# Robert T. Ekelmann, V. City Of Poulsbo

> Court of Appeals of Washington · July 19, 2022

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11264841

## Case

- **Court:** Court of Appeals of Washington
- **Decided:** July 19, 2022
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion of the court
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

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Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two

July 19, 2022

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II
ROBERT T. EKELMANN AS PERSONAL No. 55767-3-II
REPESENTATIVE FOR THE ESTATE OF
VICKIE ARNESS,

Appellant,

v. PUBLISHED OPINION

CITY OF POULSBO, a Washington
municipal corporation,

Respondent.

MAXA, J. – Robert Ekelmann, as personal representative for the Estate of Vickie Arness,

appeals the trial court’s grant of partial summary judgment in favor of the City of Poulsbo and

denial of his summary judgment motion regarding a request for documents under the Public

Records Act (PRA), chapter 42.56 RCW. The trial court ruled that the City did not violate the

PRA in redacting some of the requested documents under the exemptions for certain real estate

transaction documents in RCW 42.56.260(1).

RCW 42.56.260(1) provides PRA exemptions for the following documents “relating to

an agency’s real estate transactions”:

(a) Except as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW, the contents of real estate appraisals,
made for or by any agency relative to the acquisition or sale of property;

(b) Documents prepared for the purpose of considering the selection of a site or the
acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase when public knowledge regarding
such consideration would cause a likelihood of increased price.
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No. 55767-3-II

Ekelmann’s attorney sent the City a PRA request asking for all settlement and/or

purchase and sale agreements and all purchase offers for properties the City needed to acquire

related to a public works road improvement project. The City produced documents in response

to the PRA request, but redacted all appraisal documents related to the properties pursuant to

RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) and redacted the sale prices and information indicating the sale prices of

the properties pursuant to RCW 42.56.260(1)(b).

We hold that (1) the RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) exemption applies despite the exception

relating to chapter 8.26 RCW because nothing in that chapter states that the general public is

entitled to appraisal documents for properties impacted by a public works project, and (2) the

RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) exemption applies because documents and information related to the sale

price of properties necessarily are documents prepared for the purpose of considering the

acquisition of property.

Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s order granting partial summary judgment in favor

of the City and denying Ekelmann’s summary judgment motion.

FACTS

Background

The public works road improvement project known as the Noll Road Project will connect

State Route (SR) 305 to Lincoln Road via Noll Road, Languanet Lane, and Maranatha Lane in

Poulsbo. The project will be constructed in three stages. Completing each stage will require the

City to acquire real property parcels and/or easements of private real property. The first stage

involved 16 parcels, including the Arness property.

The City received both state and federal transportation funding for the Noll Road Project.

Because the project uses federal funds, all right of way activities must be completed in

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No. 55767-3-II

accordance with the City’s right of way acquisition policies and procedures as approved by the

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), WSDOT’s local agency guidelines,

and the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of

1970, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4601-4655.1 In addition, the Relocation Assistance – Real Property

Acquisition Policy Act (Relocation Act), chapter 8.26 RCW, outlines the procedures that local

public agencies must follow regarding compensation for the acquisition of real property for a

public works program.

Under these statutes and regulations, the fair market value of the real property must be

assessed before a purchase offer is approved and made to any private property owner. The fair

market values of each parcel for the Noll Road Project were appraised through the use of pre-

approved certified real estate appraisers who prepare administrative offer summary (AOS)

worksheets, narrative appraisal reports, and/or appraisal review reports. These documents were

used as the basis of the purchase offers that were recommended to and ultimately approved by

the City before purchase offer packages are presented to private property owners.

In July 2015, the City contracted with Parametrix, Inc. as the design engineer consultant

to manage the Noll Road Project. Parametrix subcontracted with Universal Field Services, Inc.

(UFS). UFS hired the appraisers for the Noll Road Project, managed the appraisal process,

generated offers for the property owners, and engaged in negotiations for final acquisition of the

parcels. UFS was required to present the completed AOS worksheets, narrative appraisal

reports, and appraisal review reports to city council in executive session for review or rejection

of the proposed just compensation to be offered to the property owners. The City had final

1
Because the 2016 supplemental scope of work states that the Noll Road Project will not
displace any residential occupants, business occupants or personal property, the relocation
assistance services governed by WSDOT and federal guidelines are not required.

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No. 55767-3-II

approval for all offer letters, the amounts of just compensation for each parcel, and proposed

acquisition documents before any offers were extended.

After written approval from the City, UFS prepared an offer package to purchase all the

required real property interests and negotiated in good faith to reach a settlement with each

property owner. The purchase offers consisted of an offer letter that stated the price the City was

willing to pay to acquire the property, any counteroffers, real estate appraisal documents, other

property valuation reports, and other proposed acquisition documents necessary to finalize the

sale of real property.

The Arness Property and PRA request

In March 2018, UFS sent Ekelmann an offer package that included a copy of the

appraisal report to purchase a portion of the Arness property. The offer letter stated that the City

was willing to pay $0 based on the market value estimated for the Arness property. Shortly after

receiving the offer package, Ekelmann hired attorney Ron Templeton to represent him during

negotiations with UFS.

In April 2019, Templeton submitted a PRA request to the City asking for documents

related to:

[1]Any and all settlement and or purchase and sale agreements between the City
and owners of property arising from or related to the City’s proposed Noll Road
Improvement Project for the period November 2017 through April 2019 and [2] all
purchase offers made by the city before the City acquired such property or reached
an agreement for the purchase of any such property by the City. This request
includes property the City has or intends to acquire for proposed improvements to
SR305, Lincoln Road, Languanet Lane and Johnson Road. This request includes
both easements and fee title to any and all such property.

Clerk’s Papers at 557. Templeton did not state in his PRA request that he was seeking records

on behalf of Ekelmann or the Arness Estate, and he did not mention his connection to the Arness

property.

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No. 55767-3-II

As the City worked on responding to Templeton’s PRA request, the City sent Ekelmann a

new offer package for $165,000. Ekelmann did not respond to the City’s offer as he waited for

Templeton’s PRA request to be completed.

In July, the City produced 2,685 documents with significant redactions in response to

Templeton’s PRA request. The City provided a redaction log explaining the statutory

justification for the redacted records. Relevant here, the City redacted all documents related to

appraisals pursuant to RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) and the sale prices and information indicating the

sale prices of real estate pursuant to RCW 42.56.260(1)(b). At that time, the City was still in the

process of purchasing all necessary properties for the Noll Road Project.

After Templeton’s PRA request had been completed, Ekelmann accepted the City’s offer

to purchase a portion of the Arness Property for $165,000.

Procedural History

In June 2020, Ekelmann filed a lawsuit against the City, arguing in part that the City

improperly redacted and withheld public records that were not exempt from disclosure in

violation of the PRA.2

Ekelmann moved for partial summary judgment, stating that there were no disputed

material facts that the City had wrongfully redacted and withheld public documents under RCW

42.56.260(1)(a)-(b) as a matter of law. Specifically, Ekelmann argued that (1) the PRA

exemption under RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) was not applicable when the appraisal documents at

issue were prepared in accordance with chapter 8.26 RCW, and (2) the PRA exemption under

2
Ekelmann asserted other PRA-related claims, and he stated in his notice of appeal that he was
challenging the trial court’s order granting summary judgment on his remaining claims. But
Ekelmann acknowledges that he has abandoned the appeal of the dismissal of those claims.

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No. 55767-3-II

RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) was not applicable when the City already had identified which parcels

they needed to acquire to complete the Noll Road Project.

The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the City. The court ruled that the

City (1) had not improperly withheld any public records, (2) properly withheld the contents of

appraisals from public disclosure pursuant to the exemption in RCW 42.56.260(1)(a), and (3)

properly withheld or redacted documents made for the purposes of acquiring real estate from

public disclosure pursuant to the exemption in RCW 42.56.260(1)(b). The court also struck

several sentences in Templeton’s declaration as hearsay.

Ekelmann appeals the trial court’s order granting partial summary judgment in favor of

the City and the court’s denial of his summary judgment motion.

ANALYSIS

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review de novo an agency’s action in responding to a PRA request. RCW

42.56.550(3). Our de novo review includes summary judgment orders involving the PRA. West

v. City of Puyallup, 2 Wn. App. 2d 586, 591, 410 P.3d 1197 (2018). And we stand in the same

position as the trial court on PRA matters when the record consists of only documentary

evidence. Id. at 592.

When a summary judgment motion involves factual issues, we view the evidence and all

reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Id. Once a moving

defendant demonstrates that no evidence supports the plaintiff’s claim, the burden shifts to the

plaintiff to show a genuine issue of material fact. Id. But when summary judgment presents

only legal issues, we determine whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of

law. CR 56(c).

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B. PRA LEGAL PRINCIPLES

The PRA presents a mandate for the broad disclosure of public records. Green v. Pierce

County, 197 Wn.2d 841, 850, 487 P.3d 499 (2021), cert. denied, 142 S. Ct. 1399 (2022). RCW

42.56.030 expressly requires that the PRA be “liberally construed and its exemptions narrowly

construed . . . to assure that the public interest will be fully protected.” Accordingly, an agency

has an affirmative duty to disclose public records upon request unless disclosure is specifically

exempt. RCW 42.56.070(1); Green, 197 Wn.2d at 850. The burden of proof is on the agency to

prove that the law supports any refusal to produce requested records. RCW 42.56.550(1); Green,

197 Wn.2d at 851.

As noted above, under RCW 42.56.260(1) certain documents “relating to an agency’s

real estate transactions” are exempt from the PRA:

(a) Except as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW, the contents of real estate appraisals,
made for or by any agency relative to the acquisition or sale of property;

(b) Documents prepared for the purpose of considering the selection of a site or the
acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase when public knowledge regarding
such consideration would cause a likelihood of increased price, including records
prepared for executive session pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(b).

The PRA exemptions provided under RCW 42.56.260(1) do not apply “when disclosure is

mandated by another statute . . . or all properties that are part of the project have been purchased,

sold, or leased.” RCW 42.56.260(2). In addition, “[n]o appraisal may be withheld for more than

three years.” RCW 42.56.260(2).

C. REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION EXEMPTIONS

Ekelmann argues that the PRA exemptions provided in RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) and (b) do

not apply to appraisal documents generated in accordance with chapter 8.26 RCW and property

sale documents for properties that the City already had decided to acquire. We disagree.

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No. 55767-3-II

1. Statutory Interpretation

Statutory interpretation is a matter of law that we review de novo. Green, 197 Wn.2d at

849. The primary goal in interpreting a statute is to determine and give effect to the legislature’s

intent. Id at 849-50. We consider the language of the statute, the context of the statute, related

statutes, and the statutory scheme as a whole. Randy Reynolds & Assocs. v. Harmon, 193 Wn.2d

143, 155, 437 P.3d 677 (2019). “[A]n enacted statement of legislative purpose is included in a

plain reading of a statute.” G-P Gypsum Corp. v. Dep’t of Revenue, 169 Wn.2d 304, 310, 237

P.3d 256 (2010). The interpretation ends if the plain language is unambiguous. Jametsky v.

Olsen, 179 Wn.2d 756, 762, 317 P.3d 1003 (2014).

We do not “rewrite plain statutory language under the guise of construction.” McColl v.

Anderson, 6 Wn. App. 2d 88, 91, 429 P.3d 1113 (2018). “We give effect to all the language in

the statute and do not render any portion meaningless or superfluous.” TST, LLC v. Mfd. Hous.

Disp. Resol. Program of Off. of Att’y Gen., 17 Wn. App. 2d 662, 668, 485 P.3d 977 (2021). We

give undefined statutory language its usual and ordinary meaning and interpret words in the

context of the statute in which they appear. AllianceOne Receivables Mgmt., Inc. v. Lewis, 180

Wn.2d 389, 395-96, 325 P.3d 904 (2014).

2. Relocation Act

The Relocation Act, chapter 8.26 RCW, outlines the procedures that the state or local

public agencies must follow regarding compensation for the acquisition of real property for a

public works program. See B & W Constr., Inc. v. City of Lacey, 19 Wn. App. 220, 228-29, 577

P.2d 583 (1978). The legislature codified the several purposes of the Relocation Act, including:

(a) To establish a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons
displaced as a direct result of public works programs of the state and local
governments in order that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as

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No. 55767-3-II

a result of programs designed for the benefit of the public as a whole and to
minimize the hardship of displacement on such persons;

(b) To encourage and expedite the acquisition of real property for public works
programs by agreements with owners, to reduce litigation and relieve congestion in
the courts, to assure consistent treatment for owners affected by state and local
programs, and to promote public confidence in state and local land acquisition
practices.

RCW 8.26.010(1)(a), (b).

Under RCW 8.26.180(2), “[r]eal property shall be appraised before the initiation of

negotiations” between the acquiring agency and the real property owner. Before the start of

negotiations, “the acquiring agency shall establish an amount which it believes to be just

compensation . . . [and] provide the owner of real property to be acquired with a written

statement of, and summary of the basis for, the amount it established as just compensation.”

RCW 8.26.180(3). RCW 8.26.020(13) defines “appraisal” as “a written statement independently

and impartially prepared by a qualified appraiser setting forth an opinion of defined value of an

adequately described property as of a specific date, supported by the presentation and analysis of

relevant market information.”

3. RCW 42.56.260(1)(a)

RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) states that an agency may redact information related to real estate

appraisals for the acquisition or sale of property “[e]xcept as provided by chapter 8.26 RCW.”

(Emphasis added.) Therefore, we must decide what exception to the RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) PRA

exemption the Relocation Act “provides.” In other words, we must look at chapter 8.26 RCW to

determine under what circumstances a public agency must disclose real estate appraisal

information to the requesting party. RCW 42.56.260(2), which states that the PRA exemptions

under RCW 42.56.260(1) do not apply when another statute mandates disclosure, supports this

conclusion.

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The only provision in the Relocation Act that addresses providing information regarding

property acquisition is RCW 8.26.180(3). That subsection states that the owners of the real

property to be acquired will be given a written statement that provides an explanation for how

the acquiring agency reached the proposed monetary value of their real property. RCW

8.26.180(3) clearly indicates that only the owners of the real property to be acquired have the

right to obtain appraisal information, and only regarding their property.

RCW 8.26.180(3) provides an exception to the RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) PRA exemption for

owners of property being appraised. Except for the reference to chapter 8.26 RCW in RCW

42.56.260(1)(a), appraisal information could be withheld even from such owners.

However, no other section of the Relocation Act can be interpreted as providing an

exception to the RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) PRA exemption. Specifically, nothing in the Relocation

Act mandates disclosure to the general public of appraisal information for properties to be

acquired for a public works project. The plain language of RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) and the

Relocation Act compels the conclusion that appraisal information is exempt from disclosure

under the PRA except for a request from the owner of the property being appraised.

Limiting disclosure of appraisal information to the owner of the real property to be

acquired supports the Relocation Act’s primary purpose to provide just compensation in a

uniform manner to property owners who face displacement as a result of a public works project.

See RCW 8.26.010(1)(a)-(b); Union Elevator & Warehouse Co. v. Dep’t of Transp., 171 Wn.2d

54, 67, 248 P.3d 83 (2011) (“[T]he language of RCW 8.26.010(1)(a) contemplates that relocation

assistance awards will be uniformly applied.”). If the property owner has access to appraisal

information about his or her own property only, then all property owners in the same multi-phase

public works project will have equal footing during their respective negotiation process.

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Ekelmann makes three primary arguments to support his position. First, he argues that

RCW 42.56.210(1)(a) does not apply to any real estate appraisals generated for the acquisition of

property under the Relocation Act. However, this argument is inconsistent with the plain

language of RCW 42.56.260(1)(a). The phrase used in the statute is “[e]xcept as provided by

chapter 8.26 RCW,” not “except for property acquired under chapter 8.26 RCW.” We cannot

rewrite the plain language of RCW 42.56.260(1)(a). See McColl, 6 Wn. App. 2d at 91.

Second, Ekelmann argues that exempting all appraisal records generated under the

Relocation Act from RCW 42.56.260(1)(a)’s application is inconsistent with the purpose of the

Relocation Act to promote public confidence in the property acquisition process as provided in

RCW 8.26.010(1)(b). However, Ekelmann focuses on only one of the multiple purposes of the

Relocation Act as provided in RCW 8.26.010(1). He ignores the references to ensuring that the

owners of real property to be acquired are receiving fair and equitable treatment or that the

acquisition procedure should be completed in an expeditious manner. Further, allowing anyone

besides the owner to have access to a property’s appraisal information could undermine the

Relocation Act’s goal to complete the acquisition process in a uniform and expeditious manner

when a public works projects has multiple phases that require acquiring different property at

different times. See RCW 8.26.010(1)(a)-(b).

Third, Ekelmann relies on RCW 8.26.180(3) to argue that the Relocation Act prohibits

redacting appraisal information that supports the basis of an offer for the purchase of a property

from all requesting parties. He also argues that nothing in RCW 8.26.180(3) prohibits disclosing

appraisal information to the general public. However, as discussed above, the plain language of

RCW 8.26.180(3) states that the “acquiring agency shall provide the owner of real property to be

acquired” with an explanation of how it reached the purchase offer and why it considers it to be

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just compensation. RCW 8.26.180(3) does not state or even suggest that members of the general

public are entitled to receive appraisal information.

Under the plain language of RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) and RCW 8.26.180(3), only the owner

of the property being appraised is entitled to obtain the appraisal for that property until all

relevant properties are purchased or a maximum of three years has passed. Here, there is no

dispute that the PRA requestor, Templeton, was not the owner of any property involved in the

Noll Road Project. Therefore, the City lawfully redacted the appraisal documents under RCW

42.56.260(1)(a). And even if it was clear that Templeton had explained that he was representing

Ekelmann or the Arness property, he still would have been entitled to appraisal information for

the Arness property only.

We hold that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of the City

regarding the documents redacted under RCW 42.56.260(1)(a).

4. RCW 42.56.260(1)(b)

RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) exempts from the PRA “[d]ocuments prepared for the purpose of

considering the selection of a site or the acquisition of real estate by lease or purchase when

public knowledge regarding such consideration would cause a likelihood of increased price.”

(Emphasis added.) Based on the terms “considering” and “consideration,” Ekelmann argues that

RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) is inapplicable to the redacted sale price information because the City

already had identified which properties it needed to acquire for the Noll Road Project before the

real estate acquisition documents were prepared. As a result, the City was no longer considering

what sites it would acquire when purchase offers were made and when properties were sold.3

3
Ekelmann does not address the requirement that public knowledge of such documents must
lead to a likelihood of increased lease or purchase price.

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Ekelmann’s argument may be correct with regard to documents relating to the City’s

determination of what properties it needed to acquire for the Noll Road Project. Years earlier the

City had completed its consideration of the “selection of a site.” RCW 42.56.260(1)(b). But the

City did not redact those documents. It redacted documents that indicated the sale price of

properties within the selected site. Therefore, this court must decide whether sale price

information involves “[d]ocuments prepared for the purpose of considering . . . the acquisition of

real estate by . . . purchase.” RCW 42.56.260(1)(b).4

Ekelmann suggests that RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) applies only to documents relating to an

agency’s decision whether to acquire a property, not to documents relating to the actual

acquisition of that property. But this interpretation reads the term “considering” too narrowly.

When an agency makes a purchase offer for property, it is still “considering” the acquisition

because the parties have not yet agreed on a purchase price. And even after a purchase price has

been determined, an agency still is “considering” the acquisition because the final real estate

documents have not yet been executed. Therefore, RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) necessarily

encompasses the entire acquisition process that culminates in the final purchase of the property.

In addition, Ekelmann’s interpretation essentially would render the phrase “acquisition of

real estate by lease or purchase” in RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) superfluous. RCW 42.56.260(1)(b)

expressly distinguishes between the selection of the site and the acquisition of real estate. But

under Ekelmann’s interpretation, the “acquisition of real estate” clause would protect only the

4
It could be argued that the word “considering” in RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) only applies to the
“selection of a site” and not to the “acquisition of real estate.” The statute actually makes more
sense when interpreted this way. But the later reference to “such consideration” seems
inconsistent with this interpretation. And the City does not make this argument.

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same documents protected under the “selection of the site” clause because selecting a site

necessarily includes the decision to acquire the property at issue.

Applying RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) to documents indicating the sale price of properties

within a larger project is also consistent with the clear purpose of that exemption. The second

portion of RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) states that the exemption applies “when public knowledge

regarding such consideration would cause a likelihood of increased price.” It is easy to

understand how the sales prices of properties within the project could be used by other property

owners in their negotiations with an agency to increase the sale price of their properties.

Ekelmann disputes that RCW 42.56.260(1)(b) stands for the proposition that the

redaction of documents prepared for the acquisition of a property was necessary to protect the

City’s ability to negotiate the lowest possible purchase price. But he does not explain why the

production of those documents would not affect the purchase price.

We hold that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of the City

regarding the documents redacted under RCW 42.56.260(1)(b).

5. Application of RCW 42.56.260(1) to Eminent Domain Acquisitions

Ekelmann argues that both of the RCW 42.56.260(1)(a) and (b) PRA exemptions apply

only when an agency is purchasing property on the open market for a public facility, not when an

agency is acquiring property through eminent domain and under the Relocation Act. However,

Ekelmann provides no legal authority or any legislative history to support his argument. And

nothing in the language of RCW 42.56.260(1) suggests that the exemptions apply only to certain

types of property acquisitions and not to others. Instead, RCW 42.56.260(1) states that the

exemptions apply broadly to “an agency’s real estate transactions.” Therefore, we reject this

argument.

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D. ATTORNEY FEES

Ekelmann argues that he should be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs under

RAP 18.1 and RCW 42.56.550(4). But attorney fees can be awarded under RCW 42.56.550(4)

only to the prevailing party, and Ekelmann is not the prevailing party on appeal. Therefore, we

decline Ekelmann’s request for attorney fees on appeal.

CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s order granting partial summary judgment in favor of the City

and the trial court’s denial of Ekelmann’s summary judgment motion.

MAXA, J.

We concur:

GLASGOW, C.J.

CRUSER, J.

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/11264841. Public record. Not legal advice.
