Short answer: maybe not. In a recent decision, Gomez v. Sauer, the Washington Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a doctor was obligated to report certain lab results to his patient. Under the specific facts of this case, the Court held that…

Traditionally, all witnesses are required to testify live in Washington courts, even if this means substantial inconvenience for the witnesses. On occasion, witnesses have been allowed to testify by telephone, but this has been a rare exception, as…

In a recent decision by the Washington Court of Appeals (Division 1), the Court addressed whether a free agent attending a mini-camp tryout could received Workman’s Compensation benefits if they were injured during camp. In Robinson v. Football Northwest…

As an estate planning attorney, healthcare directives and POLSTs are usual and standard estate planning documents and topics of discussion. Recently, when discussing these and other estate planning documents, I surprisingly discovered that a large…

Very few people have taken the time to actually review in detail the provisions of their insurance policies. Insurance policies are contracts and subject to many of the same provisions that govern the interpretation of contracts. It likely comes as no…

My practice is concentrated on business and real estate transactions with an emphasis on estate planning. Keeping an eye on personal financial goals while selling businesses, investing in real estate, forming partnerships and corporations and other…

In a recent Washington Court of Appeals decision, Ibrahim v. AIU Insurance Company (No. 69554-1-1, November 4, 2013), Division I held that “stigma” damages to a vehicle are distinct from “diminished value” damages. In 2007, Ibrahim was involved in an…

Two recent published determinations of the Washington Department of Revenue underscore the need for taxpayers to obtain written rulings to support guidance received from the Washington Department of Revenue. In Det. No 13-0034,32 WTD 220 (2013), the…

In June 2013, Washington State Legislature made four significant changes to Washington estate tax laws. These changes are important to know as they may affect your existing or prospective estate plans. The changes are summarized below: The new…

As a general rule, you cannot cut down trees or vegetation on another person’s property without their express permission. If you do so, Washington has two separate statutes that can impose significant damages in a civil action: Trespass and the so-called…

In July Gov. Inslee signed legislation (Sections 101 & 102 of ESSB 5882) to restore a deduction for reimbursements between affiliated businesses that use a centralized payroll reporting system. Despite the common sense tax policy underlying this…

In 1965 Washington State authorized non-judicial foreclosures as an expedited procedure for lenders to recover real property after loan defaults. We have conducted hundreds of foreclosures as trustees working on behalf of lenders through these years…

In GLEPCO v. Reinstra, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division 1, held that a trial court had the authority to add the correct legal description on a trustee’s deed after a foreclosure sale where it was determined that there was an error in the…

Running a business or investing in real estate can be a thrilling endeavor. Partners are a good way to share the risk and bring in additional capital or skills. If you want your entrepreneurial thrills to be positive when working with a partner, your…

On April 22, 2013, Washington governor Jay Inslee signed into law the final piece of a six-year effort to substitute gender-neutral vocabulary into state statutes. Since 2007, Lawmakers have been passing a series of bills to root out gender bias from…

In Brown v. Best Auto Limited, the Court of Appeals recently addressed a case involving a used vehicle purchased from a Washington-based company off of eBay. In Brown, the Browns purchased a 2004 Mini Cooper from Best Auto Limited based on an eBay…

On June 10, 2013, the Seattle City Council adopted an ordinance significantly affecting the ability of businesses to use criminal background checks in screening applicants for employment. Mayor McGinn is expected to sign the ordinance, which will become…

When a loved one becomes incapacitated by sudden illness or an accident, the first question asked by a client is typically how to continue taking care of that person and their affairs. This concern is especially common in situations where an…

In Fergen v. Sestero, (No. 30523-6-III) the Washington Court of Appeals, Division III reviewed the appropriateness of the “exercise of judgment” standard pattern jury instruction. In Fergen, Mr. Fergen presented to Dr. Sestero with an asymptomatic lump…

As individuals prepare to file their 2012 federal income tax returns, it is extremely important to pay attention to obtaining the appropriate documentation for charitable contributions, especially if those contributions are significant. In two cases…