Each year a “Back to School/Stuff the Bus” supply drive is held in Centralia to benefit students in need. Last year the supply drive collected over $3,000 worth of monetary donations, clothing, and school supplies for our Centralia School District students. Why is this so important?

Centralia School District is considered a high poverty district with over 80% of its students considered from low income households. These students, and many more, do not have the necessary items to be successful. The Stuff the Bus supply drive is the biggest contributor of school supplies to our district. The greatest thing about this drive is that the items collected are taken directly to the schools so that teachers and counselors can supply the students directly with their exact needs.

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The Washington State Court of Appeals, Division 3, recently denied a protesters claim that his trespass on a BNSF Railway Company mainline track was ‘necessary’ to end the transport of coal and end global warming. The decision, released on June 9, 2020, comes at a very relevant time as protesters occupy buildings, including Seattle City Hall.

“An act is justified if it by necessity is taken in a reasonable belief that the harm or evil to be prevented by the act is greater than the harm caused by violating the criminal statute.” State v. Aver, 109 Wn.2d 303 (1987).

What Does the Law Say?

To raise the defense of necessity, a defendant must show by a preponderance of the evidence the following:

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What are the Governor’s changes to the Residential Landlord-Tenant Law?

The government of the State of Washington and Governor Inslee have repeatedly taken unprecedented legal and economic action to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and those actions have specific impacts on landlords and tenants.

Initially, the Governor placed a temporary moratorium on evictions based on non-payment of rent.  On March 18, Governor Inslee ordered that “residential landlords are prohibited from serving a notice of unlawful detainer for default payment or rent,” and prohibited “issuing a 20-day notice . . . related to such property” as well. That initial order was scheduled to expire on April 17th.

However, on April 16, 2020, Governor Inslee renewed and expanded that moratorium, prohibiting a vast array of actions landlords ordinarily rely to enforce a tenant’s compliance with the terms of a their rental agreements.

Did the Governor re-write RCW 59.18?

Do the Governor’s Actions Violate Separation of Powers?

Continue reading Governor Inslee makes further unprecedented Landlord-Tenant Law orders and restrictions! →