Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in Washington and Oregon
In a decision that extends the reach of what constitutes an “unfair practice” under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA), the Washington Supreme Court recently confirmed that claims of “price gouging” may be actionable...more
On August 5, 2024, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One, demonstrated the difficulty for property owners to challenge a local government’s decision to pass the cost of city improvements to them. In SHG Garage SPE et...more
In Ten Injured Workers v. State of Washington, et al. (Ten Workers), the Washington Court of Appeals recently overturned a provision of RCW 51.36.070, which prohibited injured workers from posting video recordings of their...more
A little more than a year ago, on July 23, 2023, the Washington My Health My Data Act (WMHMDA) was passed into law. The law originally went into effect on March 31, 2024, however the compliance deadline for small businesses...more
The Washington Supreme Court recently denied review of a key decision from the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II, upholding the authority of local governments to regulate solid waste generated and collected within...more
Washington State requires ports to control stormwater discharges across their entire footprint, though federal rules cover only certain port facilities. According to a recent decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,...more
Water rights holders in Whatcom County and northern Skagit County will be affected by a court adjudication case filed in May 2024 by the Washington State Department of Ecology ("Ecology"). Ecology filed this general water...more
Washington state employers are now banned from holding “captive audience” meetings. So-called captive audience meetings are mandatory meetings held by employers during work hours to address activities protected by Section 7...more
In March 2024, Governor Inslee signed SSB 6192 into law. This amended RCW 39.04.360 to require timely execution of change orders on both public and private construction projects. The amended language, which went into effect...more
The city of Renton, Washington, finalized rules to implement Initiative 23-02 on May 31, 2024. The initiative was approved by Renton voters in February 2024 and codified within Chapter 5-28 and Section 5-5-4 of the Renton...more
Washington state law just changed in a way that might have made your company’s non-solicitation agreements unenforceable and illegal. Recent amendments to the state non-compete statute took effect on June 6 and significantly...more
As reported last week, opponents of the Washington state capital gains tax, after ultimately losing in the courts to have the legislation stricken as unconstitutional, decided to take the matter to the voters. They have...more
I have reported in several prior blog posts the significant events impacting the newly enacted Washington state capital gains tax. The turbulent ride of this legislation continues!...more
Effective June 6, 2024, commercial leases in Washington for a fixed term of more than one year no longer need to be notarized. Substitute Senate Bill 5840 states that “Leases do not require acknowledgment, witness, or...more
Key Takeaways - What Happened: Washington’s Department of Ecology announced a rulemaking to implement the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act....more
On June 6, 2024, Washington’s non-compete statute will receive substantial amendments affecting employers with workers in the state. Employers should review their employment agreements and personnel onboarding practices to...more
The transition to carbon-free energy requires significant investments in new energy facilities and extensive new transmission lines. Senator Joe Nguyễn spearheaded this effort during the 2024 legislative session by leveraging...more
Effective June 6, 2024, the state of Washington will further restrict the use of noncompetition agreements. This article provides background on the current law governing noncompetition agreements in Washington and walks...more
Statutes of repose serve as substantive outer limits on product liability claims after a certain time period following the product’s sale or use, potentially providing a complete defense in some jurisdictions and a rebuttable...more
Key Takeaways - What is Happening? The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) published for public comment its proposed 2025 Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP), which authorizes the discharge of...more
Washington State courts are steadily opening the door for pet owners to seek non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, for injuries to their pets. In the past, Washington courts have allowed emotional distress damages...more
On May 15, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) released the draft Industrial Stormwater General Permit (Draft ISGP), fact sheet, and application for public comment. The public comment period is open from May...more
Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently signed Senate Bill 5935 into law, amending and expanding Washington’s statute restricting the enforceability of noncompetition covenants (Revised Code of Washington 49.2). The amended...more
A recent concern in the healthcare sector, specifically hospitals, is a large class action wage hour claim in the state of Washington, Bennett v. Providence Health & Services. In this instance, a review of the order granting...more