Recent News

In 2011, the state of Washington adopted amendments to the secured transactions provisions of its Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). These amendments were to become effective on July 1, 2013. One of the amendments dealt with identifying individual persons on financing statements filed with the Washington Department of Licensing. When the National Conference of Commissioners on… Read More

In the 2010 case Eastwood, the Washington Supreme Court set forth the Independent Duty Doctrine (the “IDD”).  Under the IDD, when two parties had a contract together, one could only sue the other for a “tort” (such as negligence or fraud) if the tort claim “traces back to the breach of a tort duty arising independently… Read More

Short-term investment gains (that is gains for investments you held for less than a year) are taxed at your ordinary income tax rates. Long-term gains (that is gains on investments you have owned for longer than a year) are taxed depending on your overall income tax bracket. If your overall income falls within the 10%… Read More

Tax Information for 2014 With the New Year upon us, here is some information that may help you with your taxes.  STANDARD MILEAGE RATES 56¢ per mile driven for use of a car (van, pick up truck, or panel truck) for business purposes. 23.5¢ per mile driven for medical expense purposes or household moving expense purposes. 14¢… Read More

In Washington state, non-judicial foreclosures of deeds of trust are governed by statute, RCW Chapter 61.24.  The non-judicial foreclosure process involves a public trustee’s sale after giving notice to various interested parties.  The effect of the trustee’s sale is to deprive the grantor of the deed of trust and anyone claiming under them of all… Read More

It can be very exciting to start a new business. Perhaps you have started your new company with a friend or you and your spouse have started a business with another couple. Whoever your partner is, the majority of these types of small businesses are split 50/50 between the parties. You are now a 50%… Read More

In most for-profit corporations, the Board of Directors must focus on maximizing the economic value of the corporation for its shareholders.  Directors are potentially liable for breach of their duties to shareholders if they give priority to one or more social purposes over maximizing value for the shareholders.  In 2012, Washington joined a short list… Read More

Recently, a Manhattan federal judge upheld a $5 Million arbitration award against Miss Pennsylvania for remarks she made claiming the Miss USA beauty pageant, which is owned by Donald Trump, was rigged. Several lessons can be learned from the ruling upholding Mr. Trump’s arbitration award. First, and most importantly, never ignore an arbitration notice or… Read More

The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II, recently reaffirmed the longstanding legal principal that a contract which is illegal is void—that is, the contract is null from the beginning and unenforceable by either party.  The referenced case is Bankston v. Pierce County, Cause No. 42850-4-II, decided May 21, 2013. 2013 Wash App. LEXIS 1228.… Read More