FILED C Q APPEALS Di\ / ISi0P1 aI
201311' 1 -o ° 36 " 6 08 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASH ETA E ' " SHINGTO
DIVISION II Y. p
THOMAS MARTINI, individually and as the No. 43484 -9 -II personal representative of the ESTATE OF JUDITH ABSON; DEBORAH SVANCARA; KIMBERLY SVANCARA, a minor; and
CHRISTINA SVANCARA, a minor;
Appellants,
V.
PAUL POST, individually, PUBLISHED OPINION
PENOYAR, J. — Thomas Martini appeals the trial court' s dismissal of his negligence
action against his landlord Paul Post for his wife' s, Judith Abson' s, death after a fire in their
rented house. Martini filed the negligence action against Post individually and on behalf of
Abson and her three daughters. Before the fire, Martini had repeatedly asked Post to repair
windows that were inoperable because they were painted shut. Abson died of smoke inhalation
after the inoperable windows prevented her from escaping the fire. The trial court granted Post' s
motion for summary judgment on the issue of cause in fact and then denied Martini' s motion for reconsideration.
Martini appeals, arguing that ( 1) summary judgment was improper because there are
genuine issues of material fact regarding whether Post' s failure to repair the windows was the
cause in fact of Abson' s death, and ( 2) the trial court erred when it denied his motion for
reconsideration given the new evidence he submitted and the court accepted, demonstrating
Abson attempted . to open a window and expert testimony opining that Abson would have
survived if she had been able to open a window. We reverse the trial court' s denial of Martini' s 43484 -9 -II
motion for reconsideration because the new evidence creates a genuine issue of material fact
regarding Abson' s cause of death and remand for trial.
FACTS
I. BACKGROUND
Beginning in 2006, Abson and Martini leased a house from Post. During the initial walk
through of the house, Martini noticed the windows in the northeast bedroom could not be opened
and he requested that Post repair them. After his initial request, Martini requested that Post
repair the windows in the northeast bedroom on at least two more occasions, but Post never
repaired them.
In the early morning of February 27, 2007, a fire began in the home' s basement. Two
houseguests and Abson were awake and noticed the fire. One of the houseguests awoke Martini,
who gathered the three children and ushered them outside. Both of the houseguests who initially
discovered the fire also safely exited the house.
In the course of the fire, Abson, one of her daughters, and a third houseguest became
trapped on the second floor. Abson was trapped in the back side of the house and was eventually
found in the northeast bedroom, which was the room with inoperable windows. Martini heard
Abson yelling from an upstairs bedroom in the back of the house before the fire fighters arrived
at the house.
Abson' s daughter and the houseguest were trapped in the southeast bedroom. While
trapped, Abson' s daughter heard Abson yell from the back of the second floor to get out of the
house. Abson' s daughter and the houseguest opened a window and took turns sticking their
heads out of the window to breathe fresh air. When the fire fighters arrived, they immediately
rescued Abson' s daughter and the houseguest using a ground ladder. 2 43484 -9 -II
Abson' s daughter and the houseguest told the fire fighters that Abson was still in the
house. Two fire fighters reentered the house through a second floor window. They found the
door to the northeast bedroom ajar. The fire fighters opened the door and found Abson
unconscious on the floor. Due to Abson' s size and her condition, the fire fighters were unable to
exit with Abson through a window via a ground ladder. After other fire fighters gained control
of the first floor fire, the fire fighters exited with Abson using the house stairs and she was
transported to the hospital. Resuscitation efforts were not successful and Abson was pronounced
dead at the hospital. An autopsy showed Abson died from smoke inhalation.
After the fire, the City of Tacoma fire investigator noted the presence of hand prints and
marks around the east window in the northeast bedroom, where Abson was trapped. In his
complaint, Martini alleged there was evidence of hand prints around the window. In his motion
for reconsideration, he provided a photograph that showed markings around the window.
A certified fire and explosion investigator, Noel Putannsuu, inspected the northeast room
and found the window on the east wall to be inoperable. He stated that he ( a 210 pound, 6 foot 2
inch tall man) could not open the window with reasonable or even forceful effort, and thus,
Abson would have been unable to open the window while trapped in the northeast bedroom. The
window along the north wall had been removed by the time he conducted his investigation.
II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Martini filed a negligence action against Post. Post moved for summary judgment,
alleging that ( 1) Martini could not produce evidence that the window in the northeast bedroom
was painted shut at the time of the fire; ( 2) because Martini and Abson were aware that the
window was painted shut, Post could not be liable under Washington law; and ( 3) Martini failed
to produce evidence that any negligence by Post was the proximate cause of Abson' s death. J 43484 -9 -II
Martini responded, arguing that ( 1) Post is liable for Abson' s death because he breached
the Residential Landlord Tenant Act' s ( RLTA) implied warranty of habitability) and violated 2 building requirements of the Tacoma Municipal Code; and ( 2) because her daughter survived by
opening a window, Abson also would have survived if the windows in the northeast bedroom
had not been painted shut. Martini supported his response with Putannsuu' s expert testimony.
Putannsuu testified that Abson would have been unable to open the window and that Post
should have ensured that the window was open -able with minimal effort by an average person
when the tenants moved in." Clerk' s Paper' s ( CP) at 64.
The trial court granted summary judgment on the ground that Martini failed to prove the
cause in fact element of proximate cause and stated Martini failed to present sufficient evidence
to show that "` but for' the negligence of the defendants, [ Abson] would not have died." CP at
165. Martini moved for reconsideration under CR 59( a)( 7) -( 9), arguing that Abson would have
survived the fire but for Post' s failure to repair the inoperable windows, and Post' s failure was
the legal cause of Abson' s death. In his motion for reconsideration, Martini also introduced new
evidence of hand prints around the window in the northeast bedroom and a declaration from Dr.
Kiesel, who performed Abson' s autopsy, testifying that Abson would have survived if she had
been able to open a window and breathe fresh air.
Post filed a motion to strike the new evidence, arguing that ( 1) it is improper to introduce
new evidence on reconsideration under CR 59( a)( 7) -( 9); ( 2) Dr. Kiesel was not qualified to
testify regarding whether someone could survive in a burning house; and in the alternative, ( 3)
1 RCW 59. 18. 060.
2 Tacoma Municipal Code § 2. 01. 070.
rd 43484 -9 -II
Dr. Kiesel' s opinion was based on speculation. Post also responded to Martini' s motion for
reconsideration, arguing that ( 1) the newly introduced evidence should not be considered, ( 2) the
marks on the window in the northeast bedroom do not create a question of fact with regard to
causation, and ( 3) Dr. Kiesel' s declaration does not support Martini' s motion for reconsideration.
During oral argument on the motion for reconsideration, Martini' s attorney handed the
court a photograph of the window in the northeast bedroom that showed evidence of a mark on
the wall next to the window, which Martini contends is Abson' s hand print. Post objected to the
introduction of the photograph; however, the trial court allowed it. In a letter to counsel, the trial
court noted that it reviewed the photograph of the window and Dr. Kiesel' s declaration and
stated that it was going to deny Martini' s motion for reconsideration. However, in the actual
order denying the motion for reconsideration, the trial court listed Dr. Kiesel' s declaration as a
document reviewed but not the photograph. Martini timely appeals.
ANALYSIS
I. PROXIMATE CAUSE
Martini argues that the trial court erred when it denied his motion to reconsider the
summary judgment in Post' s favor because the new evidence Martini submitted with his motion
for reconsideration in addition to the evidence he previously submitted in opposition to Post' s
motion for summary judgment creates an issue of fact. Post responds that, even if all the
evidence can properly be considered on appeal, the evidence is too speculative to support
overturning the trial court' s denial of reconsideration. We hold it was manifestly unreasonable
to deny Martini' s motion for reconsideration because the trial court had accepted evidence on
reconsideration that created a genuine issue of material fact regarding the cause of Abson' s
death.
R 43484 -9 -II
A. Standard of Review
Summary judgment is proper if `,` pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, the
and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as
to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." CR
56( c). We construe all facts and the reasonable inferences from those facts in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party. Jones v. Allstate Ins. Co., 146 Wn.2d 291, 300, 45 P. 3d 1068
2002). We review a trial court' s denial of a motion for reconsideration and its decision to
consider new or additional evidence presented with the motion to determine if the trial court' s
decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds. Weyerhaeuser Co. v.
Commercial Union Ins. Co., 142 Wn.2d 654, 683, 15 P. 3d 115 ( 2000); Chen v. State, 86 Wn.
App. 183, 192, 937 P. 2d 612 ( 1997).
The trial court granted Post' s motion for summary judgment on the basis of the cause in
fact element of proximate cause. Because we determine the trial court' s denial of Martini' s
motion for reconsideration of the grant of summary judgment was improper considering the
additional evidence presented, we need not review the trial court' s initial granting of summary
judgment. 43484 -9 -II
B. Additional Material Submitted with a Motion for Reconsideration
1. Admission of Additional Materials
As an initial matter, we consider whether the trial court properly considered the
additional evidence Martini submitted with his motion for reconsideration. Martini contends the
trial court properly exercised its discretion in considering Dr. Kiesel' s declaration and the hand print evidence when on the motion for reconsideration under CR 59( a)( 7) -( 9). We agree ruling
with Martini that the trial court did not err when it considered additional evidence on
reconsideration.
The decision to consider new or additional evidence presented with a motion for
reconsideration is squarely within the trial court' s discretion. Chen, 86 Wn. App. at 192. "` In
the context of summary judgment, unlike in a trial, there is no prejudice if the court considers additional facts on reconsideration. "' August v. U.S. Bancorp, 146 Wn. App. 328, 347, 190 P. 3d
86 ( 2008) ( quoting Chen, 86 Wn. App. at 192). Generally, nothing in CR 59 prohibits the 3 submission of new or additional materials on reconsideration. Chen, 86 Wn. App. at 192.
The trial court properly exercised its discretion when reviewing the new evidence Martini presented on reconsideration. Post suffered no prejudice from trial court' s consideration of the
additional evidence because Post was previously aware of the evidence and of Martini' s theory
of Abson' s cause of death. It was within the trial court' s discretion to consider this additional
evidence. Thus, we hold that the trial court' s decision to review the new evidence was not
manifestly unreasonable.
3 There are a few limited exceptions that prohibit the introduction of new evidence on a motion for reconsideration, none of which are applicable to this case. 7 43484 -9 -II
2. Dr. Kiesel' s Declaration
Post specifically contends that Dr. Kiesel' s declaration should not be considered because
the opinion he expresses is beyond the scope of his expertise" and " is based on nothing more
than speculation and conjecture." CP at 154 -55. We disagree because the trial court properly
exercised its discretion in considering this expert testimony, and we will not disturb that
decision. See Moore v. Hagge, 158 Wn. App. 137, 155, 241 P. 3d 787 ( 2010) ( quoting Miller v.
Likins, 109 Wn. App. 140, 147, 34 P. 3d 835 ( 2001)) ( " The trial court has wide discretion in
on the admissibility of expert testimony. "); Oliver v. Pac. Nw. Bell Tel.. Co., Inc., 106 ruling
Wn.2d 675, 683, 724 P. 2d 1003 ( 1986).
Dr. Kiesel qualified as an expert under ER 702 to offer an opinion regarding Abson' s
cause of death and whether she could have survived if she had access to fresh air. See
Philippides v. Bernard, 151 Wn.2d 376, 393, 88 P. 3d 939 ( 2004) ( An expert' s opinion is
admissible if the witness is properly qualified, relies on generally accepted theories, and the
expert' s testimony is helpful to the trier of fact). Dr. Kiesel had worked in forensic pathology for
27 years and, in doing so, became familiar with performing detailed death scene investigations and determining the cause of death. He was also board certified, was a Diplomat of the
American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology, and had been the Chief
Medical Examiner for the Pierce County Medical Examiner' s Office.
Dr. Kiesel also had an adequate factual basis for his expert opinion. See Miller, 109 Wn.
App. at 148 ( "[ C] onclusory or speculative expert opinions lacking an adequate foundation will not be admitted. ") ( internal quotation marks omitted). He based his opinion that Abson would
have survived if she had been able to open a window and access fresh air in large part on the
facts that ( 1) two individuals trapped in the upstairs front bedroom were able to survive by 43484 -9 -II
opening a window and breathing fresh air, and ( 2) Abson had no identified natural diseases that would have contributed to her death. Dr. Kiesel also performed an autopsy on Abson and read
the City of Tacoma Fire Department' s. Fire Investigation Report in formulating his opinion. Dr. Kiesel had an adequate factual basis for his expert opinion and we hold that the trial court
properly considered Dr. Kiesel' s expert opinion.
C. Ruling on Motion for Reconsideration.
Martini argues the trial court' s denial of his motion for reconsideration was manifestly
unreasonable considering all the evidence proffered, including the newly submitted evidence.
We agree because, when viewed together and in the light most favorable to Martini, the evidence
creates a genuine issue of material fact regarding the cause of Abson' s death.
To maintain an action for negligence, the plaintiff must show ( 1) the defendant owed a
duty to the plaintiff, (2) the defendant breached that duty, ( 3) the plaintiff suffered an injury, and
4) the defendant' s breach was the proximate cause of the plaintiff' s injury. Hertog v. City of
Seattle, 138 Wn.2d 265, 275, 979 P. 2d 400 ( 1999). The plaintiff must establish an issue of
material fact as to each element of negligence to defeat summary judgment. Craig v. Wash.
Trust Bank, 94 Wn. App. 820, 824, 976 P. 2d 126 ( 1999).
Proximate cause has two elements: cause in fact and legal causation. Hartley v. State,
103 Wn.2d 768, 777, 698 P. 2d 77 ( 1985). Here, the trial court decided summary judgment based
on cause in fact. Cause in fact, or " but for" causation, refers to the " physical connection between
an act and an injury." Hartley, 103 Wn.2d at 778. The plaintiff "must establish that the harm
suffered would not have occurred but for an act or omission of the defendant." Joyce v. Dept. of
Corr., 155 Wn.2d 306, 322, 119 P. 3d 825 ( 2005).
4 43484 -9 -II
Cause in fact is usually a question for the trier of fact and is generally not susceptible to
summary judgment. Owen v. Burlington N. Santa Fe R. R. Co., 153 Wn.2d 780, 788, 108 P. 3d
1220 ( 2005) ( quoting Ruff v. King County, 125 Wn.2d 697, 703, 887 P. 2d 886 ( 1995)) ( "` [ I] ssues
of negligence and proximate cause are generally not susceptible to summary judgment. "');
Hertog, 138 Wn.2d at 275. Cause in fact may be decided as a matter of law, however, if the
facts and inferences from them are plain and not subject to reasonable doubt or difference of
opinion. Little v. Countrywood Homes, Inc., 132 Wn. App. 777, 780, 133 P. 3d 944 ( 2006)
citing Daugert v. Pappas, 104 Wn.2d 254, 257, 704 P. 2d 600 ( 1985)).
The plaintiff cannot rest a claim for liability on a speculative theory. See- Marshall v.
Pacwest, Inc., 94 Wn. App. 372, 378 -80, 972 P. 2d 475 ( 1999). The plaintiff, however, Bally' s
need not prove cause in fact to an absolute certainty. Gardner v. Seymour, 27 Wn.2d 802, 808,
180 P. 2d 564 ( 1947). It is sufficient if the plaintiff presents evidence that " allow[ s] a reasonable
person to conclude that the harm more probably than not happened in such a way that the
moving party should be held liable." Little, 132 Wn. App. at 781 ( citing Gardner, 27 Wn.2d at
808 -09). The evidence presented may be circumstantial as long as it affords room for
reasonable minds to conclude that there is a greater probability that the conduct relied upon was
the [ cause in fact] of the injury than there is that it was not." Hernandez v. W. Farmers Ass' n, 76
Wn.2d 422, 426, 456 P. 2d 1020 ( 1969).
In his response to Post' s motion for summary judgment, Martini presented facts,
evidence, or declarations demonstrating that ( 1) the windows in the northeast bedroom had been
painted shut; ( 2) Martini requested that Post repair the windows in the northeast bedroom on
several occasions, but Post failed to do so; ( 3) Martini and Abson' s daughter heard Abson yelling
from a back bedroom of the house; ( 4) Abson became trapped in the northeast bedroom during 10 43484 -9 -II
the fire; ( 5) Abson died from smoke. inhalation; and ( 6) two other residents who were trapped in
the southeast bedroom were able to open a window and survived the fire. Martini, however,
failed to allege any facts, either direct or circumstantial, in his summary judgment response that
Abson attempted to open a window in the northeast bedroom or that if she had been able to open
a window she would have survived.
In his motion for reconsideration Martini presented additional expert opinion evidence
from Dr. Kiesel that Abson likely would have survived if she had been able to open a window in
the northeast bedroom and evidence of possible hand prints around the window in the northeast
bedroom. The City of Tacoma' s investigation report also noted evidence of hand prints around
the window in the northeast bedroom.
Post argues that Abson has not established " concrete" evidence of causation. Resp' t' s
Br. at 14. But Post ignores the fact that at summary judgment Abson is entitled to all reasonable
inferences drawn from the evidence. The trial court had discretion whether to consider the
additional evidence Martini provided at reconsideration. Chen, 86 Wn. App. at 192. But after
deciding to consider the additional evidence, the trial court should have construed all facts and all reasonable inferences from the facts in Martini' s favor in determining whether a genuine issue
of material fact existed. Considering all of the evidence presented to the trial court, it is
reasonable to infer that Abson would have tried to gain access to fresh air through the windows
once she was trapped. That she was conscious and able to try to save herself can be inferred from
her shouting directions to the others trapped by the fire. And the limited evidence that she did try the windows is not fatal since she likely knew this was fruitless because they had been painted
shut. When considering all the evidence, a reasonable person could conclude that Post' s failure to repair the windows more probably than not was the cause in fact of Abson' s death. See Little, 11 43484 -9 -II
132 Wn. App at 781. Because genuine issues of material fact regarding the cause in fact of
Abson' s death remain to be resolved by the trier of fact, it was manifestly unreasonable for the
trial court to deny Martini' s motion for reconsideration.
II. LANDLORD LIABILITY
Post argues, in the alternative, that he is not liable to Martini for damages under
Washington law because Martini and Abson were aware of the inoperable windows in the
northeast bedroom. Martini contends that Post is liable for Abson' s death because he breached
his duties under the RLTA and the implied warranty of habitability. In so arguing, Martini urges
us to adopt the RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF PROPERTY § 17. 6 ( 1977). We apply the rule and
reasoning from section 17. 6 under these facts because Martini notified Post of the defective windows and gave him permission to enter the home to make the needed repairs.
Whether the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff is a question of law. Hertog, 138
Wn.2d at 275. There are three .distinct theories on which a tenant may base a claim for personal 4( injuries: the landlord' s breach of a duty under ( 1) the rental agreement, 2) the common law, or
3) the RLTA. Dexheimer v. CDS, Inc., 104 Wn. App. 464; 470, 17 P. 3d 641 ( 2001).
A. Common Law: Latent Defect Theory.
Post argues that he cannot be liable under the common law latent defect theory. Martini
does not address this theory of liability in his brief. Generally, under common law a landlord has
no duty to repair non -common areas absent an express covenant to repair. Aspon v. Loomis, 62 Wn. App. 818, 826, 816 P. 2d 751 ( 1991). A landlord is subject to liability, however, for harm to
the tenant caused by ( 1) latent or hidden defects in the leasehold, ( 2) that existed at the
4 Neither Martini nor Post makes any argument about liability based on a rental agreement, and there is nothing in the record to support such an argument. 12 43484 -9 -II
commencement of the leasehold, ( 3) of which the landlord had actual knowledge, and ( 4) of
which the landlord failed to inform the tenant. Frobig v. Gordon, 124 Wn.2d 732, 735, 881 P. 2d
226 ( 1994).
Here, Martini fails under element four. Martini and Abson were aware of the hidden
defect: the windows in the northeast bedroom were inoperable. Thus, we find that Post cannot
be held liable under the latent defect theory.
B. RLTA and the Implied Warranty of Habitability
Martini urges us to adopt the RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF PROPERTY § 17. 6 as Division
Three of this court has done in Lian v. Stalick, 106 Wn. App. 811, 25 P. 3d 467 ( 2001) ( Lian 1),
which would allow him to assert a cause of action against Post for breaching the implied
warranty of habitability and various provisions of the RLTA .5 Under the RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF PROPERTY § 17. 6, a landlord is subject to liability
for physical harm to tenants and their guests caused by:
5 In relevant part, the RLTA provides in RCW 59. 18. 060:
The landlord will at all times during the tenancy keep the premises fit for human habitation, and shall in particular:
1) Maintain the premises to substantially comply with any applicable code, statute, ordinance, or regulation governing their maintenance or operation, which the legislative body enacting the applicable code, statute, ordinance or regulation could enforce as to the premises rented if such condition endangers or impairs the health or safety of the tenant;
5) Except where the condition is attributable to normal wear and tear, make repairs and arrangements necessary to put and keep the premises in as good condition as it by law or rental agreement should have been, at the
commencement of the tenancy.
13 43484 -9 -II
A] dangerous condition existing before or arising after the tenant has taken possession, if he has failed to exercise reasonable care to repair the condition and the existence of the condition is in violation of. ( 1) an implied warranty of habitability; or (2) a duty created by statute or administrative regulation.
Division Three adopted section 17. 6 in Lian L In Lian I, Susan White, formerly Susan Lian,
sued her landlord for injuries after she fell on the decrepit stairs leading to her apartment, a non -
common area of the apartment building. 106 Wn. App at 814. The court adopted section 17. 6,
which allows plaintiffs to recover for injuries caused by the landlord' s breach of the implied
his duties the RLTA. Lian I, 106 Wn. App. at 822. The court warranty of habitability or under
later held that:
T] o prevail on a section 17. 6 claim, the tenant must show: ( 1) that the condition was dangerous, ( 2) that the landlord was aware of the condition or had a reasonable opportunity to discover the condition and failed to exercise ordinary care to repair the condition, and ( 3) that the existence of the condition was a
violation of an implied warranty of habitability or a duty created by statute or regulation.
Lian v. Stalick, 115 Wn. App. 590, 595, 62 P. 3d 933 ( 2003) ( Lian II).
We once declined to address adopting section 17. 6 where the plaintiff ( a non - tenant)
alleged negligence against the landlord but failed to provide adequate support and policy
considerations for adopting section 17. 6 in the context of non -tenants. Pruitt v. Savage, 128 Wn.
App 327, 332, 115 P. 3d 1000 ( 2005). We also declined to adopt section 17. 6 when the
dangerous condition was located in a common area and the plaintiff (also a non - tenant) was able
to pursue a claim under a different theory of landlord liability. Sjogren v. Props. of the Pac. Nw.,
LLC, 118 Wn. App. 144, 151, 75 P. 3d 592 ( 2003).
In Pruitt, Michael Pruitt and his parents sued their neighbors Vincent and Denise
Jackson, the Jacksons' landlords, and the real estate management company for injuries Michael
tenant) suffered after a non - the garage door of the Jacksons' rental home fell on his head. 128
14 43484 -9 -II
Wn. App. at 328. The Pruitts argued they could recover under section 17. 6 for the landlords'
breach of an implied warranty of habitability, relying on Lian IT Pruitt, 128 Wn. App. at 331-
32. We declined to address the question of adopting section 17. 6 because the Pruitts offered no
precedent or policy discussion supporting extending section 17. 6 to non -tenants. Pruitt, 128 Wn.
App. at 332.
In Sjogren, Yvonne Sjogren ( a non - tenant) fell down a darkened stairway of an apartment
complex when visiting her daughter. Sjogren, 118 Wn. App. at 147. Sjogren brought a
negligence claim against the apartment owner and, on appeal, urged us to adopt section 17. 6,
relying on Lian L Sjogren, 118 Wn. App. at 147, 151. We declined to do so for several reasons.
Sjogren, 118. Wn. App. at 151. First, we noted that the dangerous condition in Lian I was not in
a common area, whereas, in Sjogren, the stairway was in a common area. Sjogren, 118 Wn.
App. at 151. Thus, in Lian I, the landlord' s common law duty to maintain common areas in a
reasonably safe condition did not apply, whereas it did in Sjogren. Sjogren, 118 Wn. App. at
151. Second, Sjogren fit within the limited circumstances of RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF TORTS
343A ( 1965), in which an obvious danger does not automatically bar recovery, and we found
that a question of fact remained regarding whether the stairs were an obvious dangerous
condition. Sjogren, 118 Wn. App. at 151. Thus, because Sjorgen had the opportunity to pursue
a claim under a different theory of landlord liability, we did not adopt section 17. 6. See Sjogren,
118 Wn. App. at 151.
The instant case is distinguishable from Pruitt and Sjogren. First, Martini has no other
theory of landlord liability under which to assert his negligence claim against Post as the plaintiff in Sjogren had with RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF TORTS § 343A. Second, Martini, Abson, and
Abson' s children were all tenants of the home, whereas the plaintiffs in both Pruitt and Sjogren 15 43484 -9 -II
were guests of the tenant. Thus the plaintiffs here, as tenants, have a direct legal relationship
6 with their landlord.
Here, like the plaintiff in Lion I who notified her landlord of the decrepit stairs, Martini
notified Post of the defective windows in the northeast bedroom on several occasions and gave
Post permission to enter the home to repair them. Yet, Post never made the requested repairs.
Additionally, and unlike the plaintiff in Pruitt who failed to cite Washington authority for
applying section 17. 6 to tenants, non - Martini offered persuasive Washington authority that
section 17. 6 should apply to injuries suffered by a tenant due to a landlord' s breach of the
implied warranty of habitability or a breach of a duty specified by statute or regulation. See Lion I, 106 Wn. App. 81 L. Martini also argued that Post breached his duties under RCW
59. 18. 060( 1), ( 5) and Tacoma Municipal Code section 2. 01. 070. He contended that when a
tenant alerts a landlord to a defective condition, the landlord has a duty to remedy the condition
as required by the implied warranty of habitability and by his statutory duties. Policy
6 While the language of section 17. 6 extends its coverage to guests, at this time we are applying the rule and reasoning from section 17. 6 only to tenants. 7 In relevant part, Tacoma Municipal Code § 2. 01. 070 provides:
No owner shall maintain, or permit to be maintained, any property which does not comply with the requirements of this chapter. All property shall be maintained to Alterations the Building Code requirements in effect at the time of construction. or repairs shall meet the minimum standards in this section.
Windows and glazing shall be in good condition and maintain a weather barrier against the elements. All glazing shall be untracked and unbroken. Operable
windows shall be able to operate in the manner in which they were designed, and shall not be painted closed or otherwise bind in a manner rendering them inoperable.
Emphasis added.). 16 I I& MV
considerations also support application of section 17. 6 to the landlord - tenant relationship. As
Martini argues, the rule in section 17. 6 is based on the assumption that a duty created by a statute
or regulation " represents a legislative determination of the standard of conduct required of the
landlord" and that tort liability of the landlord for breaching his duty " tends to increase the
likelihood that the will of the legislature as expressed in the statute or regulation will be
effectuated." RESTATEMENT ( SECOND) OF PROPERTY § 17. 6 cmt. a ( 1977).
Thus, as tenants who notified Post of the defective condition and gave him permission to
enter the home to make repairs, Martini, Abson, and Abson' s children are entitled to bring a
claim under the rule from section 17. 6 and the test articulated in Lion H. Accordingly, we
reverse the trial court' s summary judgment and remE
We concur: