Recent News

On Friday, the Washington Supreme Court issued an order suspending most state court proceedings due to the current public health crisis.  The order requires all civil jury trials to be suspended until after April 24, while trials currently in session may proceed.  Additionally, all non-emergency civil matters must be continued until after April 24, though… Read More

When you hear the word “contribution,” you probably think about someone helping others monetarily to accomplish some shared goal.  In the context of litigation, contribution refers to the right of co-defendants to force each other to share in paying damages owed or paid to a plaintiff. In the simplest example, plaintiff (“A”) is harmed by… Read More

Student loans are treated differently than other unsecured debts in bankruptcy.  A debtor seeking to discharge liability for a student loan must demonstrate “undue hardship.”  While this standard is more stringent than for ordinary unsecured debts, the a very high percentage of debtors with lingering student loan debt assume that student loans are by definition… Read More

In 2013, I wrote an article touting the “Friendly Quiet Title” as a more efficient means of adjusting your boundary line, when compared to a city/county boundary line adjustment (“BLA”). In recent years, the time and money savings of a Friendly Quiet Title have only increased when compared to the BLA. For example, as of… Read More

Do you remember that old real estate contract your parents entered into in the 1970s to buy the family home?  Or perhaps that loan they took out against the home in the 1980s that they paid off after a few years?  It is possible that your parents decided that these long completed real estate transactions… Read More

Selling a home involves an almost overwhelming number of considerations.  How should you stage your home?  What will be your listing price?  How many open houses should you have?  Does your house need any touch ups?  The list can go on and on.  Indeed, even after an offer is accepted, a seller still has to… Read More

Civil or criminal lawsuits involving witness testimony frequently require subpoenas. A subpoena is a legal document commanding a person or business to provide testimony at various court proceedings (e.g. trial or deposition) or present relevant documents to a party to a lawsuit.  When subpoenaing a witness in Washington state, there are specific steps the lawyer… Read More

The decision to initiate litigation can be a complicated calculation fraught with emotional and financial consequences.  It behooves individuals to proceed deliberately, and with caution, so that they can see the road ahead of them as clearly as possible.  In many instances, this involves consultation with legal counsel to understand the legal ramifications of a… Read More

Each district court in Washington State has a small claims division that provides an avenue for parties to resolve small monetary disputes.  This division is generally referred to as small claims court.  Small claims court utilizes a very streamlined process so that parties can resolve small disputes without having to spend extensive time and money… Read More