From GPSOLO, Vol. 35, No. 2, March/April 2018

Washington’s 2018 legislative session recently closed. The legislative session resulted in a number of important changes to Washington law. The Washington legislature enacted significant police reforms. Initiative 940 requires law enforcement officers…

With states increasingly legalizing recreational marijuana retail sales, one question is whether specific towns that prefer not to have marijuana sold at retail can prohibit marijuana stores from opening within their borders. The Court of Appeals’ March…

Court of Appeals decision emphasizes minimal notice requirement for renewal insurance policy changes. A common pitfall for insurance policyholders lies in the insurer’s renewal notice. Policyholders often set their policy premiums to pay and set the…

The Washington Court of Appeals, in an unpublished decision in Schmidt v. American Commerce Insurance Company, recently decided claims against an insurance company where the jury concluded the insured burned his own house down. Schmidt rebuilt his home…

On February 15, 2018, the Washington Supreme Court issued an important decision clarifying the authority of Washington’s Court of Appeals in the case In re Personal Restraint of Arnold, Case No. 94544-6. Washington’s Court of Appeals is divided into…

Aetna, the country’s third largest health insurer, is under investigation by state insurance regulators following Aetna’s admission that it routinely denies medical treatment coverage without reviewing the insured’s medical records. Aetna’s admission…

Many employers routinely run background checks, including for criminal history, as part of screening prospective employees. Washington and federal law require employers follow specific procedures when performing background checks, and give employees…

In Acosta v. Mabton, the Court of Appeals (Division III)(No. 35159-9, 2018), recently addressed whether a property owner had a claim against the city (Mabton, WA) when sewage backed up and flooded their residence. In Acosta, on the morning of January 12…

U.S. Federal District Judge Barbara Rothstein recently upheld a $15.1 million jury verdict against the city of Lakewood and three Lakewood police officers over the 2013 killing of an unarmed man. In her 69-page order, Judge Rothstein repeatedly…

On January 9, 2018, Washington’s Court of Appeals issued a ruling that significantly limits policyholders’ coverage under many automobile insurance policies. In Koren v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Case No. 34723-1-III, the court interpreted…

Marijuana is regulated as a dangerous drug by Congress. The U.S. Supreme Court recognizes that the federal prohibition takes precedence over any state law that says otherwise. The United States Trustee Program (USTP) has to respect this. Thus, the answer…

If you have health plan or similar insurance through your employer, you may encounter the term “ERISA” in the context of your benefits. The upshot is ERISA is a federal law that regulates most employer-provided benefit plans, like health insurance…

The Washington Supreme Court recently clarified the rules governing who may obtain a marijuana retail license. In Libby Haines-Marchel, et al. v. Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board, the Supreme Court ruled that the Washington State Liquor and…

In Knutson v. Macy’s West Stores, Inc., et al, (75565-0-1)(December 11, 2017), the Court of Appeals Division I overturned a trial court ruling relating to a patron injured while riding on an escalator at the Bellevue Square Mall. Natasha Knutson and her…

What is a power of attorney? For many folks, a power of attorney, i.e., a legal document designating another person to act on your behalf as your “agent,” is a critical part of an estate plan or other legal arrangement. While it might seem…

Owners and renters of properties used as short-term rentals (e.g., Airbnb) should be mindful of the Seattle city council’s imminent action on proposed new short-term rental rules. On Monday, December 11, 2017, the Seattle city council is expected to vote…

Seattle is in a construction boom and many firms are engaged in large scale real estate construction projects. That often entails tax liability under Washington and Seattle sales tax and business and occupation (“B&O”) tax. But certain real estate…

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So you’ve had a loss – perhaps a tree fell on your house, your car was wrecked or you became injured or disabled – and it’s time to dust off that insurance policy to see if you’re covered. Maybe you already made a claim but your insurer denied it for…