"A local government entity is liable for damages arising from its tortious conduct to the same extent as if it were a private person or corporation."
How later courts described this case
- "A local government entity is liable for damages arising from its tortious conduct to the same extent as if it were a private person or corporation."
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
_ FILED
NUM* OF APPEALS DIV
- STATE OF WASHINGTON
20110CT -2 All 9:5J
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
CYRUS Y. KIM,
No. 75960-4-1
Appellant,
DIVISION ONE
V.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
BEST BUY COMPANY and CITY OF
FEDERAL WAY,
FILED: October 2, 2017
Respondents.
APPELWICK, J. — Kim filed a tort suit against Federal Way. The trial court
dismissed, because Kim failed to provide Federal Way with a notice of claim prior
to filing suit as required by RCW 4.96.010. On appeal, Kim argues that the trial
court misconstrued the statute, and erred in finding that Federal Way did not violate
his constitutional rights. We affirm.
FACTS
On March 24, 2015, Cyrus Kim entered a Best Buy Co. store to serve legal
papers. Best Buy employees forcefully expelled Kim from the store. Federal Way
police officers arrived. The officers provided Kim with a notice of trespass, which
informed Kim that he was not to enter the store for one year.
Kim filed suit for mental distress, seeking $2,000,000 in damages from the
city of Federal Way. Pursuant to CR 12(c), Federal Way moved for judgment on
No. 75960-4-1/2
the pleadings on all claims against it. The trial court granted Federal Way's
motion.' Kim appeals.
DISCUSSION
Kim makes two arguments. First, he argues that the trial court
misinterpreted RCW 4.96.010. Second, he argues that the trial court erred in
finding that Federal Way did not violate his constitutional rights.
We review de novo a trial court's dismissal of a claim pursuant to CR 12(C).
Pasado's Safe Haven v. State, 162 Wn. App. 746, 752, 259 P.3d 280 (2011). In
reviewing such an order, we examine the pleadings to determine whether the
claimant can prove any set of facts, consistent with the complaint, which would
entitle the claimant to relief. Id.
I. Notice of Claim
Kim first argues that the trial court erred in dismissing his case because he
failed to adhere to RCW 4.96.010. The Washington Constitution provides that
"[t]he legislature shall direct by law, in what manner, and in what courts, suits may
be brought against the state." WASH.CONST. art. II, § 26. RCW 4.96.010(1)states
1 Federal Way's motion and the trial court's order also used the term summary
judgment to describe Federal Way's motion. But, on appeal Federal Way refers
to its motion as a judgment on the pleadings under CR 12(c). In reviewing an order
granting judgment on the pleadings, we examine the pleadings, rather than facts
alleged in the motion, to determine whether the claimant can prove any set of facts,
consistent with the complaint, which would entitle the claimant to relief. Pasado's
Safe Haven v. State, 162 Wn. App. 746, 752, 259 P.3d 280 (2011). Yet, in its
statement of facts, Federal Way's motion cites to declarations of Federal Way
Police officers that do not appear in the record on appeal. And, nothing in the
record suggests that the trial court considered any evidence beyond the facts
alleged in Kim's complaint. We therefore disregard any evidence that was not
included in the pleadings. See Id.
2
No. 75960-4-1/3
that all local government entities shall be liable for damages arising from their
tortious conduct. But, it also states that a prospective plaintiff must file a claim of
damages as a condition precedent to commencement of any action claiming
damages. Id. The purpose of this claim is to allow government entities time to
investigate, evaluate, and settle claims before they are sued. Renner v. City of
Marysville, 168 Wn.2d 540, 545, 230 P.3d 569 (2010).
Kim does not argue that he complied with RCW 4.96.010. Rather, he
argues that the trial court erred in determining that RCW 4.96.010 applies.
Specifically, he argues that a United States Supreme Court case, Lake Country
Estates, Inc. v. Tahoe Reg'l Planning Agency, 440 U.S. 391, 99 S. Ct. 1171,59 L.
Ed. 2d 401 (1979), renders RCW 4.96.010 inapplicable. In that case, the court
held that an agency ,created by an interstate compact to manage an interstate
resource could not rely on sovereign immunity afforded to states themselves. Id.
at 394, 402. Kim claims that Federal Way can therefore not claim sovereign
immunity. But, Lake Country Estates does not stand for the proposition that cities
do not enjoy sovereign immunity. Our courts have clearly recognized that
sovereign immunity can apply to cities and other state subdivisions. See Renner,
168 Wn.2d at 545("A local government entity is liable for damages arising from its
tortious conduct to the same extent as if it were a private person or corporation.").
Similarly, our courts have approved of RCW 4.96.010's notice of claim requirement
as a valid prerequisite to bringing a tort suit against local government entities. See
.
3
No. 75960-4-1/4
Kim claims that RCW 4.96.010 is also inapplicable under Pirtle v. Spokane
Pub. Sch. Dist. No. 81, 83 Wn. App. 304, 921 P.2d 1084 (1996). But, in Pirtle the
court affirmed dismissal of a case against a school district for failure to adhere to
procedures for issuing a notice of claim. Id. at 305.
The notice of claim provision in RCW 4.96.010 applies to local government
entities such as Federal Way. Failure to comply with it is grounds for dismissal.
II. Constitutional Violation
However, Washington's notice of claim statutes do not apply to federal civil
rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Wright v. Terrell, 162 Wn.2d 192, 196, 170
P.3d 570(2007). Kim's complaint made a 42 U.S.C.§ 1983 claim on two grounds.
First, he argued that RCW 9A.52.090(4), which creates an affirmative defense to
trespassing for service of legal papers, also creates a positive right for Kim to enter
Best Buy's property, which the officers violated. Second, Kim claims that his
constitutional rights were violated when police provided him with the notice of
trespass informing him that he was not to enter Best Buy's property for one year.
As to his statutory claim, the complaint does not allege that the officers
actually interfered with service of process. The notice merely informed Kim that
he was forbidden to enter the property and that he may be subject to prosecution
for trespass if he did. It did not purport to supersede any statute. RCW 9A.52.090
creates affirmative defenses upon "any prosecution." If Kim entered the property
subsequent to receiving the notice, the notice would not have affected Kim's right
to assert an affirmative defense, such as entering property for the service of legal
process, should he be prosecuted. He was neither arrested nor prosecuted. The
4
No. 75960-4-1/5
complaint fails to allege facts that establish a present or prospective violation of
statutory rights grounded in RCW 9A.52.090.
As to Kim's constitutional claim, the complaint does not identify the source
of the claimed right to enter the property of another with impunity. The law clearly
recognizes that a property owner may exclude others. The notice of trespass is
not a restraining order. It merely advises the recipient that the owner of property
will consider his presence to be trespass in the future. It is calculated to allow him
to avoid citation for criminal trespass. No arrest or prosecution for criminal
trespass has been initiated. The officer's conduct did not violate any identified
constitutional right.
The trial court properly dismissed Kim's federal civil rights claims. The trial
court properly dismissed the remaining claims for failure to comply with RCW
4.96.010.
We affirm.
WE CONCUR:
'Eeckee
5