Docket No. 77888-4 (from King Case No. 02-2-05774-8)  Facts:  In a class action suit against respondent City of Seattle and its municipal utility Seattle City Lights, petitioner and ratepayer Rud Okeson challenged the City utility program to offset and mitigate the effects of its greenhouse gas emissions by paying other public and private entities to reduce theirs. Both parties moved for summary judgment on the legality of the offset program in the Superior Court of King County, where in which summary judgment was granted in favor of the City of Seattle. Continue reading →

Docket No. 77560-5 (from Court of Appeals Division I Case No. 53440-8)  Facts:

Respondent insured driver Lisa Little filed action for damages after sustaining personal injuries from a motor vehicle accident caused by petitioner uninsured negligent driver Annie King. The accident occurred while Little was driving on work-related business, so Little’s counsel notified the employer’s insurer St. Paul Insurance Company of potential liability expenses because of the employer’s uninsured motorist coverage. St. Paul took no action to intervene as an interested party at risk of liability. Continue reading →

Docket No. 78293-8 (from Federal Case No. - C04-2216P)  Synopsis: Whether the term “aerial supporting structures” as used in RCW 35.99.060(3)(b) refers only to poles and pole-like structures or if it also includes any hardware used by a telecommunications company to attach its cable to a pole. Continue reading →

Docket No. 76973-7 (from Court of Appeals Division II Case No. 30201-2)  Facts:  Respondent Colorado Structures, Inc. subcontracted with Action Excavating and Paving, Inc. to build the sewer system for a Wal-Mart store being constructed by Colorado Structures.  When Action Excavating and Paving failed to timely complete its work, Colorado Structures supplemented its crews to minimize cost and delay.  Colorado Structures subsequently filed suit against petitioner Insurance Company of the West, Action Excavating and Paving’s surety, in the Superior Court for Clark County in an effort to recover on the performance bond guaranteeing Action Excavating and Paving’s work.  The trial court ruled that Insurance Company of the West is liable on the performance bond despite the fact that Colorado Structures had not formally declared Action Excavating and Paving to be in default. Continue reading →