CENTRAL PUGET SOUND TRANSIT v. Eastey

144 P.3d 322
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedOctober 9, 2006
Docket55908-7-1
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 144 P.3d 322 (CENTRAL PUGET SOUND TRANSIT v. Eastey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
CENTRAL PUGET SOUND TRANSIT v. Eastey, 144 P.3d 322 (Wash. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

144 P.3d 322 (2006)

CENTRAL PUGET SOUND REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY, a regional Transit authority, dba Sound Transit, Respondent,
v.
The HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF Jack K. EASTEY, also appearing of record as John Kline Eastey, deceased; Jack's Auto Parts, Inc., a Washington corporation; Richard Franklin Eastey, Sr., as personal representative of the estate of John Kline Eastey, deceased; Frank Coluccio Construction Company, a Washington corporation; Donald J. O'Neill, as trustee for William C. O'Gorman, a single man; United States Department of Treasury; King County, a municipal corporation; City of Seattle; and All Unknown Owners and All Unknown Tenants, Appellants.

No. 55908-7-1.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division One.

August 7, 2006.
Publication Ordered October 9, 2006.

*323 Charles Kenneth Wiggins, Shelby R. Frost Lemmel, Wiggins & Masters PLLC, Bainbridge Island, WA, for Appellants.

Larry John Smith, Estera Felice Gordon, Matthew R. Hansen, Graham & Dunn PC, Seattle, WA, for Respondent.

Susan Delanty Jones, Alina Ann McLauchlan, Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP, Seattle, for Non-Party (City of Federal Way).

BECKER, J.

¶ 1 Sound Transit condemned a small strip of land to expand its right of way in front of Jack's Auto Parts, Inc., a store owned by the heirs of Jack Eastey. The Eastey interests offered relevant evidence tending to prove it was the take, not loss of access to the right of way, that would force them to move customer parking and the entrance from the front of the store to the side. Because the trial court's erroneous decision to exclude this evidence was prejudicial to the determination of just compensation, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

FACTS

¶ 2 Sound Transit owns a right of way along Martin Luther King Way South in the Rainier Valley. Transit made plans to widen MLK Way and put in a new sidewalk in connection with a light rail project. MLK Way runs north and south. The Eastey property is to the west. Between the auto parts store and the Transit right of way, running parallel with MLK Way, is a strip of *324 Eastey land approximately 24 feet wide. Transit condemned a strip of this strip, bringing its right of way closer to the store by a varying width of 6 inches to 3.25 feet.

¶ 3 Before the take, customers parked in front of the store in spots located entirely on the Eastey property. The customers typically used the unoccupied Transit right of way to turn directly into these spots and park facing the building at a right angle. Once the right of way is occupied by the twin tracks of the light rail line and new sidewalks and other improvements, the privilege of using it to maneuver into the existing parking spots will no longer be available.

¶ 4 Eastey sought to be compensated for loss of parking. The parties debated how much it would cost to relocate parking to the side of the store and reconfigure the entrance. And more significantly for this appeal, they debated whether Transit was obligated to compensate Eastey for having to move the parking. Transit took the position that relocation of the parking spots was made necessary not by the taking of the narrow strip, but by loss of the ability to use the right of way, a privilege that is not compensable.

¶ 5 Another major compensation issue was Eastey's claim that the installation of a "pocket track" near the condemned strip would cause damage to the remainder of the Eastey property by generating noise and dust and obstructing the view. The purpose of the pocket track is to allow light rail trains to change directions from southbound to northbound. Transit did not view this as a compensable item.

¶ 6 Largely because of the different positions taken by the parties on these two issues, they were far apart in settlement negotiations. Transit originally offered $200,000, an offer that expired by its terms when the trial date was continued. Robert Bonjorni, an appraiser retained by Eastey, estimated the just compensation amount at $731,448, including amounts attributable to the parking cure and the pocket track. The case was reset for trial beginning January 18, 2005. Transit made a pre-trial motion to exclude evidence of damages attributable to the parking cure and the influence of the pocket track. While this motion was pending in King County Superior Court, Transit made another offer of $327,600. A few days later, the court ruled in favor of Transit on both issues. Upon learning of the court's ruling, Transit sent a letter revoking the offer-just before Eastey sent a letter accepting it.

¶ 7 The case came on for trial. Ruling that Transit had effectively revoked its offer, the court denied Eastey's motion to enforce it. The parties waived jury and tried the case to the bench. The court determined that just compensation was $83,133.80. Eastey then moved for an award of attorney fees under RCW 8.25.070, based on the theory that Transit had not made a valid offer. The court denied this motion.

¶ 8 Eastey seeks reversal of the rulings made in connection with the offer of settlement, as well as the ruling excluding evidence on the two contested damages issues. Eastey asks to be given the option to choose either a new trial, based on reversal of the ruling excluding evidence; or relief based on the settlement offer of $327,600, in the form of the right to accept it or alternatively an award of trial and appellate attorney fees under RCW 8.25.070.

SETTLEMENT OFFER

¶ 9 The statute providing for an award of attorney fees to the condemnee in an eminent domain proceeding is designed to ensure that each side makes a good faith effort to settle. Olympic Pipe Line Co. v. Thoeny, 124 Wash.App. 381, 399, 101 P.3d 430 (2004). To be eligible for an award of reasonable attorney fees and expert witness fees, the condemnee must stipulate to immediate use and possession of the property by the condemnee early in the proceeding. See RCW 8.25.070(3). A condemnee who has complied with that condition will receive an award of attorney fees and other costs if the condemnor fails to make any written settlement offer at least 30 days before the trial commences. RCW 8.25.070(1)(a). And even if the condemnor makes a timely offer, the condemnee will still be awarded attorney fees if "the judgment awarded as a result of the trial exceeds by ten percent or more the *325 highest written offer in settlement submitted to those condemnees appearing in the action by condemnor in effect thirty days before the trial." RCW 8.25.070(1)(b).

¶ 10 Eastey stipulated to immediate possession. Trial was set to begin on January 18, 2005. The hearing on Transit's motion to exclude evidence on the two contested damages issues was at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 17, 2004. After hearing oral argument, the court took the two motions under advisement and said a decision would not be issued until "the early part of the following week".[1] Trial was only 32 days away.

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144 P.3d 322, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/central-puget-sound-transit-v-eastey-washctapp-2006.