border left Have questions about a proposed development in your neighborhood? New townhomes or condos going in? Wondering what is happening with that vacant lot down the street? These questions and more can now be answered via a new website which allows…

Seattle and SeaTac have recently decided to increase their hourly minimum wage to $15.00/hour. As local businesses react to this change, some have considered adding a line item charge for their service to cover this increased labor cost. In particular…

Contrary to popular belief, lawsuits in Washington do not necessarily have to be served in person. Washington law allows for substitute service, where a party can obtain service of process of the lawsuit by serving a “person of suitable age and…

In McKown v. Simon Property, the Washington Supreme Court was asked to review the scope of a landowner’s responsibility for harm when strangers commit criminal acts against “business invitees” on business premises. On November 20, 2005, Dominick S…

In a recent Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I case, the court in Kirby et al v. Dept. of Employment Security (No. 70738-8-I) analyzed whether an employee who is discharged for alleged misconduct based on her social media post disqualifies her…

In Dewar v. Smith, No. 69701-3-1 (January 26, 2015), the Washington Court of Appeals recently addressed the question of whether a CPA could be liable to a third party (non-client) for alleged negligence or misrepresentation. This question is usually…

In a recent decision by Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals, Gass v. Abdel-Wahed, the Court addressed the “abuse” of the homestead exemption in the context of a divorce proceeding. The court specifically held that, where a party has wrongfully…

On June 2, 2014, the Seattle City Council adopted a minimum wage ordinance that applies to all employees within the City of Seattle. In short, beginning April 1, 2015, the Ordinance requires all Seattle employers to raise the minimum they pay to their…

Millions of vehicles in the United States sold by a wide-range of automobile manufacturers are being recalled as a result of potentially defective and dangerous airbags manufactured by Japanese supplier, Takata. The National Highway Traffic Safety…

Dog bite injuries are unfortunately a fairly common occurrence. These injuries can be quite severe, gruesome, and are frequently complicated by infection. We often get questions about what your options may be if you have been bitten by a dog; or, as a…

In a recent decision from Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals, Woods v. H.O. Sports, et al, the court addressed the issue of whether a child can bring a tort claim for personal injuries against a parent. In Woods, the father Michael Woods was…

In Washington, there is no law requiring employers to have an employee handbook, but for obvious reasons, it’s a good idea to have one—even a short one. A handbook allows employers to inform its employees about the rules enforced at the workplace in an…

You were awarded a nice judgment by the court, great! Now what? A money judgment does not necessarily mean you will be able to collect on it yourself. Maybe the debtor is actively trying to avoid payment. This is where we come in. There are several…

More and more businesses are incorporating in Washington state today. If you are a sole proprietor or in a general partnership, you may be putting your own finances at risk, including your family’s if you do not incorporate your business. If you are…

A guardian is a person appointed by the court to manage an incapacitated person’s affairs. Guardians are usually appointed by superior court judges or court commissioners. A family member can request to be appointed as a guardian or ask the court to…

Unfortunately, the number of foreclosures in the state of Washington is still prominent. Millions of homeowners are bearing the effects of the foreclosure crisis. In 2013, almost 1.4 million homes across the United States were in some stage of…

Under Washington law a party may not construct a fence or other “structure” on their land when it is “maliciously” erected with the intention to “spite, injure or annoy an adjoining [landowner].” RCW 7.40.030. Often referred to as the “spite fence”…

The untimely loss of a loved one is always difficult for surviving family members to cope with. In Washington, we have wrongful death claims. Although no amount of money can bring them back, the party responsible for the death should be held accountable…

IIn Washington state, employment covenants not to compete are generally enforceable. It is not unusual to be handed a covenant not to compete on the first day of a job or during employment with a short deadline to sign and return the document. More often…

A recent Court of Appeals (Division III) case, Whitney v. Cervantes, addressed a dispute over who had the right to control disposition of a deceased relative’s remains. Lawrence Wilhalm died in 2011. He was not married and had no children. His only…