On July 23, 2017, Washington’s new distracted-driving law goes into effect. The Legislature had agreed to postpone its implementation to 2019, but Governor Jay Inslee vetoed that compromise provision. As a result, drivers have just a few weeks to…

When having surgery, patients have many questions for their doctors. One question most patients probably don't ask is: Will you be in the operating room during the entire procedure? Now, news from Swedish health suggests patients should add this question…

People often ask the question whether it's legal for the public to record police activity. On Monday, the Seattle City Council voted to codify that right into the Seattle Municipal Code. The First Amendment can offer protections to members of the public…

State law places strict limits on what marijuana stores can sell or give out. Soon, that list will see an increase. Recently, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill allowing pot stores to give out small safes. The purpose of the bill is to stop children and…

The Washington legislature has passed its distracted driving measure, making it illegal to hold a phone while driving. It remains to be signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee, which is expected to happen within the next few weeks. "I am just thrilled…

In October 2015, the Court of Appeals, Division I, held that the tort immunity provided by Workers’ Compensation law did not apply when one employee is injured by a co-employee, where the co-employee was not “on the clock” when the injury occurred. At…

State data released last Thursday demonstrate that pedestrian deaths are increasing at a faster rate than motorist deaths, and reached nearly 6,000 last year. Increased driving due to an improved economy, lower gas prices and more walking for exercise…

It was announced yesterday that a settlement has been reached between Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and the state's Utilities and Transportation Commission, in which PSE agrees to pay $1.5 million in penalties for the March 9, 2016 natural-gas explosion in…

In Armani v. Northwestern Mutual Life Ins. Co., 14-56866 (November 4, 2016), the Ninth Circuit joined other courts around the country in holding that a person who cannot sit for more than four hours in an eight-hour workday qualifies as “disabled” from…

I have previously written about the somewhat specialized area of Family Law called Non-Parental Custody (“NPC”) in which a non-parent (frequently grandparents) seek to gain custody of a child from the child’s parents. As noted in that article, it can be…

In an effort to reduce distracted driving, the Washington State legislature is considering a law that would ban holding an electronic device like a cell phone while driving. Republican Sen. Ann Rivers, the sponsor of the bill, called it a good public…

When a person dies because of the wrongful conduct of another, Washington law allows the decedent’s personal representative to file what’s called a “wrongful death action.” Certain limitations exist on wrongful death actions. For instance, if after…

Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, food, and fun. To help keep it that way, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has published recommendations for a safe holiday. Those recommendations address many common issues, including: Food…

Hundreds of thousands of Seattle trees are on city property but are the responsibility of homeowners to maintain, including removal when necessary. This is the case when a tree is on a city-owned right-of-way abutting private property and the city did…

According to recent surveys, Seattle has over 2,100 miles of sidewalks and public pathways in the city. That covers about 75% of the blocks in Seattle. At one point or another, we have all noticed cracks or broken concrete in sidewalks, whether due tree…

Recently, the Washington State Court of Appeals decided two cases related to home foreclosures. In both, the Court upheld the lender’s right to foreclose in the face of challenges based upon Statute of Limitations – the argument that the legal time limit…

Every year, more crash avoidance features make their way into new vehicles. For instance, thirty years ago, the Reagan administration required new cars starting with 1986 models to have high-mounted “third brake lights,” intended to reduce the number of…

In Pendergrast v. Matichuk, the Washington Supreme Court revisited the Timber Trespass statute (which awards damages against a person who wrongfully cuts down a tree on another’s land. In 2006, Leslie Pendergrast and Robert Matichuk bought adjacent lots…

Last Sunday, just one day before the jury was set to convene in the Oso landslide lawsuit, the plaintiffs settled with Washington state for $50 million. The settlement includes almost $395,000 in attorney’s fees and costs for various sanction motions…

King County Superior Court Judge Roger Rogoff announced yesterday he would sanction the state over the deletion of emails that should have been preserved during litigation over the 2014 Oso landslide. Rogoff did not set a dollar figure on the amount of…