IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

KEVIN DOLAN and a class of similarly 

situated individuals,

No. 49876-6-II

Respondents,

v.

UNPUBLISHED OPINION

KING COUNTY, a political subdivision of the 

State of Washington,

Respondent,

DEPARTMENT OF RETIREMENT 

SYSTEMS,

Appellant.

MAXA, C.J. – This appeal involves the remedies phase of a class action lawsuit in which a 

class of public defenders employed by organizations with which King County contracted alleged 

that the County had been obligated to enroll them in Washington’s Public Employees’

Retirement System (PERS). The Supreme Court held that the County had such an obligation, 

and remanded for the trial court to address remedies. The Department of Retirement Systems 

(DRS) later intervened to address various remedy issues.

After more litigation and a second appeal, the class members and the County reached a 

settlement in which the County agreed that the class members would be retroactively eligible for 

PERS service credit dating back to 1978. The County also agreed to pay the full amount of 

Filed

Washington State

Court of Appeals

Division Two

May 1, 2018
No. 49876-6-II

2

retroactive contributions into PERS relating to the class members. Left unresolved was whether 

the County also would be required to pay approximately $64 million in interest on the retroactive 

contributions to replace lost investment returns or whether that amount would be “socialized” –

spread out among existing PERS participants – through an increase of contributions from 

existing PERS participants.

While litigation regarding the interest issue was pending, DRS issued a letter informing 

the County that DRS had decided under authority granted in RCW 41.50.125 to charge the 

County the full amount of the interest on the retroactive contributions. DRS subsequently argued 

that because the County did not seek review of this decision under the Administrative Procedure 

Act (APA), chapter 34.05 RCW, the trial court did not have jurisdiction to address the interest 

issue. The trial court ruled that it had jurisdiction. After an evidentiary hearing, the court ruled 

based on equitable principles that the County would be required to pay only a portion of the 

interest, $10.5 million, on the retroactive contributions.

DRS appeals the trial court’s order, arguing that (1) the trial court erred in ruling on the 

County’s interest obligation because the County did not seek review of DRS’s interest decision 

under the APA; (2) the trial court erred in applying equitable principles to determine the 

County’s interest obligation when RCW 41.50.125 authorized DRS to make interest decisions; 

and (3) even if the trial court properly addressed the interest issue, the court erred because equity 

does not support imposing only a portion of the interest obligation on the County.

We hold that (1) because the trial court obtained original subject matter jurisdiction 

regarding the interest matter before DRS’s interest decision, under the “priority of action” rule 

the trial court had exclusive authority to decide the County’s interest obligation; (2) the trial 

court did not err in exercising its equitable authority despite DRS’s interest decision because
No. 49876-6-II

3

RCW 41.50.125’s authorization to DRS to charge interest on late PERS payments was not 

mandatory or exclusive; and (3) the trial court did not err in ruling based on equitable principles 

that the County was required to pay only a portion of the interest on the retroactive PERS 

contributions.

Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s interest order and judgment.

FACTS

County’s Liability

In 2006, Kevin Dolan filed a class action lawsuit against the County on behalf of all 

employees of public defender agencies with which the County had contracted to provide legal 

defense services. The complaint alleged that the class members were entitled to membership and 

benefits in PERS, but that the County had improperly failed to report their services to DRS or 

made retirement contributions on their behalf. The class members requested declaratory and 

injunctive relief concerning the County’s obligation to provide PERS benefits and an order 

requiring the County to make all contributions needed to fund those benefits.

The parties agreed to divide the trial into separate phases to determine liability and, if 

necessary, remedies. In the liability phase, the trial court ruled after a bench trial that the class 

members should be considered public employees for purposes of coverage under PERS. Based 

on its decision, in April 2009 the court issued a permanent injunction requiring the County to 

enroll class members in PERS. The court reserved decision on all other issues.

The County appealed to the Supreme Court. Dolan v. King County, 172 Wn.2d 299, 310, 

258 P.3d 20 (2011) (Dolan I). In its opinion, the court recounted events between the mid-1980s 

through 2005 in which the County exercised increasing control over the defender organizations. 

Id. at 303-08. The court concluded that the County had “gradually extended its right of control 
No. 49876-6-II

4

over the defender organizations until they indeed have become vassal agencies of the county.” 

Id. at 318-19. As a result, the court affirmed the trial court, held that the plaintiffs were County 

employees for purposes of PERS and were entitled to be enrolled in PERS, and remanded for 

further proceedings regarding remedies. Id. at 301, 322.

On remand, the trial court entered an order modifying its permanent injunction and 

ordering that the County enroll all currently employed class members in PERS. The County 

complied in April 2012. The trial court’s order did not address the extent to which class 

members were entitled to retroactive service credit and how retroactive benefits would be 

funded.

Initial Settlement Agreement and Trial Court Approval

In December 2012, the County and the class entered into a tentative settlement agreement 

that was contingent on court approval. The County agreed to pay PERS contributions for 

retroactive PERS-eligible service back to 1978. The agreement stated that the County’s PERS 

contributions would total approximately $30 million, which accounted for both employer and 

employee contributions. The settlement agreement was expressly conditioned on the County not 

having to pay interest on the retroactive contributions.

As part of the settlement agreement, the class released a variety of potential claims, 

including for other non-PERS benefits and denial of wages. The County agreed not to pursue a 

statute of limitations defense that, if successful, would have limited service credit for any time 

period more than three years before the lawsuit was filed. The County also agreed not to seek 

reimbursement from class members for the employee shares of the retroactive contributions.
No. 49876-6-II

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The County and the class filed a joint motion for preliminary approval of the settlement 

agreement. The trial court preliminarily approved the settlement agreement in an order in March 

2013. The preliminary approval order allowed DRS to submit objections to the settlement.

Shortly after the court’s preliminary approval, DRS moved to intervene. The trial court 

issued a ruling denying DRS full intervention. But the court allowed DRS limited intervention to 

object to the settlement agreement and to have the right to appeal. In addition, the court stated 

that DRS would be subject to the court’s orders, if any, requiring implementation of the 

settlement agreement.

In June 2013, the trial court entered an order granting final approval of the settlement 

agreement. The court ruled that DRS had no legal authority to charge the County interest and 

added that, even if DRS had such authority, charging interest would be unfair, inequitable, and 

arbitrary and capricious. The court retained jurisdiction over the matter and stated that the 

parties, as well as DRS, were subject to and were required to comply with the order.

Settlement Agreement Appeal

DRS appealed the trial court’s approval order to this court. Dolan v. King County, No. 

44982-0-II (Wash. Ct. App. Nov. 18, 2014) (unpublished), http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/

(Dolan II). DRS argued that the APA removed the trial court’s original subject matter 

jurisdiction for matters affecting PERS, that the court erred in ruling that its final approval bound 

DRS, and that the court erred in denying DRS’s motion to intervene as a full party. Id. at 1.

On jurisdiction, this court noted that the superior court had original jurisdiction except 

where exclusive jurisdiction was vested in another court. Id. at 10. The court stated that where 

the APA applies, it divests superior courts of original jurisdiction. Id. But under RCW 

34.05.510, the limit on a superior court’s original jurisdiction applies only where there has been 
No. 49876-6-II

6

an “agency action.” Dolan II, slip op. at 10. The court determined that DRS had taken no 

specific agency action and as a result, the APA had not removed the trial court’s original subject 

matter jurisdiction. Id. at 10-11.

On the other two issues, the court agreed with DRS. First, the court held that DRS could 

not be bound by the trial court’s final approval order because it was not a party to the settlement

agreement. Id. at 11-12. Second, the court held that the trial court had erred in granting DRS 

only partial intervention. Id. at 14. The court reversed the trial court’s final approval order, 

reversed the trial court’s partial intervention order, and remanded for further proceedings. Id. at 

14-15.

Modification of Settlement Agreement

On remand, DRS was allowed to intervene as a full party. The class subsequently moved 

to modify the trial court’s April 2009 permanent injunction to clarify issues of service credit for 

class members. The class and the County also submitted a stipulation reaffirming the prior 

settlement agreement and clarifying certain issues. The stipulation stated that the County would 

pay any interest required by agreement between the County and DRS or by court order. DRS 

filed an opposition to the motion to modify.

On June 5, 2015, the trial court entered an Order Modifying Permanent Injunction. The 

order stated, “DRS initially opposed the motion [to modify], but now has agreed to the entry of 

this Order in the interests of partially settling this long dispute and obtaining a workable structure 

for the complexities of establishing the extensive retroactive service credit involved in this 

litigation.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 425. DRS signed the order as approved for entry.

The modification order stated that the class was entitled to receive retroactive PERS 

service credit for work as county employees between January 1, 1978 and March 31, 2012. The 
No. 49876-6-II

7

County would be required to pay DRS retroactive employer and employee contributions of 

approximately $32 million. The order stated that the County and DRS did not agree on whether 

DRS could assess interest on retroactive service credit contributions, and that the order did not

resolve that issue. Finally, the order stated that the statute of limitations defense would not be 

asserted as a defense.

The trial court scheduled a hearing to address payment of interest for October 2015.

DRS Decision on Interest

On September 17, 2015, DRS Director Marcie Frost sent a letter to the County stating 

that she had decided that it was appropriate to charge the County full interest on the retroactive 

PERS contributions for class members. Frost stated that she had discretionary authority under 

RCW 41.50.125 to charge interest to compensate for lost investment returns caused by late 

contribution payments. The letter stated that DRS had calculated the amount owed for employer 

and employee pension contributions to be $29,260,592.29 and had calculated the amount of 

interest owed to be $65,704,577.60. Frost later corrected the interest calculation to 

$64,422,596.55.

Frost stated that she had decided to charge interest after considering a report from the 

Office of the State Actuary (OSA). The OSA report concluded that the total liability as a result 

of the County’s settlement was $96.1 million as of May 2015. If the County paid only the 

retroactive contributions and no interest, future PERS employer and employee contribution rates 

would need to increase by four or five basis points. A basis point equals one one-hundredth of a 

percent. 

Frost also stated that she had consulted with interested groups and individuals about the 

proper action for DRS to take. The comments she received primarily were that pension costs 
No. 49876-6-II

8

should be paid by the employers and employees that generate those costs, not by other PERS 

members.

The letter stated that if the County disagreed with DRS’s calculation of contributions or 

assessment of interest, the County could file a petition for review under chapter 415-04 WAC 

within 120 days of the decision.

The County did not seek administrative review of the DRS decision stated in Frost’s 

letter. Instead, the County took the position that the letter had no legal effect. The County stated 

that the amount the County was required to pay had to be resolved by agreement between the 

parties or by court order and that DRS lacked the authority to make unilateral decisions 

concerning PERS contributions and interest or other charges.

Trial Court Hearing

The trial court continued the hearing to determine the County’s interest obligation from 

October 2015 to May 2016.

In a prehearing brief, DRS argued that it had made an administrative decision regarding 

assessment of interest, and that the exclusive means of obtaining appellate review of that 

decision was under the APA. Further, DRS argued that a person aggrieved by an administrative 

decision must exhaust all administrative remedies before obtaining judicial review. DRS 

emphasized that the County had not followed the proper administrative process for challenging 

the interest decision.

At the outset of the interest hearing, DRS argued that the trial court did not have 

jurisdiction over the interest issue because the County had not exhausted its administrative 

remedies. The court ruled that it had jurisdiction because the case arose from a lawsuit, not an 

administrative action. The court stated that the Supreme Court had recognized the trial court’s 
No. 49876-6-II

9

jurisdiction by affirming the trial court’s original decision. In addition, the court declined to 

adopt the APA standard of proof and stated that it would decide the case based on equity 

jurisdiction.

Each party then called two witnesses to testify. The County called Dwight Dively, 

director of the County’s office responsible for budgeting and financial management. Dively 

testified that in his experience, changes in the costs of a pension system should be socialized 

through an increase or decrease in the contribution rates for employers and employees 

throughout the system. He stated that having a separate payment stream from King County alone 

would be inconsistent with his understanding of how retirement system costs are socialized. 

Further, Dively testified that in prior communications, DRS had conveyed that it did not plan to 

charge interest, consistent with the County’s prior experience.1

Dively also testified that the County did not have the money in its general fund to pay the 

entire interest payment. To cover its liability for the retroactive payment, the County had 

planned ahead after the trial court’s initial ruling by cutting other budgets. But to fund the larger 

interest payment the County would probably have to issue bonds. Dively estimated that the 

County would service the bonds for 10 years, paying at least $7.5 million each year. He added 

that the County already faced a $50 million deficit for the next biennium, to which interest 

payments on the debt service would add $15 million. To cover this amount, the County would 

be required to reduce employees and services.

The County also called an expert actuarial witness, Ethan Kra, who reviewed the state 

actuary’s impact analysis on enrolling the plaintiff class in PERS. Kra testified that pension 

 

1

In two prior class actions in the 1990s, with a combined total of approximately $5.2 million in 

retroactive contributions, DRS had not charged the County interest for retroactive PERS 

contributions.
No. 49876-6-II

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plans typically socialize costs across the system. Impacts such as changes in the covered group, 

changes in the definition of compensation or service, or recognition of additional past service 

could affect contribution rates in a manner that is typically uniform across all employers in the 

plan.

For DRS, Frost testified that DRS could pay for retroactive liabilities either by socializing 

the cost or by having the responsible party pay. She agreed that DRS had not previously charged 

interest to an employer or conducted a liability analysis, but she stated that earlier cases were 

significantly smaller than this one and would not have triggered a general rate increase. Frost 

testified that because of how unique the County’s situation was, DRS did not have guidelines or 

published regulations giving PERS employers notice of when they might be charged interest. 

And she denied that DRS had promised not to charge interest.

DRS also called deputy state actuary Lisa Won. Won testified about the OSA report and 

the impact of enrolling the class in PERS on system-wide contribution rates. She stated that for 

every $7 million increase in liabilities, there is a single basis point increase for employees and 

employers. Regarding how PERS is funded, Won stated that demographic changes do not get 

charged to a specific employer, but rather are socialized among all contributors for future 

service. Single PERS employers are never required to pay a specialized or segregated 

contribution rate. Won also testified about the practical impact of an increase in contribution 

rates, stating that for an employer with a $500,000 payroll, a five basis point increase would 

amount to $250 per year.

Trial Court Ruling

After the hearing, the trial court entered a written decision on both jurisdiction and the 

interest payment owed by the County.
No. 49876-6-II

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Regarding jurisdiction, the trial court stated that this court in Dolan II had affirmed the 

trial court’s subject matter jurisdiction and at no point indicated that the trial court lacked 

jurisdiction to decide DRS’s objections to the settlement. In addition, the court rejected DRS’s 

argument that the APA applied.

Regarding interest, the trial court concluded that it could exercise its equitable authority 

and that no statutory authority or case law limited the court in ordering a fair and equitable 

remedy. The court determined that some of the interest payments should be socialized, with the 

County assuming a somewhat greater burden than other PERS participants:

This Court holds that socializing the cost of the lost interest income among the 

PERS participants is not unreasonable. No one government entity should bear the 

full burden of this cost when it was imposed as a judicial remedy that was opposed 

by that same government entity. What makes this unique is not requiring King 

County to bear some part of the cost, but the sheer magnitude of the amount DRS 

is requesting . . . .

 However, to offset the costs to PERS members, King County should assume 

some greater burden for the total amount requested by DRS. This decision 

acknowledges many of the arguments made by DRS in representing PERS 

members state wide. This balancing process is an attempt to recognize the equities 

presented by both parties in a difficult case.

CP at 2160-61.

The trial court concluded that it was equitable to assess the County interest in the amount 

of $10.5 million or a 1.5 basis point decrease in the total interest balance to all PERS employers 

and employees, whichever was less. The remaining interest would be socialized among PERS 

employers and employees. The parties subsequently agreed that King County would pay the 

$10.5 million amount.

Consistent with this decision, the trial court entered an order on jurisdiction and 

assessment of interest and entered a final judgment. The order outlined the equitable 
No. 49876-6-II

12

considerations favoring each party. After balancing those equities, the court determined that it 

was equitable for the County to pay $10.5 million in interest into PERS.

DRS appeals the trial court’s order and judgment.2

ANALYSIS

A. SUPERIOR COURT JURISDICTION

DRS argues that the trial court erred in addressing the interest issue. DRS asserts that 

once it issued an administrative decision charging the County interest on the retroactive PERS 

contributions, the trial court could exercise only appellate jurisdiction over the interest issue and 

only if the County complied with the APA’s procedural requirements. DRS claims that because 

the County did not follow the procedures under the APA for obtaining judicial review of DRS’s 

interest decision, the County could not invoke the trial court’s jurisdiction.

We apply the priority of action rule and hold that because the trial court obtained 

jurisdiction over injunction remedies long before DRS issued its interest decision, the trial court 

had exclusive authority to resolve the interest issue. As a result, we hold that the APA did not 

limit the trial court’s ability to determine the amount of interest the County should pay into 

PERS.

1. Legal Background

Article IV, section 6 of the Washington Constitution states that superior courts shall have 

original jurisdiction “in all cases and of all proceedings in which jurisdiction shall not have been 

by law vested exclusively in some other court.” See also RCW 2.08.010 (stating that the 

superior court has original jurisdiction in all cases in equity and all cases at law where the 

 

2 Dolan is a party to this appeal, but our decision does not affect the benefits payable to the class 

members. 
No. 49876-6-II

13

amount in controversy amounts to $300). Article IV, section 6 applies to both original trial 

jurisdiction and original appellate jurisdiction. James v. Kitsap County, 154 Wn.2d 574, 588, 

115 P.3d 286 (2005). Whether a court has subject matter jurisdiction is a question of law that we 

review de novo. Pruczinski v. Ashby, 185 Wn.2d 492, 499, 374 P.3d 102 (2016).

“[A] judicial power vested in courts by the constitution may not be abrogated by statute.” 

James, 154 Wn.2d at 588. However, the constitution does not prevent the legislature from 

establishing procedural requirements for the resolution of particular types of disputes. Id. 

“[W]here statutes prescribe procedures for the resolution of a particular type of dispute, state 

courts have required substantial compliance or satisfaction of the spirit of the procedural 

requirements before they will exercise jurisdiction over the matter.” Id.

James involved the Land Use Petition Act (LUPA), chapter 36.70C RCW. Id. at 587-89. 

The legislature established that LUPA is the “exclusive means of judicial review of land use 

decisions.” RCW 36.70C.030(1). The court in James stated, 

[A] LUPA action may invoke the original appellate jurisdiction of the superior 

court, but congruent with the explicit objectives of the legislature in enacting 

LUPA, parties must substantially comply with procedural requirements before a 

superior court will exercise its original jurisdiction.

154 Wn.2d at 588-89.

Like LUPA, the APA provides procedural requirements for the invocation of a superior 

court’s original appellate jurisdiction regarding administrative decisions. Wells Fargo Bank, NA 

v. Dep’t of Revenue, 166 Wn. App. 342, 360, 271 P.3d 268 (2012). RCW 34.05.510 states that 

the APA “establishes the exclusive means of judicial review of agency action.” Therefore, 

“before a challenge to agency action may invoke the superior court’s original appellate 

jurisdiction, parties must substantially comply with the APA’s procedural requirements.” Wells 

Fargo, 166 Wn. App. at 360. And RCW 34.05.534 provides that “[a] person may file a petition 
No. 49876-6-II

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for judicial review under [the APA] only after exhausting all administrative remedies available 

within the agency.”

2. Agency Action

Under RCW 34.05.510, the APA applies only to an “agency action.” RCW 34.05.010(3) 

defines agency action to include “the implementation or enforcement of a statute.”

DRS made its September 2015 decision assessing interest against the County pursuant to 

RCW 41.50.125, which states that DRS may charge interest on “member or employer 

contributions owing” to PERS. See also WAC 415-114-100 (stating that RCW 41.50.125 

provides DRS with “the authority to assess interest on the overdue unpaid balance of a 

receivable”). As a result, that decision involved the implementation of a statute and constituted 

agency action under RCW 34.05.010(3).3

Therefore, the APA established the exclusive means of judicial review of DRS’s interest 

decision under RCW 34.05.510 unless some other principle supersedes application of the APA.

3. Application of Priority of Action Rule

The County argues that because the trial court obtained jurisdiction over the County’s 

interest obligation before DRS issued its interest decision, the court retained exclusive authority 

to resolve the matter.4 We agree.

 

3 This court in Dolan II stated that the APA’s limits on the trial court’s jurisdiction did not apply 

because at that point there had been no agency action as defined in RCW 34.05.010(3). Slip op. 

at 10-11. But that holding is inapplicable here because DRS did subsequently issue a decision 

that qualified as an agency action.

4 DRS argues that the County cannot argue that the priority of action rule applies because the 

County did not raise that argument below. However, “we may affirm the trial court on any basis 

supported by the briefing and record below.” Huff v. Wyman, 184 Wn.2d 643, 648, 361 P.3d 727 

(2015). In addition, although the trial court’s decision did not specifically reference the priority 

of action rule, it was based in part on the principle underlying the rule: that the interest issue 

derived from a preexisting lawsuit over which the trial court had assumed jurisdiction.
No. 49876-6-II

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 a. Legal Principles

Under the priority of action rule, the forum that first gains jurisdiction of a matter retains 

exclusive authority until the controversy is resolved. City of Yakima v. Int’l Ass’n of Fire 

Fighters, 117 Wn.2d 655, 675, 818 P.2d 1076 (1991); Bunch v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 180 

Wn. App. 37, 41, 321 P.3d 266 (2014). The rule generally applies when the two actions are 

identical as to three elements: subject matter, parties, and relief. Bunch, 180 Wn. App. at 41. 

The identity must be sufficient to make a decision in one forum binding under res judicata or 

collateral estoppel as to proceedings in the other forum. Id. at 42-43. We do not apply the rule 

inflexibly, but rather attempt to carry out its underlying purpose. Id. at 41. 

The priority of action rule applies to determine authority between the superior court and 

an administrative agency. Int’l Ass’n of Fire Fighters, 117 Wn.2d at 675. Whether the priority 

of action rule applies is a legal question that we review de novo. Bunch, 180 Wn. App. at 41.

 b. Analysis

Here, each of the three identity elements is present. First, the subject matter of the trial 

court action and DRS’s decision was the same. The Supreme Court expressly remanded the case 

to the trial court for further proceedings regarding remedies. Dolan I, 172 Wn.2d at 301, 322. 

One of the issues the trial court expressly addressed in the original settlement approval was 

whether DRS could assess interest against the County on its retroactive PERS contributions. 

DRS’s decision also involved the County’s obligation to pay interest on its retroactive PERS 

contributions.

Second, the trial court action and the DRS interest decision involved the same parties. 

The County was a party in the trial court action and DRS intervened as a full party in that action. 
No. 49876-6-II

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They were the only two parties with a direct stake in the interest issue. DRS’s interest decision 

was directed to the County.

Third, the relief at issue was the same. In both forums, the issue was the amount of 

interest the County owed on its retroactive PERS contributions.

Further, the identity of subject matter, parties, and relief means that any trial court ruling 

on the interest issue would have collateral estoppel effect on both the County and DRS. 

Collateral estoppel applies when (1) the issue decided in the prior action is identical with the one 

presented in the current action, (2) the prior action ended in a final judgment on the merits, (3) 

the party against whom the doctrine is asserted was a party or in privity with a party in the earlier 

proceeding,5and (4) application of collateral estoppel will not cause an injustice against the 

estopped party. Dot Foods, Inc. v. Dep’t of Revenue, 185 Wn.2d 239, 254, 372 P.3d 747 (2016), 

cert. denied 137 S. Ct. 2156 (2017). All these elements would apply to a trial court ruling on the 

County’s interest obligation.

Because the priority of action elements are present regarding the trial court action and the 

DRS decision, the forum that first obtained jurisdiction retained exclusive authority until the 

dispute is resolved. Bunch, 180 Wn. App. at 41. There is no question here that the trial court 

obtained jurisdiction first. The class filed its complaint in 2006, invoking the trial court’s equity 

jurisdiction by requesting an injunction. See Emerick v. Cardiac Study Ctr., Inc., P.S., 189 Wn. 

App. 711, 731-32, 357 P.3d 696 (2015). The Supreme Court remanded for further proceedings 

regarding remedies in 2011, Dolan I, 172 Wn.2d at 301, 322; the trial court approved the 

settlement that did not allow assessment of interest against the County in 2013; this court held in 

 

5 An intervener is treated as a party. Wash. Rest. Ass’n v. Liquor Control Bd., 200 Wn. App. 

119, 134, 401 P.3d 428 (2017).
No. 49876-6-II

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Dolan II in 2014 that the trial court had original subject matter jurisdiction, slip op. at 10-11; and 

after remand the trial court in June 2015 set a hearing to address the interest issue. Only after all 

of these events had occurred, in September 2015, did DRS issue its interest decision. As a result, 

under the priority of action rule the trial court retained exclusive authority to resolve the 

County’s interest obligation.

DRS argues that the priority of action rule does not apply because the trial court did not 

have concurrent original jurisdiction with DRS. DRS claims that it had exclusive jurisdiction

under RCW 34.05.510. But as this court recognized in Dolan II, RCW 34.05.510 was 

inapplicable and the trial court had original subject matter jurisdiction until DRS engaged in an 

agency action. Slip op. at 10-11. Therefore, the trial court had jurisdiction before September 

2015 and that jurisdiction was concurrent with DRS’s jurisdiction when DRS made its interest 

decision.

DRS also argues that applying the priority of action rule is inconsistent with this court’s 

opinion in Wells Fargo, 166 Wn. App. 342. But that case concerned a different issue – whether 

an agency’s letter constituted a final agency action and thereby implicated the APA’s procedural 

requirements. Id. at 350. The court held that the APA applied, and therefore that Wells Fargo 

could not later bring a separate action in superior court challenging the agency’s decision. Id. 

Wells Fargo did not address whether an agency has the authority to make a decision that resolves 

a dispute subject to ongoing litigation.

Accordingly, we hold under the priority of action rule that the trial court had exclusive 

authority to resolve the County’s interest obligation regarding its retroactive PERS contributions 

and that DRS lacked authority to decide the issue.
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B. TRIAL COURT’S EXERCISE OF EQUITABLE AUTHORITY

DRS argues that the trial court erred in exercising its equitable authority to determine the 

County’s interest obligation because exercising that authority was inconsistent with RCW 

41.50.125’s grant of authority to DRS to charge interest on late PERS contributions. We

disagree.

1. Legal Background

Article IV, section 6 of the Washington Constitution gives trial courts authority to fashion 

equitable remedies. Bowcutt v. Delta N. Star Corp., 95 Wn. App. 311, 319, 976 P.2d 643 (1999). 

An injunction is a form of equitable relief. Nw. Props. Brokers Network, Inc. v. Early Dawn 

Estates Homeowners’ Ass’n, 173 Wn. App. 778, 789, 295 P.3d 314 (2013). A trial court’s 

equitable power is “inherently flexible and fact-specific.” Proctor v. Huntington, 169 Wn.2d 

491, 503, 238 P.3d 1117 (2010).

However, the general rule is that “an equitable remedy is an extraordinary, not ordinary,

form of relief,” available “only when there is a showing that a party is entitled to a remedy and 

the remedy at law is inadequate.” Sorenson v. Pyeatt, 158 Wn.2d 523, 531, 146 P.3d 1172 

(2006). Equitable relief is unavailable when a statute provides the method for obtaining relief. 

See Longview Fibre Co. v. Cowlitz County, 114 Wn.2d 691, 699, 790 P.2d 149 (1990); Coluccio 

v. King County, 82 Wn. App. 45, 51-53, 917 P.2d 145 (1996).

More specifically, “we will not give relief on equitable grounds in contravention of a 

statutory requirement.” Longview Fibre, 114 Wn.2d at 699. “ ‘Equitable principles cannot be 

asserted to establish equitable relief in derogation of statutory mandates.’ ” Rhoad v. McLean 

Trucking Co., 102 Wn.2d 422, 427, 686 P.2d 483 (1984) (quoting Dep’t of Labor & Indus. v. 

Dillon, 28 Wn. App. 853, 855, 626 P.2d 1004 (1981)). Equity “follows the law and cannot 
No. 49876-6-II

19

provide a remedy where legislation expressly denies it.” Stephanus v. Anderson, 26 Wn. App. 

326, 334, 613 P.2d 533 (1980); see also Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC v. Bauman, 195 Wn. App. 

763, 764-65, 383 P.3d 524 (2016) (holding that the trial court could not order equitable relief that 

went beyond the statutory relief).

On the other hand, the existence of a statutory remedy does not necessarily preclude an 

equitable remedy unless the legislature intended the statutory remedy to be exclusive or the two 

remedies are so inconsistent that they cannot simultaneously apply. See King County v. Vinci 

Constr. Grands Projets/Parsons RCI/Frontier-Kemper, JV, 188 Wn.2d 618, 625-28, 398 P.3d 

1093 (2017) (addressing whether a statutory attorney fee provision abrogated a common law 

equitable rule).

A trial court’s authority to order equitable relief is a question of law that we review de 

novo. Kave v. McIntosh Ridge Primary Rd. Ass’n, 198 Wn. App. 812, 819, 394 P.3d 446 (2017).

2. Equitable Authority in Light of RCW 41.50.125

DRS argues that the trial court’s exercise of equitable authority was improper because it 

rendered RCW 41.50.125 ineffective. As noted above, RCW 41.50.125 provides DRS with the 

authority to charge interest on late PERS contributions:

The department may charge interest, as determined by the director, on member or 

employer contributions owing to [PERS]. The department’s authority to charge 

interest shall extend to all optional and mandatory billings for contributions where 

member or employer contributions are paid other than immediately after service is 

rendered.

When the legislature enacted RCW 41.50.125, it also enacted a statement of findings:

Whenever employer or member contributions are not made at the time service is 

rendered, the state retirement system trust funds lose investment income which is a 

major source of pension funding. The department of retirement systems has broad 

authority to charge interest to compensate for the loss to the trust funds, subject 

only to explicit statutory provisions to the contrary.
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LAWS OF 1994, ch. 177, § 1.

Equitable relief might be unavailable if RCW 41.50.125 provided an express requirement

that interest be charged on late PERS contributions. When a statute expressly provides a process 

or remedy, courts cannot ignore that requirement and apply principles of equity. See Longview 

Fibre, 114 Wn.2d at 696-99 (upholding technical protest requirement as prerequisite for taxpayer 

refund); Rhoad, 102 Wn.2d at 425-27 (upholding Department of Labor and Industry’s statutory 

right to a portion of a worker’s recovery in workers’ compensation lawsuit against a third party). 

But the statute here does not provide such a requirement. RCW 41.50.125 gives DRS only the 

option to charge interest, stating that DRS “may” charge interest. DRS’s argument that the 

legislature intended for interest to always be charged to the employer who caused lost investment 

returns by making late PERS contributions is inconsistent with the statutory language.

Similarly, equitable relief might be unavailable if RCW 41.50.125 expressly stated that 

DRS had exclusive authority to decide whether to charge interest on late PERS contributions. In 

that situation, application of equitable principles again would contravene a statutory requirement. 

See Vinci Constr., 188 Wn.2d at 627-28 (holding that the court must find that the legislature 

explicitly intended a statutory remedy to be exclusive to negate a common law equitable 

remedy); Stephanus, 26 Wn. App. at 329-34 (rejecting equitable defense over contrary statute). 

But the statute does not provide such exclusive authority. RCW 41.50.125 states only that DRS 

“may charge interest” and notes DRS’s “authority to charge interest” without addressing 

exclusivity. And although the legislative finding associated with RCW 41.50.125 states that 

DRS has broad authority “subject only to explicit statutory provisions to the contrary,” LAWS OF 

1994, ch. 177, § 1, the finding does not state that DRS has exclusive authority.
No. 49876-6-II

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Because RCW 41.50.125 does not state a requirement that interest must be charged and 

does not expressly grant DRS exclusive authority over the interest decision, the trial court

retained authority to address the interest issue based on equitable principles.6 Both the trial court 

and DRS initially had authority to rule on the interest issue. But the trial court had exclusive 

authority under the priority of action rule because the court obtained jurisdiction first. Bunch, 

180 Wn. App. at 41.

The Supreme Court applied a similar analysis in International Association of Fire 

Fighters to determine whether the trial court or the Public Employment Relations Commission 

(PERC) had authority to address unfair labor practice complaints. 117 Wn.2d at 674-75. Former 

RCW 41.56.160 (1994) provided that PERC “is empowered and directed to prevent any unfair 

labor practice and to issue appropriate remedial orders.” The court ruled that this statute and a 

statutory recognition of PERC’s expertise in this area did not prevent superior courts from 

resolving unfair labor practice complaints. Int’l Ass’n of Fire Fighters, 117 Wn.2d at 674-75. 

Instead, the court recognized that both PERC and the superior court had authority to resolve the 

question presented. Id. at 675. The court then applied the priority of action doctrine to 

determine that PERC had exclusive authority in that case because it had obtained jurisdiction 

before the superior court. Id. at 675-76.

We hold that the trial court did not err in exercising its equitable authority to address 

whether the County should be charged interest on the retroactive PERS contributions.

 

6 DRS cites three cases to support its position: Guidry v. Sheet Metal Workers National Pension 

Fund, 493 U.S. 365, 110 S. Ct. 680, 107 L. Ed. 2d 782 (1990); Mulhausen v. Bates, 9 Wn.2d 

264, 114 P.2d 995 (1941); and Boronat v. Boronat, 13 Wn. App. 671, 537 P.2d 1050 (1975). 

These cases clearly are inapplicable and do not compel a different result.
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C. TRIAL COURT’S INTEREST RULING

DRS argues that even if the trial court had the authority to rule on the interest issue, the 

court erred by ordering the County to pay only a portion of the interest on its retroactive PERS 

contributions. We disagree.

1. Legal Principles

The trial court has broad discretion to fashion an equitable remedy. Arzola v. Name 

Intelligence, Inc., 188 Wn. App. 588, 596, 355 P.3d 286 (2015). We review the trial court’s 

consideration of the equities to determine whether the court abused its discretion. Id. A trial 

court abuses its discretion if its decision is based on untenable grounds, is manifestly 

unreasonable, or is arbitrary. Hoover v. Warner, 189 Wn. App. 509, 528, 358 P.3d 1174 (2015).

We review a trial court’s findings of fact for substantial evidence. City of Puyallup v. 

Hogan, 168 Wn. App. 406, 418, 277 P.3d 49 (2012). A finding is supported by substantial 

evidence if the evidence is sufficient to persuade a fair-minded person of the finding’s truth. Id. 

In addition, unchallenged findings are verities on appeal. Martin v. Smith, 192 Wn. App. 527, 

532, 368 P.3d 227, review denied, 186 Wn.2d 1011 (2016).

2. Trial Court’s Findings

In its final order on assessment of interest, the trial court stated that several equities 

weighed against imposing the entire cost of retroactive service credit on the County. These 

equities included:

a. Prior to the Supreme Court’s decision [in Dolan I], King County and DRS were 

both opposed to the Dolan class members receiving any PERS benefits. . . . 

[N]either DRS nor King County considered the public defense personnel to be King 

County employees for purposes of enrollment in PERS.

b. Prior to February 1, 2012 [the date of the Supreme Court mandate], the 

interpretation of PERS enrollment rules applied by DRS and all PERS employers 
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was that the Dolan class members were not employees of King County eligible for 

enrollment in PERS.

c. . . . King County negotiated in good faith to reach a settlement and avoid further 

litigation.

d. Awarding the amount of interest requested by DRS would have a substantial 

negative budgeting impact on King County and its programs. . . . The magnitude 

of this expense is substantially burdensome on King County. . . .

e. It is unlikely that PERS will face a class action like Dolan in the future due to 

the legislative fix that was passed shortly after the Supreme Court decision.[7] 

Considering the unprecedented nature of this case, exceptional remedies are in 

order.

CP at 2173-74.

The court also expressly adopted the equitable arguments asserted by the County in its 

post-hearing response brief. These arguments included that multi-employer plans like PERS are 

designed to socialize pension needs through contribution rates; DRS had never published 

regulations or guidelines for when interest would be imposed; DRS had never before sought to 

recover interest from a single employer; DRS’s solicitation for input into its interest decision was 

misleading; since the Dolan I decision employer contribution rates have increased more than 400 

basis points, while socializing the County’s interest costs would cause only a four or five basis 

point increase; and socializing the County’s interest costs would cause only minimal increases in 

both employer and employee contributions.

The trial court concluded that socializing some portion of the cost of the lost investment 

income would be reasonable.

 

7 The “fix” attempts to clarify that employees of government contractors are not eligible for 

membership in state retirement programs. LAWS OF 2012, ch. 236, § 1(3). It includes a provision 

stating that for purposes of PERS eligibility, government contractors are not qualifying 

employers. LAWS OF 2012, ch. 236, § 2(14)(c); see RCW 41.26.030(14)(c). The law expressly 

does not impact the Supreme Court’s decision in Dolan I. LAWS OF 2012, ch. 236, § 1(6).
No. 49876-6-II

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3. Analysis

Here, several of the trial court’s considerations support its equitable ruling that the 

County should be obligated to pay only a portion of the interest on the retroactive PERS 

contributions. Three considerations appear to be most significant. 

First, the testimony of all four of the parties’ witnesses established that multi-employer 

plans are designed to socialize pension costs. For the County, Dively testified that in his 

experience, changes in the costs of pension systems are socialized through system-wide increases 

or decreases in contribution rates. The County’s expert Kra also testified that pension plans 

typically socialize costs across the system. DRS Director Frost testified that DRS paid for 

retroactive liabilities either by socializing the cost or by having the responsible party pay. She 

also stated that DRS had not previously charged interest to an employer. State actuary Won 

testified that typically demographic changes are socialized rather than charged to a specific 

employer, and that with respect to contribution rates, single employers are never required to pay 

a specialized or segregated rate.

Second, the evidence showed that requiring PERS to absorb most of the interest 

obligation would have a limited impact on contribution rates, particularly relative to other recent 

increases. In its interest decision, DRS stated that socializing the interest would require future 

PERS employer and employee contribution rates to increase by four or five basis points. Won 

testified that for an employer with a $500,000 payroll, a five basis point increase would amount 

to $250 per year. By contrast, Dively testified that between April 2012 and May 2016, 

contribution rates had increased by 410 basis points. Over a slightly longer period, between July 

2009 and July 2015, Kra testified that the employer contribution rate increased by almost 600 

basis points and the employee contribution rate increased by over 220 basis points.
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Third, the evidence showed that imposing the entire interest obligation of approximately 

$64 million on the County would have a substantial negative impact on the County and its 

programs. As Dively testified, the County would be required to issue bonds at a likely cost of 

$7.5 million per year for 10 years. It was undisputed that the additional cost would add to the 

County’s current general fund deficit, requiring the County to reduce some combination of 

employees and services.

DRS argues that the trial court’s considerations do not provide a legitimate equitable 

basis for shifting most of the interest cost from the County to innocent PERS participants.8

Initially, DRS argues that equity does not favor the County because the County’s 

voluntary conduct in settling with the class members caused the obligation to pay late pension 

contributions and related interest. DRS claims that no court ordered the County to provide a 

retroactive service credit back to 1978 – the County agreed to that remedy in the settlement 

agreement in exchange for the release of various non-pension claims. Further, DRS points out 

that the County relinquished an argument that the three-year statute of limitations should limit 

any retroactive benefits. DRS argues that PERS participants should not be required to subsidize 

the County’s settlement. DRS relies on a rule of equity that “he who makes a loss possible 

should suffer the loss.” German American Bank of Seattle v. Wright, 85 Wash. 460, 471, 148 P. 

769 (1915).

However, as the County emphasizes, DRS intervened as a full party before the trial court 

approved the class action settlement. The County emphasizes that DRS agreed to the trial 

court’s entry of the order modifying the injunction, which established the retroactive service 

credit and waived the statute of limitations defense. According to the County, DRS made a 

 

8 DRS does not argue that substantial evidence did not support the trial court’s considerations. 
No. 49876-6-II

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tactical decision not to seek a ruling on the statute of limitations defense or otherwise contest the 

amount of the retroactive service credit.

DRS also specifically challenges the trial court’s enumerated considerations as well as 

several of the incorporated considerations. First, DRS argues that it is immaterial that the 

County and DRS both originally took the position that the class members were not eligible for 

PERS. But this fact shows that it was not solely the County’s “fault” that the class members 

were not enrolled in PERS. DRS also interpreted the PERS rules as denying the class members

PERS eligibility. 

Second, DRS argues that the trial court’s finding that the County negotiated the class 

action settlement in good faith does not provide a basis for equitable relief. But the court 

apparently was noting that the County’s tentative settlement represented a genuine attempt to 

resolve the liability imposed in Dolan I rather than an attempt to transfer any responsibility to 

PERS. And DRS ultimately agreed to the settlement terms when it approved the order 

modifying the injunction.

Third, DRS argues that the amount of money at issue and the burden on the County are 

not relevant considerations. But when a trial court exercises its equitable authority, it attempts to 

balance the relative interests of the parties. Nw. Gas Ass’n v. Wash. Utils. & Transp. Comm’n, 

141 Wn. App. 98, 122, 168 P.3d 443 (2007). DRS’s stated position shows that the amount of 

money at issue is relevant. By charging interest because the County’s pension liability exceeds 

$7 million, DRS determined that changes in pension liability should be socialized only when the 

system is burdened below a certain level.

Fourth, DRS argues that the novelty of this case has no bearing on the application of 

equity. But DRS itself highlighted the unique size of the County’s settlement as a reason to 
No. 49876-6-II

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exercise its discretion and charge interest, despite DRS’s decision not to do so in previous cases. 

DRS’s decision is consistent with the court’s explanation, that given the “unprecedented nature 

of this case, exceptional remedies are in order.” CP at 2160. And the court apparently 

recognized that because this situation was so unusual, its ruling would not have any significant 

precedential effect that might negatively affect PERS in the future.

Finally, DRS argues that several other miscellaneous considerations do not support the 

application of equity. The County responds that a number of the considerations support the trial 

court’s ruling. We note without specifically examining each of these considerations that some or 

all of them properly factored into the trial court’s exercise of its discretion.

Significantly, DRS does not address two of the most important considerations that the 

trial court incorporated by reference: that multi-employer plans like PERS are designed to 

socialize pension needs through contribution rates and that socializing the County’s interest costs 

would cause only minimal, relatively insignificant increases in both employer and employee 

contributions. 

The trial court’s three primary considerations are supported by the record and support the 

trial court’s ruling that some of the lost investment income should be socialized. Requiring the 

County to be solely responsible would be very burdensome, and would result in it reducing

services and incurring debt in addition to its current budget deficit. By contrast, socializing the 

cost would be consistent with the typical practice, and would result in an increase in contribution 

rates that is substantially smaller than other increases over the previous few years. And although 

some of DRS challenges to other considerations may have merit, the trial court had broad 

discretion in the exercise of its equitable authority and there is no requirement that all the 

considerations support the court’s ruling. 
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Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by exercising its 

equitable authority to rule that the County was required to pay only a portion of the interest 

obligation.

CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s interest order and judgment.

A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the 

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 

2.06.040, it is so ordered.

MAXA, C.J.

We concur:

JOHANSON, J.

MELNICK, J.