Recent News

Governor Inslee’s May 4, 2020, amendment to his “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” Order set in motion a re-opening plan called “Safe Start Washington: A Phased Approach to Recovery.”  The Safe Start Washington plan announced that “Phase 1 of reopening Washington begins on May 5, 2020.”  However, as I discussed in my May 5th blog… Read More

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact almost every facet of daily life in the United States, politicians on the national stage have debated the pros and cons of expanding mail-based voting across the country.  Of course, this has not been an issue in Washington, where state law guarantees that “[e]ach active registered voter of… Read More

Over the last month many Washingtonians have questioned whether Washington Governor Jay Inslee would let his “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” Order expire on May 4, 2020.  On May 1, 2020, Governor Inslee answered those questions in a televised address in which he announced a four phase plan for re-opening Washington State known as “Safe… Read More

Washingtonians have been living under Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home-Stay Healthy” Order since March 23, 2020.  The extended Stay Home restrictions are currently set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on May 4, 2020.  Over the past week, the Governor has relaxed the “Stay Home” restrictions in two “Stay Home-Stay Healthy” amendments focused on the construction… Read More

On April 16, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-19.1 extending and expanding the scope of the residential eviction moratorium originally imposed in Proclamation No. 20-19 issued on March 18, 2020.  As originally imposed, the residential eviction moratorium prohibited residential landlords and local law enforcement from engaging in certain residential eviction activities until April… Read More

On February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation No. 20-05, where he “proclaim[ed] that a State of Emergency exists in all counties in the state of Washington, and direct[ed] the plans and procedures of the Washington State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan be implemented.”  Since that date, Governor Inslee has issued more than… Read More

On April 14, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-49 titled “Garnishment and Accrual of Interest” (the “Garnishment Proclamation”).  In the Garnishment Proclamation, Governor Inslee finds that “a state of emergency continues to exist in all counties of Washington State.”  The Governor further finds that “a temporary moratorium on garnishment of wages and other income to… Read More

The Washington Supreme Court’s recent decision in Banowsky v. Backstrom, No. 96200-6, 2019 WL 3333172, -- P.3d – (Wn. July 25, 2019), clarifies the interplay between two seemingly conflicting Civil Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (“CRLJ”)—CRLJ 14A(b) and CRLJ 12(h)(3)—in a matter improperly (but in good faith) filed in Washington State District Court.  Reversing… Read More

Washington State is known as the “Evergreen State” for a reason – our majestic evergreen trees are abundant, and we value them.  In the Timber Trespass Statute (codified at RCW 64.12.030), Washington’s legislature has created an effective tool for landowners seeking redress for the unauthorized removal of their trees (whether timber, ornamental trees, or shrubs).… Read More