Shafer v. State

521 P.2d 736, 83 Wash. 2d 618
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedApril 18, 1974
Docket42222
StatusPublished
Cited by50 cases

This text of 521 P.2d 736 (Shafer v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shafer v. State, 521 P.2d 736, 83 Wash. 2d 618 (Wash. 1974).

Opinions

Hamilton, J.

Plaintiff appeals from an order dismissing her complaint, sounding in tort, against the State of Washington. Dismissal was predicated upon plaintiff’s failure to file a claim with the state auditor within 120 days from the' date of her injury pursuant to RCW 4.92.100.

The relevant facts as alleged are these: On March 29, 1968, the plaintiff, Mrs. Faye V. Shafer, entered a Washington State liquor store in Seattle intending to make a purchase. As she entered the store through the customers’ entrance she tripped on a wrinkled rug mat inside the entrance door, fell to the floor and incurred serious injury necessitating some 13 months of medical care.

One or two days later, plaintiff’s husband contacted employees at the store about her injuries. He was provided with the name and telephone number of the Washington State Liquor Control Board District Store Supervisor, Mr. Charles Starwick. Upon telephoning Mr. Starwick and informing him of the circumstances of his wife’s fall and injuries, Mr. Shafer was referred to another official who in turn advised him to discuss the matter with the assistant [620]*620attorney general assigned as legal counsel to the Washington State Liquor Control Board in Olympia.

On May 13, 1968, Mrs. Shafer telephoned the designated assistant attorney general in Olympia, identified herself, and related the circumstances of her injury. The attorney acknowledged awareness of her situation and indicated that he in fact had a file on the case. Mrs. Shafer then advised the attorney that “hip-pinning” surgery had been performed immediately following her injury, that the pins had pulled loose, and that bone graft surgery was now required. She expressed concern as to whether there was sufficient insurance remaining to pay for additional surgery and requested that a representative of the state be dispatched to see about making a partial settlement to help defray the medical expenses. The attorney replied: “No, we can’t do it that way — you will have to wait until all medical expenses are incurred, and your doctor has dismissed you, then you should submit a claim through your attorney.” Thereafter, Mrs. Shafer telephoned her attorney and informed him of her conversation with the assistant attorney general.

Approximately 4 months later, plaintiff’s attorney once again contacted Mr. Starwick, who recalled the store manager’s report of Mrs. Shafer’s accident. Mr. Starwick likewise remembered Mr. Shafer’s telephonic communication of the circumstances. He also indicated that the store manager had made an investigation of the accident, including interviewing and recording statements of store employees who witnessed the incident, and taking photographs of the entrance of the store and of the rug over which plaintiff tripped. Mr. Starwick further stated that he had made a written report and had submitted it along with the photographs and written statements to legal counsel for the Liquor Control Board. Although Mr. Starwick initially indir cated he would make a copy of his report available to Mrs. Shafer’s attorney, 2 days later he informed her attorney that all files concerning the incident were in the possession of the Liquor Control Board’s legal counsel in Olympia. A [621]*621claim was then filed on behalf of Mrs. Shafer, pursuant to RCW 4.92.100, on October 14, 1968, 199 days after the occurrence in suit.

Although the trial judge granted the state’s motion to dismiss Mrs. Shafer’s action for failure to timely file a claim, he specifically noted in the order, by way of “findings,”1 that the state, through its agents, had completely investigated the accident in suit within 45 days of its occurrence. He also observed that the state had knowledge of all the facts it would have been able to obtain concerning the accident had a claim been filed within the 120-day requirement of RCW 4.92.100. The trial judge further concluded that the state was not prejudiced by the late filing of the claim.

On appeal, plaintiff first contends the claim filing requirements of RCW 4.92.1002 and .1103 violate due process [622]*622and equal protection concepts enunciated in the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution and in Const. art. 1, §§ 3 and 12 of the state constitution. For the reasons stated in Cook v. State, 83 Wn.2d 599, 521 P.2d 725 (1974), we decline to so hold.

Plaintiff next asserts that, under the facts of this case as they presently stand, the state should be equitably es-topped from asserting an untimely filing under RCW 4.92.100.

We agree that the doctrine of equitable estoppel should apply if the facts as presented be true.

We have recognized on several occasions that the doctrine of equitable estoppel will be applied against the state or against a political subdivision when acting in its governmental as well as proprietary capacity when necessary to prevent a manifest injustice, and the exercise of governmental powers will not thereby be impaired. Finch v. Matthews, 74 Wn.2d 161, 443 P.2d 833 (1968); Edwards v. Renton, 67 Wn.2d 598, 409 P.2d 153, 33 A.L.R.3d 1154 (1965); State ex rel. Shannon v. Sponburgh, 66 Wn.2d 135; 401 P.2d 635 (1965); Strand v. State, 16 Wn.2d 107, 132 P.2d 1011 (1943); Bennett v. Grays Harbor County, 15 Wn.2d 331, 130 P.2d 1041 (1942); Abrams v. Seattle, 173 Wash. 495, 23 P.2d 869 (1933); State ex rel. Washington Paving Co. v. Clausen, 90 Wash. 450, 156 P. 554 (1916). With regard to the applicability of this doctrine in connection with our statutory scheme of waiver of sovereign immunity in tort actions, we observed in Finch v. Matthews, supra at 176, that:

Governmental immunity from estoppel is a derivative of the doctrine conferring the sovereign entity with immunity from suit without its consent. 28 Am. Jur. 2d Estoppel and Waiver § 123 (1966); Annot. 1 A.L.R. 2d 338, 340 (1949); Hickey v. Illinois Central R.R., 35 Ill. 2d 427, 220 N.E.2d 415 (1966). The legislature of this state [623]*623has indicated that sovereign immunity in tort actions is no longer desirable or acceptable. RCW 4.92.090.

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Bluebook (online)
521 P.2d 736, 83 Wash. 2d 618, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shafer-v-state-wash-1974.