When your bank receives a Writ of Garnishment, it must freeze so much of your account that equals the amount asked for in the Writ. If the bank does not do this, it could be liable to pay your judgment debt.

In Washington, some funds held in your bank account may be exempt from garnishment but it is up to you to prove that in court to have the Writ of Garnishment cancelled.

Jonathan W. Blado, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

On the other hand, a new attorney can bring a fresh perspective to your case that your existing trial lawyer may not be able to.

Also, if your trial lawyer is not experienced in appeals, it may be important to find one who is. The rules and procedures in appellate courts are different from those in a trial court, and you may benefit from hiring an attorney with the skills and experience of having handled appeals.

If you are considering hiring a new appellate lawyer for an appeal, it is important to do so quickly since the time for filing an appeal is only 30 days.

Douglas N. Kiger, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

A “durable” power of attorney remains effective even if you later become legally incompetent for some reason.

Powers of attorney can be effective immediately or effective only upon disability. Powers of attorney can also be general, covering all types of decisions; or they can be specific, such as for medical decisions only.

Douglas N. Kiger, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

At that person’s death, the property is owned by whoever was to receive the remainder interest under the deed.

Jonathan Blado, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

Kristal M. Cowger

A medical malpractice action must be brought within three years of the act or omission alleged to have caused the injury or one year after the discovery of the alleged negligent act or omission, whichever period expires later.

In no event may a medical malpractice action be brought later than eight years after the date of the alleged act or omission.

The limitations period is tolled upon proof of fraud, intentional concealment, or the presence of a foreign object in the claimant.

Kristal M. Cowger, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

A Superior Court may handle a claim in any amount over $300.00.

There are different judges, rules of procedure, and the number of persons on a jury. There are some lawsuits that can only be filed in Superior Court such as those involving title to real estate probate and family law.

Jonathan Blado, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

Douglas N. Kiger, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

Employees must be paid for the lunch break if they are required to, or allowed to, remain on duty, they are required to be on-call at the business site or other designated worksite, or they are called back to duty during the meal period.

Nicole M. Bolan, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

Douglas N. Kiger, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.

Kristal M. Cowger

Yes. Because the definition of contractor is so broad in Washington, there are quite a few statutory exceptions to the registration requirement. The exceptions include:
(1) representatives of federal, state or local government entities;

(2) officers of a court;

(3) public utilities;

(4) contractor activities incidental to discovering or producing gas or petroleum;

(5) the sale of finished products that do not become fixtures (as that term is defined under common law);

(6) owners working on personal property (such as a mobile home);

(7) contractors working within the boundaries of an area under the jurisdiction of the federal government;

(8) a person or entity supplying materials, supplies, or equipment to a project who did not fabricate them into the project themselves;

(9) projects of a minor, casual, or inconsequential nature so long as the total price of labor, materials, and all other items does not exceed $500, and so long as such person does not advertise or indicate to the public he, she, or it is a contractor;

(10) construction projects incidental to irrigation and drainage, farming, or fire prevention;

(11) an owner of land who hires a general contractor, unless the owner is hiring the contractor for the purpose of leasing or selling the property (see the following question);

(12) a person working on his or her own property or personal residence, unless that person is intending to sell, demolish, or lease the property (see the following question);

(13) an owner maintaining or repairing their own property who uses his or her own employees for such purpose;

(14) a licensed architect, engineer, electrician, or plumber who is otherwise licensed or certified under the laws of the state of Washington and is acting solely in their professional capacity;

(15) an employee of a registered contractor;

(16) contractors working on highway projects that have been prequalified with the state Department of Transportation;

(17) mobile/manufactured home dealers or manufacturers who subcontract the installation, set-up or repair of mobile/manufactured homes;

(18) individuals or entities holding a valid electrical contractor’s license that employ a certified electrician or journeyman to perform plumbing work incidental to replacement of household appliances. Many judicial decisions further refine/explain these exceptions.

Kristal M. Cowger, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.