Questions tagged [washington]

Questions concerning the laws, criminal justice system, civil court procedures and related topics specific to the State of Washington, NOT Washington, DC. For questions pertaining to Washington DC use the "district-of-columbia" tag.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
-5 votes
2 answers
140 views

Arrested for trespassing in church open to public [closed]

A friend in WA State was recently arrested and indicted for criminal trespassing at a church. Video evidence is clear: no disruption. No outstanding warrants nor trespass. A member of the church said ...
Davez's user avatar
  • 1
0 votes
0 answers
53 views

Can one legally use force to stop someone from damaging their property? [duplicate]

Alice is throwing rocks through Bob's house's windows. Bob asks Alice to stop, but she ignores him, and continues. Is Bob legally allowed to use force to make Alice stop damaging his property? ...
user4867444's user avatar
29 votes
5 answers
9k views

Is it illegal to warm up your car?

According to this article, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.600 prohibits people from starting their cars in Washington State if they're unoccupied. However, it's a common practice for ...
The Editor's user avatar
  • 1,515
9 votes
3 answers
5k views

Why are jurors asked if each element of a crime is proved, rather than the crime as a whole

After seeing the State of Washington Jury instructions for manslaughter as quoted in this answer https://law.stackexchange.com/a/96079/388, I'm wondering why the instruction is "if... each of ...
bdsl's user avatar
  • 852
2 votes
0 answers
43 views

WA rules HOA and outdoor cats

Are HoAs in Washington state allowed to ban outdoor cats and restrict cat owners to keep cats indoors only? Thank you
April's user avatar
  • 21
6 votes
2 answers
764 views

If you are a state employee, what responsibility does your employer have to provide legal council when you are acting on its behalf?

This question came up during public records training at a public organization in Washington state, but I am interested in the general case. That said, I've provided the specific hypothetical about ...
wapublicemployee's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
77 views

How do computer trespass laws intersect with public records laws in Washington state?

Suppose a state-run organization in Washington state receives a public records request that is broad (but not overly broad). In attempting to fulfill the request, an employee discovers that some ...
wapublicemployee's user avatar
19 votes
2 answers
7k views

Is a thumbs-up emoji considered as legally binding agreement in the United States?

I read that a thumbs-up emoji considered as legally binding agreement in Canada. Is a thumbs-up emoji considered as legally binding agreement in the United States? If state-specific, I am mostly ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
143 views

Is there a statute requiring contractors to bill in a timely manner?

Let’s say that Bob has work done to his home. Some payments are made per the contract, but the final payment requires some adjustments to be made to account for changes agreed to during the project, ...
Michael Hall's user avatar
  • 3,589
2 votes
0 answers
120 views

In washington state can a landlord suddenly rescind an agreed rent renewal with no forewarning?

First section below is the detailed scenario of the requested relevant law(s), and below that is the questioning of the scenario's legality: Abby has a lease that ends in May, and was offered a lease ...
zagrycha's user avatar
  • 121
2 votes
0 answers
73 views

Prevailing party is partially successful and there is an agreement regarding attorney's fees [closed]

There is an agreement between two parties that in the event of a lawsuit to recover fees, the prevailing party is to be awarded attorney's fees. A lawsuit results in the plaintiff being awarded only ...
TGK's user avatar
  • 21
3 votes
1 answer
83 views

Illegal to renew cat's urinary food prescription if no yearly examination in WA State, USA?

My friend's cat had emergency bladder stone surgery a couple of years ago. They put the cat on prescription urinary food my friend ordered online. The vet is refusing to renew the prescription because ...
Brigadeiro's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
245 views

Is making napalm illegal in Washington state?

Is making it illegal in WA? Can I make it but not use it? Is there a special place/location where it must be used? These are all questions that have baffled me for a while now.
napalm_maker84's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
130 views

Overcoming a presumption of guilt

Give the legal adage "innocent until proven guilty", would a requirement by the state to overcome a presumption of guilt only by signing, under penalty of perjury, a "declaration of non-...
Michael Hall's user avatar
  • 3,589
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Can I have a vehicle towed that’s parked in the fire lane by my apartment?

The issue is as the question states. I rent an apartment with far too few spots for the amount of people in my building. This is remedied by there being excess spots in front of other apartment ...
Katie's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
54 views

In Washington State, is a petition void or nul if there's no judge's signature for 476 days after filing with clerk's stamp?

Is there a "lazy judge rule" for civil procedure in WA state? In Indiana: Failure to Rule on a Motion and Delay of Judgments Under T.R. 53.2, if a judge takes a cause tried to the court ...
QZ23's user avatar
  • 275
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Limits on right to demand a jury?

Section 21 of the Washington State Constitution states: The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, but the legislature may provide for a jury of any number less than twelve in courts not of ...
Michael Hall's user avatar
  • 3,589
1 vote
1 answer
51 views

Implications of lots of non-permitted work in a house purchase/sale [closed]

Looking at houses, we have found one that has been completely redone (footings to rafters in many places) but without permits for the most part. The original house was from 1908, it was redone and ...
cam.b's user avatar
  • 23
2 votes
1 answer
96 views

Can I record a disciplinary hearing with school officials in WA state

My child is 12 and has a long documented disability. The (public) school district has not provided appropriate support and has even mislead me on qualifications of the paraeducator assigned to him. ...
T Winchell's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
211 views

In Washington state, can a Home Owners Association allow home owners to keep pets, but not renters?

My friend lives in an apartment building in Washington where the bylaws allow home owners to keep dogs and cats, but states that renters are not allowed to keep any pets. Is this legal according to ...
JonathanReez's user avatar
  • 4,296
3 votes
0 answers
122 views

How close from a bus stop sign am I allowed to park my car in Washington state?

I wonder how close from a bus stop sign I am allowed to park my car in Washington state. If that depends on the city, I'm interested in Spokane. If that depends on the county, I'm interested in ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
210 views

How would I get rid of a lawsuit that incorrectly names me as the defendant?

Somewhere on the Internet, there's an obscure business directory that has me incorrectly listed as the local Little League sports program. For the purposes of this question, assume the entry reads as ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 6,081
4 votes
1 answer
43 views

Default judgement on failure to respond to summons

In the case "Raising Cane's USA, LLC et al v. Twins Chicken Inc", Plaintiff delivers a summons and Defendant appears to never reply. After 3 months, Plaintiff voluntarily withdraws their ...
scip's user avatar
  • 143
0 votes
1 answer
65 views

My car was towed out of the city to another county, do city laws apply to maximum fees?

My car was Towed out of Seattle and into Burien, the Seattle website listing maximum fees a towing company can charge says "From private property in Seattle", am I correct in reading that as ...
Kyle W's user avatar
  • 1
1 vote
2 answers
85 views

*Buecking* holding finds that cooling-off days for decrees of transitory legal separation do not count for in rem decrees of divorce

The Buecking holding unambiguously finds that cooling off days for transitory decrees of legal separation do not count for cooling off days in rem decrees of divorce. The Dissolution Act of 1973 ...
QZ23's user avatar
  • 275
9 votes
2 answers
3k views

Is self-defense allowed when there are objectively reasonable grounds but it is actually done subjectively for improper reasons?

Suppose that someone uses deadly self-defense in circumstances when it would have been objectively reasonable to do so (e.g., someone has a gun pointed at you and has threatened to shoot). But, the ...
ohwilleke's user avatar
  • 194k
3 votes
1 answer
177 views

Valid definition of "vagrant" per Washington state law

RCW 9.66.010 suggests that in "every place... [w]here vagrants resort... [e]very act unlawfully done and every omission to perform a duty, which act or omission [s]hall offend public decency"...
dreamforge's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
126 views

Is volunteer work subject to the same labor laws as paid work?

Is volunteer work subject to the same labor laws (only 3 hours during school days + Minor Release form for students, for example) as paid work? More specific question: can a minor work unlimited hours ...
belkarx's user avatar
  • 234
0 votes
1 answer
89 views

A contractor did nothing including no contact for over 90 days - can he put a lien now? [closed]

Suppose a person A had a contractor B do work on A's home that ended six months ago and then there was some followup paperwork that last had action in April. The last communication was in May. ...
WestCoastProjects's user avatar
23 votes
4 answers
5k views

Would a lifetime gym membership be subject to bankruptcy proceedings?

A person in the state of Washington purchases a gym membership that entitles them (and them alone) to visit the gym for the rest of their lifetime, in exchange for a single lump sum payment. A few ...
JonathanReez's user avatar
  • 4,296
0 votes
1 answer
115 views

Landlord charging fee for pets we don't have

We are moving out of an apartment in Cheney Washington and our landlord is charging us a fee for having pets, but we have never had a pet of any kind in the apartment. Is that legal?
Joshua's user avatar
  • 1
20 votes
5 answers
9k views

Can a married couple be charged with a traffic infraction?

In the state of Washington USA, my daughter and son-in-law were joint recipients of a red light camera ticket. The law clearly states that the "operator of the motor vehicle" is responsible ...
Michael Hall's user avatar
  • 3,589
2 votes
2 answers
152 views

Would I be liable for damage caused by a vehicle fault, if a mechanic has told me the fault doesn't exist?

Hypothetical situation: I notice my car's brakes are making funny noises, so I take the car to my mechanic to have it checked out. The mechanic inspects the car and informs me that the noise is ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 6,081
0 votes
2 answers
112 views

Renting a property for more than one year

I read the following sentence on a website regarding rental properties in Washington: In Washington State, if your lease is longer than 1 year a Legal Description of the property is required along ...
A.M.'s user avatar
  • 101
1 vote
1 answer
168 views

Storage unit restricted access and forced a move before contract termination

I leased a storage unit in Washington State, USA. The contract states that I needed to give notice to vacate before the 20th of the month and that I need to vacate before 5:00 pm on the last day of ...
GBG's user avatar
  • 111
1 vote
4 answers
340 views

I was offered a job, but the contract concerns me

I have been offered a job, but while looking over the contract I found a paragraph that concerns me. I don't want to lose the right to any software that I write or develop outside of the company that ...
TheCodeGeek's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
109 views

Temporarily housing a construction worker [closed]

There is a construction worker that has their own abode in a different state and is in process of moving to Washington State. It would be convenient to allow them to stay in my home under construction....
WestCoastProjects's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
151 views

Right to show photographs without permission in a church setting

It seems there is a right to publicly share photographs of people taken without their permission, if the photographs are taken in public places. Would that right apply to a church setting? Or would ...
BobDoolittle's user avatar
-1 votes
3 answers
81 views

What is the minimum effort required to validate that a landlord-tenant communication is genuine if it isn't signed?

In the state of Washington can tenants disregard written communications from landlords if they are not signed? For example, if 2 printed letters are posted (on different days) notifying of a rent ...
grovkin's user avatar
  • 2,512
2 votes
1 answer
381 views

Is recording a conversation with school officials on school property without consent legal in Washington State/Bellevue?

I have a student-administration meeting (voluntary) with a couple of other students and school administration. This meeting is being held over a walkout held recently within the school, and I would ...
fluc's user avatar
  • 23
1 vote
0 answers
62 views

Married couple moving from a common law state to a community property state: California and Washington approach this differently?

If a married couple moves from a common law state to a community property state, do the properties they acquired after marriage (other than some prescribed exceptions) become their community property? ...
xuhdev's user avatar
  • 1,134
0 votes
1 answer
31 views

What does it mean to structure a tax law as an excise tax in Washington state?

I read on https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/lawsuit-against-washingtons-new-capital-gains-tax-can-move-forward-judge-rules/ Democratic lawmakers have said they structured the new law ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
373 views

Does a road street sign about parking apply before or after the sign in the United States?

I wonder whether a road street sign about parking applies before or after the sign. Location: Seattle, Washington, United States. Example: in the picture below, I wonder whether the 3-minute ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
260 views

In WA state, can a landlord unilaterally impose a recurring fee to continue a lease on a month-to-month basis?

In the Washington state (outside of King county), assuming there is an existing month-to-month lease agreement, is there anything in the real estate law to prevent a landlord from imposing a recurring ...
grovkin's user avatar
  • 2,512
0 votes
1 answer
39 views

How long does a contractor or retailer have to complete a project after a deposit is given

Suppose a person A is building a new dwelling. In order to receive a certificate of occupancy from my municipality A needs to meet building code requirements - A needs to have a bathroom sink ...
GBG's user avatar
  • 111
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

How do you dispute a large bill for damages?

Suppose that a person T (for tenant) had a year ago rented an apartment that had some water damage due to a pipe bursting inside the building. There was a lot of back and forth between T and the ...
JonathanReez's user avatar
  • 4,296
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

How long must one wait before re-parking in the same time-limited parking spot in Seattle?

Many parking spots in Seattle are time-limited, e.g. 2 hours: How long must one wait before re-parking in the such time-limited parking spots in Seattle (Washington state, United States)?
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
219 views

Street sign on the same pole: "Pay to park" and "No Stop". Which one applies before the pole, and which one applies after the pole?

I saw two street signs on the same pole, one is "Pay to park" and the other one is "No Stops": which one applies before the sign, and which one applies after the sign? Location: ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
636 views

Can parents force their teenage children to get vaccinated?

The Los Angeles school district recently made the Covid vaccine mandatory for attendance. What’s special about the Covid vaccine is that it’s supposed to be given out not just to first graders (who ...
JonathanReez's user avatar
  • 4,296
0 votes
1 answer
91 views

in washington state can a divorce case last 32 months [closed]

, i purchased divorce packet and met with someone from legal aid 2 weekends in a row where she asked the questions and i answered..she filled my answers in the blanks..she filed paperwork after i saw ...
jennifer's user avatar