsx

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { handoffsApi } from '@/api/handoffs'
 import { timeAgo } from '@/lib/timeAgo'
 import type { HandoffResponse } from '@/types/branching'
 import { HandoffContextScreen } from '@/components/flowpilot/HandoffContextScreen'
-import { Sparkles, Send, Loader2, MessageSquare, Paperclip, Terminal, X, RotateCcw, ImagePlus, ListChecks, FileText, CheckCircle2, ArrowUpRight, MoreHorizontal, Pause, Plus } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Sparkles, Send, Loader2, MessageSquare, Paperclip, Terminal, X, RotateCcw, ImagePlus, ListChecks, FileText, CheckCircle2, ArrowUpRight, ArrowRight, MoreHorizontal, Pause, Plus, Copy, Check } from 'lucide-react'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { uploadsApi } from '@/api/uploads'
 import type { PendingUpload } from '@/types/upload'
@@ -82,13 +82,15 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
   const [magicHandoff, setMagicHandoff] = useState<HandoffResponse | null>(null)
   const [overlayHandoff, setOverlayHandoff] = useState<HandoffResponse | null>(null)
   const [overlayLoading, setOverlayLoading] = useState(false)
-  const [claiming, setClaiming] = useState(false)
+  const [activeOptionKey, setActiveOptionKey] = useState<'continue' | 'ai' | 'own' | null>(null)
   // Codex correction (locked design): once the magic-moment dissolves, the
   // AI's `suggested_steps[]` should still be reachable as chips below the
   // composer. Click prefills the input; first send hides the strip; explicit
   // X also hides. Per-session lifetime — a refresh wipes the state, which is
   // fine because the senior can re-open the Context overlay.
   const [chipsHidden, setChipsHidden] = useState(false)
+  const [selectedChipCardIdx, setSelectedChipCardIdx] = useState<number | null>(null)
+  const [copiedChipCmd, setCopiedChipCmd] = useState(false)
   const [chats, setChats] = useState<ChatListItem[]>([])
   const [activeChatId, setActiveChatId] = useState<string | null>(() => {
     if (urlSessionId) return urlSessionId
@@ -328,32 +330,15 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
     return () => { cancelled = true }
   }, [isPickup, urlSessionId, magicState, setSearchParams])
 
-  const handleStartHere = useCallback(async () => {
+  const handleContinue = useCallback(async () => {
     if (!urlSessionId || !magicHandoff) return
-    setClaiming(true)
+    setActiveOptionKey('continue')
     try {
       await handoffsApi.claimHandoff(urlSessionId, magicHandoff.id)
-      // Drop ?pickup=true and dismiss the magic-moment. The session-load
-      // effect above will then fire because magicState !== 'loading'/'visible'
-      // and selectChat will populate the chat surface — the senior is now
-      // escalated_to_id, so GET succeeds and the conversation_messages render
-      // as chat history.
       setSearchParams({})
       setMagicState('dismissed')
-      // Refresh the sidebar list. Pre-claim the session was invisible to
-      // listSessions because escalated_to_id was null (junior didn't
-      // specify a target on /escalate). Post-claim claim_session sets
-      // escalated_to_id = teamadmin.id, so the session is now in scope.
-      // Without this re-fetch the senior lands on a session with no
-      // sidebar entry — looks like the page navigated to a different
-      // session.
       void loadChats()
     } catch (e: unknown) {
-      // Race-condition path (locked design): the loser of the simultaneous
-      // Pick Up gets a 409 with structured detail so we can name the
-      // winner and approximate "how long ago." Drop the magic-moment
-      // (the session is no longer theirs to claim) and let them go back
-      // to the queue.
       if (axios.isAxiosError(e) && e.response?.status === 409) {
         const detail = e.response.data?.detail as
           | { error?: string; claimed_by_name?: string; claimed_at?: string }
@@ -370,7 +355,37 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
       const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to pick up session'
       toast.error(message)
     } finally {
-      setClaiming(false)
+      setActiveOptionKey(null)
+    }
+  }, [urlSessionId, magicHandoff, setSearchParams])
+
+  const handleOwnThing = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!urlSessionId || !magicHandoff) return
+    setActiveOptionKey('own')
+    try {
+      await handoffsApi.claimHandoff(urlSessionId, magicHandoff.id)
+      setSearchParams({})
+      setMagicState('dismissed')
+      void loadChats()
+      setTimeout(() => inputRef.current?.focus(), 300)
+    } catch (e: unknown) {
+      if (axios.isAxiosError(e) && e.response?.status === 409) {
+        const detail = e.response.data?.detail as
+          | { error?: string; claimed_by_name?: string; claimed_at?: string }
+          | undefined
+        if (detail?.error === 'already_claimed') {
+          const name = detail.claimed_by_name || 'another engineer'
+          const when = detail.claimed_at ? timeAgo(detail.claimed_at) : 'just now'
+          toast.info(`Already claimed by ${name} ${when}.`)
+          setSearchParams({})
+          setMagicState('dismissed')
+          return
+        }
+      }
+      const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to pick up session'
+      toast.error(message)
+    } finally {
+      setActiveOptionKey(null)
     }
   }, [urlSessionId, magicHandoff, setSearchParams])
 
@@ -1129,6 +1144,90 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
     }
   }, [refreshSessionDerived])
 
+  const handleAIAnalysis = useCallback(async () => {
+    if (!urlSessionId || !magicHandoff) return
+    setActiveOptionKey('ai')
+    const sentForChatId = urlSessionId
+    try {
+      await handoffsApi.claimHandoff(urlSessionId, magicHandoff.id)
+      loadedChatIdsRef.current.add(urlSessionId)
+      setSearchParams({})
+      setMagicState('dismissed')
+      void loadChats()
+      await selectChat(urlSessionId)
+      if (currentChatRef.current !== sentForChatId) return
+
+      const assessment = magicHandoff.ai_assessment_data
+      const snapshot = magicHandoff.snapshot as Record<string, unknown>
+      const problemSummary = (snapshot.problem_summary as string) || 'Untitled session'
+      const stepCount = (snapshot.step_count as number) ?? 0
+      const lines: string[] = [
+        `I just picked up this escalated session. Here's what's known so far:`,
+        ``,
+        `**Problem:** ${problemSummary}`,
+      ]
+      if (assessment?.likely_cause) {
+        lines.push(`**Likely cause:** ${assessment.likely_cause}`)
+      }
+      if (assessment?.what_we_know && assessment.what_we_know.length > 0) {
+        lines.push(`**What we know:**`)
+        assessment.what_we_know.forEach(fact => lines.push(`- ${fact}`))
+      }
+      if (stepCount > 0) {
+        lines.push(`**Steps on record:** ${stepCount} diagnostic steps.`)
+      }
+      if (magicHandoff.engineer_notes) {
+        lines.push(`**Engineer notes:** ${magicHandoff.engineer_notes}`)
+      }
+      lines.push(``, `Please analyze this and give me fresh diagnostic steps to try.`)
+      const briefing = lines.join('\n')
+
+      setMessages(prev => [...prev, { role: 'user', content: briefing }])
+      setLoading(true)
+      const response = await aiSessionsApi.sendChatMessage(urlSessionId, { message: briefing })
+      if (currentChatRef.current !== sentForChatId) return
+      setMessages(prev => [
+        ...prev,
+        {
+          role: 'assistant',
+          content: response.content,
+          suggestedFlows: response.suggested_flows,
+          fork: response.fork,
+          actions: response.actions,
+          questions: response.questions,
+        },
+      ])
+      const hasQuestions = response.questions && response.questions.length > 0
+      const hasActions = response.actions && response.actions.length > 0
+      if (hasQuestions || hasActions) {
+        clearTaskState(urlSessionId)
+        setActiveQuestions(response.questions || [])
+        setActiveActions(response.actions || [])
+        setShowTaskLane(true)
+        setTaskLaneOwnerChatId(urlSessionId)
+      }
+    } catch (e: unknown) {
+      if (axios.isAxiosError(e) && e.response?.status === 409) {
+        const detail = e.response.data?.detail as
+          | { error?: string; claimed_by_name?: string; claimed_at?: string }
+          | undefined
+        if (detail?.error === 'already_claimed') {
+          const name = detail.claimed_by_name || 'another engineer'
+          const when = detail.claimed_at ? timeAgo(detail.claimed_at) : 'just now'
+          toast.info(`Already claimed by ${name} ${when}.`)
+          setSearchParams({})
+          setMagicState('dismissed')
+          return
+        }
+      }
+      const message = e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to start AI analysis'
+      toast.error(message)
+    } finally {
+      setActiveOptionKey(null)
+      setLoading(false)
+    }
+  }, [urlSessionId, magicHandoff, setSearchParams, selectChat])
+
   const handleNewChat = async () => {
     // Invalidate currentChatRef BEFORE the await so any in-flight handleSend/handleTaskSubmit
     // for the previous session sees a mismatch and bails — prevents stale task lane appearing
@@ -1546,8 +1645,12 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
         <div className="h-[calc(100vh-3.5rem)] overflow-y-auto p-4 sm:p-8">
           <HandoffContextScreen
             handoff={magicHandoff}
-            onStartHere={handleStartHere}
-            isProcessing={claiming}
+            onContinue={handleContinue}
+            onAIAnalysis={handleAIAnalysis}
+            onOwnThing={handleOwnThing}
+            isProcessing={activeOptionKey !== null}
+            hasTaskLane={activeActions.length > 0 || activeQuestions.length > 0}
+            activeOptionKey={activeOptionKey}
           />
         </div>
       </>
@@ -1888,46 +1991,142 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
               />
             )}
 
-            {/* Suggested-step chips (Codex correction, locked design):
-                visible after the magic-moment dissolves (post-claim) so the
-                senior can pull the AI's suggested next steps into the
-                composer with one click. Hides on first send or explicit X. */}
+            {/* Task-lane shortcut chips: visible after the magic-moment
+                dissolves when the task lane has loaded items. Each card
+                links directly to the corresponding diagnostic card in the
+                task lane — clicking opens the lane (if closed) and scrolls
+                to that card. Sourced from actual task lane items, not the
+                AI's free-text suggested_steps, so the card the user lands
+                on has full detail (description, command, etc.). */}
             {!chipsHidden &&
-              magicHandoff?.ai_assessment_data?.suggested_steps &&
-              magicHandoff.ai_assessment_data.suggested_steps.length > 0 &&
-              magicState === 'dismissed' && (
-                <div className="px-3 sm:px-6 pt-2 shrink-0">
-                  <div className="max-w-3xl mx-auto flex items-start gap-2">
-                    <p className="font-sans text-[0.625rem] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground pt-1.5 shrink-0">
-                      Suggested
-                    </p>
-                    <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-1.5 flex-1 min-w-0">
-                      {magicHandoff.ai_assessment_data.suggested_steps.map((step, i) => (
+              (activeActions.length > 0 || activeQuestions.length > 0) &&
+              magicState === 'dismissed' && (() => {
+                const chipItems = [
+                  ...activeActions.slice(0, 4).map((a, ai) => ({
+                    label: a.label,
+                    cardIdx: activeQuestions.length + ai,
+                    description: a.description,
+                    command: a.command ?? null,
+                    type: 'action' as const,
+                  })),
+                  ...activeQuestions.slice(0, Math.max(0, 4 - Math.min(activeActions.length, 4))).map((q, qi) => ({
+                    label: q.text,
+                    cardIdx: qi,
+                    description: q.context ?? null,
+                    command: null,
+                    type: 'question' as const,
+                  })),
+                ]
+                const selectedChip = chipItems.find(c => c.cardIdx === selectedChipCardIdx) ?? null
+                return (
+                  <div className="px-3 sm:px-6 pt-2 pb-0.5 shrink-0">
+                    <div className="max-w-3xl mx-auto">
+                      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-1.5">
+                        <p className="font-sans text-[0.625rem] uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
+                          Suggested checks
+                        </p>
                         <button
-                          key={i}
                           type="button"
-                          onClick={() => {
-                            setInput(step)
-                            inputRef.current?.focus()
-                          }}
-                          className="rounded-full border border-default bg-elevated px-3 py-1 text-xs text-foreground hover:bg-accent-dim hover:text-accent-text hover:border-accent/30 transition-colors text-left max-w-full truncate"
-                          title={step}
+                          onClick={() => { setChipsHidden(true); setSelectedChipCardIdx(null) }}
+                          aria-label="Hide suggestions"
+                          className="p-0.5 rounded text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-elevated transition-colors"
                         >
-                          {step}
+                          <X size={11} />
                         </button>
-                      ))}
+                      </div>
+
+                      {/* Inline detail card — shown when a chip is selected */}
+                      {selectedChip && (
+                        <div className="mb-2 rounded-lg border border-default bg-card p-3 animate-fade-in">
+                          <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2 mb-1.5">
+                            <span className="text-[0.8125rem] font-medium text-heading leading-snug">{selectedChip.label}</span>
+                            <button
+                              onClick={() => setSelectedChipCardIdx(null)}
+                              className="shrink-0 p-0.5 rounded text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors"
+                              aria-label="Close detail"
+                            >
+                              <X size={12} />
+                            </button>
+                          </div>
+                          {selectedChip.description && (
+                            <p className="text-[0.6875rem] text-muted-foreground mb-2 leading-relaxed">{selectedChip.description}</p>
+                          )}
+                          {selectedChip.command && (
+                            <div className="rounded-md bg-code border border-default/50 px-3 py-2 flex items-start gap-2 mb-2.5">
+                              <code className="flex-1 text-[0.75rem] font-mono text-heading whitespace-pre-wrap break-all leading-relaxed">{selectedChip.command}</code>
+                              <button
+                                onClick={async () => {
+                                  try {
+                                    await navigator.clipboard.writeText(selectedChip.command!)
+                                  } catch {
+                                    try {
+                                      const el = document.createElement('textarea')
+                                      el.value = selectedChip.command!
+                                      el.style.cssText = 'position:fixed;opacity:0;pointer-events:none'
+                                      document.body.appendChild(el)
+                                      el.select()
+                                      document.execCommand('copy')
+                                      document.body.removeChild(el)
+                                    } catch { return }
+                                  }
+                                  setCopiedChipCmd(true)
+                                  setTimeout(() => setCopiedChipCmd(false), 1500)
+                                }}
+                                className="shrink-0 p-1 rounded text-muted-foreground hover:text-heading hover:bg-elevated transition-colors mt-0.5"
+                                title={copiedChipCmd ? 'Copied!' : 'Copy command'}
+                              >
+                                {copiedChipCmd
+                                  ? <Check size={13} className="text-success" />
+                                  : <Copy size={13} />
+                                }
+                              </button>
+                            </div>
+                          )}
+                          <button
+                            onClick={() => {
+                              setSelectedChipCardIdx(null)
+                              if (!showTaskLane) setShowTaskLane(true)
+                              const el = document.getElementById(`task-lane-card-${selectedChip.cardIdx}`)
+                              if (el) {
+                                setTimeout(() => el.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' }), showTaskLane ? 0 : 200)
+                              }
+                            }}
+                            className="flex items-center gap-1 text-[0.75rem] font-medium text-accent-text hover:text-accent transition-colors"
+                          >
+                            <ArrowRight size={11} />
+                            Open in Tasks panel
+                          </button>
+                        </div>
+                      )}
+
+                      <div className="flex gap-2 overflow-x-auto pb-1" style={{ scrollbarWidth: 'none' }}>
+                        {chipItems.map((item) => {
+                          const isSelected = item.cardIdx === selectedChipCardIdx
+                          return (
+                            <button
+                              key={item.cardIdx}
+                              type="button"
+                              onClick={() => {
+                                setCopiedChipCmd(false)
+                                setSelectedChipCardIdx(isSelected ? null : item.cardIdx)
+                              }}
+                              className={cn(
+                                'flex items-start gap-2 rounded-lg border px-3 py-2.5 text-left transition-colors shrink-0 w-[172px]',
+                                isSelected
+                                  ? 'border-accent/50 bg-accent-dim'
+                                  : 'border-default bg-card hover:bg-accent-dim hover:border-accent/30',
+                              )}
+                            >
+                              <ArrowRight size={12} className="text-accent-text shrink-0 mt-0.5" />
+                              <span className="text-xs text-foreground line-clamp-2 leading-snug">{item.label}</span>
+                            </button>
+                          )
+                        })}
+                      </div>
                     </div>
-                    <button
-                      type="button"
-                      onClick={() => setChipsHidden(true)}
-                      aria-label="Hide suggestions"
-                      className="p-1 rounded text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-elevated transition-colors shrink-0"
-                    >
-                      <X size={12} />
-                    </button>
                   </div>
-                </div>
-              )}
+                )
+              })()}
 
             {/* Rich Input */}
             <div className="px-3 sm:px-6 py-3 shrink-0">
@@ -2284,7 +2483,13 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
       {/* Conclude Session Modal */}
       <ConcludeSessionModal
         isOpen={showConclude}
-        onClose={() => setShowConclude(false)}
+        onClose={() => {
+          setShowConclude(false)
+          if (activeSessionStatus === 'escalated') {
+            toast.info('Session escalated. Heading back to your dashboard.')
+            navigate('/')
+          }
+        }}
         onConclude={handleConclude}
         onResumeNew={handleResumeNew}
         chatTitle={chats.find(c => c.id === activeChatId)?.title ?? 'Chat'}
@@ -2347,7 +2552,6 @@ export default function AssistantChatPage() {
         >
           <HandoffContextScreen
             handoff={overlayHandoff}
-            onStartHere={() => {}}
             onDismiss={() => setOverlayHandoff(null)}
             dismissible
           />

frontend/src/types/branching.ts

@@ -86,14 +86,17 @@ export interface HandoffResponse {
   id: string
   session_id: string
   handed_off_by: string
+  handed_off_by_name: string | null
   intent: 'park' | 'escalate'
   source_branch_id: string | null
   snapshot: Record<string, unknown>
   ai_assessment: string | null
   ai_assessment_data: {
+    summary_prose?: string
+    what_we_know?: string[]
     likely_cause: string
     suggested_steps: string[]
-    confidence: number
+    confidence: string
   } | null
   artifacts: Array<{
     name: string