IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

RONALD AUER and JOHN TRASTER, No. 46105-6-II

Appellants/Cross Respondents,

UNPUBLISHED OPINION

v.

J. ROBERT LEACH and JANE DOE LEACH, 

his wife; CHRISTOPHER KNAPP and JANE 

DOE KNAPP, his wife; GEOFFREY GIBBS 

and JANE DOE GIBBS, his wife; ANDERSON 

HUNTER LAW FIRM, P.S., INC.; and 

SAFECO INSURANCE,

Respondents/Cross Appellants.

BJORGEN, A.C.J. — Ronald Auer and John Traster sued the Anderson Hunter Law Firm 

P.S., J. Robert Leach,1Jane Doe Leach, Geoffrey Gibbs, Jane Doe Gibbs, Christopher Knapp, 

and Jane Doe Knapp (collectively lawyers2) alleging legal malpractice and violation of 

Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA), chapter 19.86 RCW. The trial court first denied 

the lawyers’ summary judgment motion seeking dismissal of the malpractice claim as timebarred under RCW 4.16.080(2). The trial court then granted the lawyers’ motion for summary 

judgment on both the malpractice and CPA claims, determining that Auer and Traster failed to 

raise genuine issues of material fact on essential elements of each claim. After Auer and Traster 

moved for reconsideration on the malpractice claim and filed a supplemental declaration by their 

 

1 Leach’s representation of Auer and Traster in the underlying suit involved in this appeal began 

when he was in private practice and ended with his appointment to an open position on Division 

One of the Court of Appeals.

2 We refer to individuals by name when discussing claims pertaining only to them.

Filed

Washington State

Court of Appeals

Division Two

October 27, 2015
No. 46105-6-II

2

expert, Paul Brain, the trial court struck this declaration and denied reconsideration of its order 

dismissing the malpractice claim.

Auer and Traster appeal, arguing that the grant of summary judgment in favor of the 

lawyers was improper, because genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether the lawyers’ 

alleged malpractice proximately caused Auer and Traster their injuries and whether the lawyers 

committed deceptive acts that affected the public interest. Auer and Traster also argue that the 

trial court erred or abused its discretion by refusing to consider the new evidence offered on 

reconsideration and by denying their motion for reconsideration. The lawyers cross-appeal the 

trial court’s denial of their summary judgment motion to dismiss the malpractice claim on 

grounds of untimeliness. 

We affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the lawyers on the 

malpractice and CPA claims. We also affirm the trial court’s order striking Brain’s supplemental 

declaration and its order denying reconsideration of its summary judgment order on the 

malpractice claim. As to the cross-appeal, we affirm the trial court’s denial of summary 

judgment dismissing the malpractice claim against Anderson Hunter, Leach, Jane Doe Leach, 

Gibbs and Knapp as time-barred. However, we reverse the trial court’s denial of summary 

judgment dismissing the malpractice claim against Jane Doe Gibbs and Jane Doe Knapp as timebarred. Accordingly, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for the trial court to enter an 

order granting summary judgment dismissing the malpractice claim against Jane Doe Gibbs and 

Jane Doe Knapp.

FACTS

A. The Underlying Lawsuit

In 2003, Auer and Traster purchased two lots to “construct upper scale single family 
No. 46105-6-II

3

residences, as well as large commercial quality shop structures.”3 Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 441. 

Auer wanted his commercial shop to operate his business in; Traster wanted his for the pursuit of 

“various activities and hobbies.” CP at 441. 

The agreements for the purchase and sale of the lots each required the seller, the estate of 

Margaret Westland, to obtain certain permits and construct a driveway to the properties within 

60 days of closing escrow. After closing, the estate began constructing that driveway. However, 

the estate failed to obtain the necessary permits and the driveway did not conform to the 

Snohomish County Code, causing the county to issue a stop work order for the project. That 

order, along with the lack of an “approved access road” to the two properties, rendered the 

properties ineligible for building permits and disrupted Auer’s and Traster’s plans for the lots.

Auer and Traster retained Leach and the Anderson Hunter Law Firm to pursue legal 

claims against the Westland estate, the realtor who drafted the purchase and sale agreements, and 

the realtor’s employer. Auer and Traster filed suit for breach of contract against those 

defendants in 2003. 

Auer’s and Traster’s relationship with Leach was a difficult one. Auer and Traster 

frequently complained to Christopher Knapp, Anderson Hunter’s managing partner, about 

perceived failures to communicate, to take requested action, and to diligently pursue their claims. 

Knapp assured Auer and Traster that Leach would do a better job communicating with them and 

 

3 Traster apparently purchased both lots and Auer then purchased his from Traster. The lawyers 

argue that this makes Auer Traster’s assignee and limits the liability of the lawyers in the 

underlying suit, and consequently their liability. Because the lawyers give the issue only passing 

treatment, we do not address it. Habitat Watch v. Skagit County, 155 Wn.2d 397, 416, 120 P.3d 

56 (2005) (quoting State v. Thomas, 150 Wn.2d 821, 868-69, 83 P.3d 970 (2004)).
No. 46105-6-II

4

promised that he would monitor the situation. Nevertheless, Auer and Traster became 

dissatisfied with Knapp’s monitoring of Leach’s work. 

The acrimony between Leach, Knapp, Auer, and Traster eventually caused Anderson 

Hunter to try to end the attorney-client relationship. Knapp e-mailed Leach, telling him that 

“[t]his client is very rude. I would withdraw.” CP at 470. Knapp also repeatedly told Auer and 

Traster that they might want to seek representation that would work better for them, but they

refused.

By 2005, the estate had filed a motion for summary judgment. Leach recommended that 

Auer and Traster voluntarily dismiss the suit under CR 41 to avoid summary judgment and then 

refile the claim as a new lawsuit. Auer and Traster maintain that Leach’s lack of preparation 

necessitated the nonsuit, but they agreed to the plan. Accordingly, the original suit was 

dismissed and a new one filed in 2006.

Effective March 1, 2008, the governor appointed Leach to an open seat on Division One 

of the Washington State Court of Appeals. Accordingly, Leach withdrew from representing 

Auer and Traster. However, they remained Anderson Hunter’s clients and Geoffrey Gibbs, 

another attorney from the firm, began representing them.

Later in March, Gibbs informed Auer and Traster that his pretrial preparations had 

uncovered a potential conflict of interest that complicated his representation of both of them.4 

Auer and Traster told Gibbs that they had already discussed the potential conflict with Leach and 

had “come to an agreement to resolve” it. CP at 444. 

 

4 The alleged conflict of interest arose from the disparate size of Auer’s and Traster’s claims. 

Traster claimed a small amount of damages related to inconveniences caused by the delay in 

getting the building permits. Auer claimed similar damages plus large business losses. Gibbs 

informed Auer and Traster that the difference in the value of their claims created a potential 

conflict in deciding whether to accept any possible settlement offer.
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Gibbs announced that Auer and Traster had failed to address his concerns and served a 

notice of withdrawal to terminate his and Anderson Hunter’s representation of them. When Auer 

and Traster objected to the withdrawal, Gibbs filed a motion before the superior court, which 

then granted the withdrawal.

Auer and Traster eventually retained new counsel to represent them. Gibbs had 

previously informed Auer and Traster that, after taking over representation of them for Leach, he 

would only need to bill approximately $50,000 in order to take the matter through trial. Auer 

and Traster’s new counsel billed them approximately $200,000 for time spent preparing for, and 

taking them to, a scheduled mediation. 

The mediation resulted in a settlement between Auer and Traster and the defendants in 

the underlying suit. Although Auer and Traster valued their claims as worth over $8,000,000, 

they received only $500,000 in the settlement and a construction easement so that they could get 

a permit and complete the road required by the purchase and sale agreement. Auer maintains 

that he and Traster settled because the protracted legal battle caused by the defendants’ lack of 

diligence had drained them of the financial resources necessary to continue to assert their claims.

B. The Lawsuit Against the Lawyers

On February 14, 2011, Auer and Traster appeared pro se and filed summonses and a 

complaint in Snohomish County Superior Court. These named Anderson Hunter, Leach and his 

wife, Gibbs and his wife, and Knapp and his wife as defendants. 

The complaint’s first cause of action was malpractice. Auer and Traster alleged: 

That the said Defendants failed to fully advise Plaintiffs of their rights and 

appropriate tactics and strategy, failed to diligently pursue the litigation, had 

undisclosed conflicts of interest, served their own interest at the expense of the 

Plaintiffs, failed to pursue necessary discovery, failed to prepare the case for trial, 

necessitated dismissal of the 2003 case and refiling of the 2006 case, then withdrew 

from the 2006 case in 2008 as trial approached, made multiple misrepresentations 
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to Plaintiffs and claimed a wrongfully asserted conflict of interest between the two 

Plaintiffs herein as justification for withdrawal. That Defendants refused to 

disgorge payments wrongfully received and Plaintiffs were impaired in retaining 

replacement counsel and incurred additional litigation expenses as a consequence 

of the withdrawal of said Defendants.

CP at 1133. 

The complaint’s second cause of action was for violation of the CPA. Auer and Traster 

alleged:

That the said Defendants’ conduct set forth above was unfair and deceptive 

within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act, implicated the entrepreneurial 

aspects of the practice of law, is likely to be repeated, and constituted business 

practices of the Defendants.

CP at 1134.

In April 2011, Auer and Traster retained new counsel and on April 26 served the 

summonses, complaint, notice of appearance, and the superior court case summary printout on 

Anderson Hunter, Leach, Gibbs, and Knapp. However, the summonses and the notice of 

appearance were mistakenly captioned for King County Superior Court. The superior court case 

summary showed the action as filed in Snohomish County. On April 29, due to an impending 

scheduled vacation, Auer’s and Traster’s counsel filed a notice of unavailability listing the 

Snohomish County cause number of Auer’s and Traster’s action served on the defendants.

The lawyers served a special notice of appearance captioned for Snohomish County 

Superior Court on May 4, 2011. Further, the lawyers’ counsel served a notice of withdrawal and 

substitution captioned for Snohomish County Superior Court on the parties and filed it in the 

Snohomish County Superior Court. 

In early June 2011, the lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the action. They alleged that 

Auer and Traster had failed to properly serve them with process, warranting dismissal under CR 
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12(b)(4) and (5). Specifically, the lawyers contended that Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp 

had never been served with a Snohomish County summons as required to complete 

commencement of the action and that Leach and the three Jane Doe defendants had never been 

served with any process at all.

On June 16, 2011, the lawyers’ counsel accepted service of a summons and complaint on 

behalf of Leach and his wife. That summons listed Snohomish County as the action’s venue.

With the service of a Snohomish County summons on Leach and his wife, the lawyers 

struck their original motion to dismiss and filed a motion for summary judgment seeking 

dismissal of the malpractice claim as time-barred under RCW 4.16.080(2). The lawyers argued 

that the summonses served on Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp began commencement of an 

action in King County rather than completed commencement of the action in Snohomish County. 

They contended that the Snohomish County action was never fully commenced as required by 

RCW 4.16.170 until service of the summonses on Leach and his wife, which occurred outside 

both the three-year statute of limitations generally applicable to tort claims and the 90-day tolling 

period initiated by the filing of the complaint under RCW 4.16.170. 

The trial court denied the lawyers’ summary judgment motion requesting dismissal of the 

malpractice claim as time-barred, reasoning that the summonses substantially complied with the 

governing rules and that the failure to correctly identify the court was an amendable defect. 

Because the summonses served their purposes, namely notifying the lawyers of the deadline to 

answer Auer’s and Traster’s complaint and of the consequences for failing to do so, the trial 

court found that the defect in the summonses did not prejudice the lawyers. Given the lack of 

prejudice, the trial court granted Auer and Traster leave to amend the summonses to correctly 
No. 46105-6-II

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identify Snohomish County, rather than King County, as the court where they would litigate the 

action.

The lawyers then moved for summary judgment on both Auer’s and Traster’s claims, 

contending that no genuine issues of material fact existed on at least two of the elements of legal 

malpractice: the breach of a legal duty and causation. The lawyers also maintained that no 

genuine issues of material fact existed on at least three of the elements of the CPA claim: that 

their acts had occurred in trade or commerce, that their acts impacted the public interest, and that 

their acts had been unfair. 

Auer and Traster responded by submitting additional evidence that they claimed showed 

the existence of genuine issues of material fact, including a declaration by their expert, Paul 

Brain. After reciting the elements of a legal malpractice claim, Brain stated that he assumed the 

existence of an attorney-client relationship that would create a duty of care, but that “[c]ausation 

may not be a proper subject for [his] opinion.” CP at 600. Brain then opined that the lawyers 

had breached their duty of care by pursuing legal remedies rather than equitable ones, given 

Auer’s and Traster’s goals with the suit. Brain also declared that the lawyers had breached their 

duty of care by failing to diligently pursue Auer’s and Traster’s interests, failing to engage in 

timely discovery, and recommending that Auer and Traster take a nonsuit to avoid summary 

judgment. Finally, Brain opined that Gibbs’ proffered reasons for withdrawing as counsel were 

pretextual. 

The trial court granted the lawyers’ motion for summary judgment on both of Auer’s and 

Traster’s claims. Though finding that Brain’s declaration raised genuine issues of material fact 

about several breaches of duty by the lawyers, the trial court found no evidence that indicated or 

supported an inference that any breach caused Auer’s and Traster’s injuries. Specifically, the 
No. 46105-6-II

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trial court determined that Auer and Traster had failed to create a genuine issue of material fact 

regarding whether they would have succeeded in the underlying action absent the alleged 

malpractice. The trial court granted the motion for summary judgment on the CPA claim after 

determining that Auer and Traster had failed to establish that the withdrawal had affected the 

public interest.

Auer and Traster moved for reconsideration under CR 59(a)(1), (7)-(9) on the 

malpractice claim, submitting new evidence in conjunction with that motion. One of these new 

pieces of evidence was a supplemental declaration from Brain. In it Brain stated that “[t]he fact 

that [he] did not address causation in [his] previous declaration only represent[ed] the fact that 

[he] was not asked to offer an opinion on causation in that declaration.” CP at 321. Brain then 

declared that he “would draw a direct and proximate causal link between the” lawyers’ alleged 

negligence and the damages Auer and Traster suffered. CP at 321-22. 

The lawyers moved to strike Brain’s supplemental declaration. Applying the Burnet5

factors, the trial court found that (1) Brain’s statement that he had not been asked to opine about 

causation in his first declaration reflected a tactical or strategic decision to withhold his opinion 

until trial, (2) the willful decision to withhold Brain’s opinion prejudiced the defendants’ trial 

preparation, and (3) no lesser sanction would vindicate the purposes of discovery. Consequently, 

the trial court granted the lawyers’ motion and refused to consider Brain’s supplemental 

declaration with Auer’s and Traster’s motion for reconsideration. Given the exclusion of Brain’s 

supplemental declaration, the trial court denied reconsideration. 

 

5 Burnet v. Spokane Ambulance, 131 Wn.2d 484, 497-98, 933 P.2d 1036 (1997).
No. 46105-6-II

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Auer and Traster appeal the order granting summary judgment and the order denying 

reconsideration. The lawyers cross appeal the order denying them summary judgment on the 

malpractice claim based on the alleged insufficient service of process.

ANALYSIS

I. SUMMARY JUDGMENT

A. Applicable Legal Principles

We review a trial court’s decision to grant or deny a motion for summary judgment de 

novo. Lakey v. Puget Sound Energy, Inc., 176 Wn.2d 909, 922, 296 P.3d 860 (2013). We 

perform the same inquiry as the trial court and may affirm a trial court’s order on summary 

judgment on any ground supported by the record. Lakey, 176 Wn.2d at 922; Washburn v. City of 

Federal Way, 178 Wn.2d 732, 753 n.9, 310 P.3d 1275 (2013). We view the evidence, and all 

reasonable inferences allowed by that evidence, in the light most favorable to the nonmoving 

party when reviewing an order of summary judgment. Lakey, 176 Wn.2d at 922. Summary 

judgment is appropriate where “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact 

and . . . the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” CR 56(c). “‘A material 

fact is one upon which the outcome of the litigation depends.’” In re Estate of Black, 153 Wn.2d 

152, 160, 102 P.3d 796 (2004) (quoting Balise v. Underwood, 62 Wn.2d 195, 199, 381 P.2d 966 

(1963)).

“Summary judgment is subject to a burden-shifting scheme.” Ranger Ins. Co. v. Pierce 

County, 164 Wn.2d 545, 552, 192 P.2d 886 (2008). The party moving for summary judgment 

“bears the initial burden of showing the absence of an issue of material fact.” Young v. Key 

Pharms., Inc., 112 Wn.2d 216, 225, 770 P.2d 182 (1989). A defendant moving for summary 

judgment may show the absence of an issue of material fact by pointing out the lack of evidence 
No. 46105-6-II

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supporting an essential element of the plaintiff’s case. Young, 112 Wn.2d at 225, 225 n.1 

(quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986)). 

If the defendant successfully shows the lack of support for an essential element of the plaintiff’s 

claim, the plaintiff must produce evidence that raises a genuine issue of material fact or show 

why further discovery is warranted; the plaintiff’s failure to do so entitles the defendant to 

judgment as a matter of law. See Young, 112 Wn.2d at 225-26, 226 n.2 (quoting Celotex, 477 

U.S. at 332 n.3 (Brennan, J., dissenting)).

B. The Cross Appeal: Whether the Malpractice Claim is Time-Barred

The lawyers cross appeal the trial court’s denial of their motion for summary judgment to 

dismiss the malpractice claim, arguing that Auer and Traster failed to timely commence it. First, 

they contend that Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp were served with a summons that 

commenced an action in King County rather than the correct county of Snohomish. Second, they 

claim that the Snohomish County action was not properly commenced until Auer and Traster 

served a summons on Leach and his wife, time-barring the malpractice claim against all 

defendants. The lawyers also argue that the trial court erred by refusing to order summary 

judgment on the malpractice claim with respect to Jane Doe Gibbs and Jane Doe Knapp because 

they were never served with any process. We agree that the trial court erred by not dismissing 

the malpractice claim against Jane Doe Gibbs and Jane Doe Knapp, but affirm the order denying 

summary judgment on these grounds with respect to Anderson Hunter, Leach, Jane Doe Leach, 

Gibbs, and Knapp.

1. Applicable Legal Principles

Proper service of process has both constitutional and statutory dimensions. Scanlan v. 

Townsend, 181 Wn.2d 838, 847, 336 P.3d 1155 (2014). The nonconstitutional dimension, at 
No. 46105-6-II

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issue here, is governed by both statute and court rules. RCW 4.16.170; chapter 4.28 RCW; CR 

3-5. We review the meaning of statutes and court rules de novo. Dep’t of Ecology v. Campbell 

& Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wn.2d 1, 9-10, 43 P.3d 4 (2002) (statute); see State v. Chhom, 162 Wn.2d 

451, 458, 173 P.3d 234 (2007) (court rules).

Generally a plaintiff must commence an action to recover damages to personal property 

or for personal injury within three years or the claim is barred.6 RCW 4.16.080(2); Brown v. 

Vail, 169 Wn.2d 318, 328, 237 P.3d 263 (2010). To commence a civil action, the plaintiff must 

either (1) file the complaint with the superior court or (2) serve a copy of the summons and 

complaint on the defendant. CR 3. Filing the complaint or serving the summons and complaint 

tolls, for purposes of commencing the action, the statute of limitations for 90 days. RCW 

4.16.170.7 During that 90-day period the plaintiff must either (1) file the complaint if he or she 

first served a summons and complaint or (2) serve a summons and complaint if he or she first 

filed the complaint. RCW 4.16.170. If the plaintiff fails to both file the complaint and serve a 

summons and complaint within that 90-day period, the action is not deemed commenced for 

purposes of tolling the statute of limitations. RCW 4.16.170. By the explicit terms of RCW 

 

6 CPA claims are exempt from this general rule and instead must be commenced within four 

years. RCW 19.86.120.

7 RCW 4.16.170 reads:

For the purposes of tolling any statute of limitations an action shall be deemed 

commenced when the complaint is filed or summons is served whichever occurs 

first. If service has not been had on the defendant prior to the filing of the 

complaint, the plaintiff shall cause one or more of the defendants to be served 

personally, or commence service by publication within ninety days from the date 

of filing the complaint. If the action is commenced by service on one or more of 

the defendants or by publication, the plaintiff shall file the summons and complaint 

within ninety days from the date of service. If following service, the complaint is 

not so filed, or following filing, service is not so made, the action shall be deemed 

to not have been commenced for purposes of tolling the statute of limitations.
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4.16.170, serving any one of multiple defendants tolls the statute of limitations against all the 

defendants. Sidis v. Brodie/Dohrmann, Inc., 117 Wn.2d 325, 329, 815 P.2d 781 (1991). 

However, plaintiffs must still proceed with their cases in a timely manner and must serve a

defendant in order to proceed with the action against that defendant. Sidis, 117 Wn.2d at 329-30.

CR 4 governs the form and content of a summons. Quality Rock Prods., Inc. v. Thurston 

County, 126 Wn. App. 250, 264, 108 P.3d 805 (2005) (citing CR 4(a) and (b)). It provides, as 

relevant to the lawyers’ cross appeal:

(b) Summons.

(1) Contents. The summons for personal service shall contain:

(i) the title of the cause, specifying the name of the court in which the action 

is brought, the name of the county designated by the plaintiff as the place of trial, 

and the names of the parties to the action, plaintiff and defendant;

(ii) a direction to the defendant summoning the defendant to serve a copy 

of the defendant’s defense within a time stated in the summons; [and]

(iii) a notice that, in case of failure so to do, judgment will be rendered 

against the defendant by default. It shall be signed and dated by the plaintiff, or the 

plaintiff’s attorney, with the addition of the plaintiff’s post office address, at which 

the papers in the action may be served on him by mail.

We review the sufficiency of service de novo. Streeter-Dybdahl v. Nguyet Huynh, 157 Wn. App. 

408, 412, 236 P.3d 986 (2010). The plaintiff bears the burden of making a prima facie case of 

sufficient service of process. Streeter-Dybdahl, 157 Wn. App. at 412. 

2. The Nature of the Summons Served on Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp

If the lawyers are correct that the summonses should be deemed King County 

summonses, then Auer and Traster failed to complete commencement of the Snohomish County 

action. If Auer and Traster are correct that the summonses were defective Snohomish County 

summonses, then they completed commencement of the Snohomish County action if they 

substantially complied with the rules and statutes governing service of process. We hold for 
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three reasons that the summonses were defective Snohomish County summonses and then turn to 

whether they nonetheless substantially complied with governing standards. 

First, as a general matter, “the law favors the resolution of legitimate disputes brought 

before the court rather than leaving parties without a remedy.” In re Estate of Palucci, 61 Wn. 

App. 412, 416, 810 P.2d 970 (1991). This legal preference may only be served by viewing the 

summonses as completing the commencement of the Snohomish County action, although 

defectively. Doing otherwise would bar Auer and Traster from bringing their claims before the 

court. Palucci, 61 Wn. App. at 416.

Second, and more importantly, the lawyers’ argument runs contrary to “the civil rules’ 

emphasis that substance trumps formality.” Quality Rock Prods., 126 Wn. App. at 265. The 

lawyers ask us to elevate the form of the caption of the summonses, the obvious result of a 

scrivener’s error, over its actual function. That function is readily discernable from the 

documents served with the summons: a complaint which made clear that venue was proper only 

in Snohomish County and a superior court case summary showing that the action was filed in 

Snohomish County. The summonses served here were plainly associated with the action already 

filed in Snohomish County. The scrivener’s error in the caption could not have reasonably led 

the lawyers to believe that the summonses were for some unknown action proceeding in King 

County Superior Court.

Third, service of a summons only commences an action under RCW 4.28.020, thereby 

initially invoking the jurisdiction in the trial court named in the summons, when service occurs 

before the plaintiff files the complaint with the court. Otherwise, it is the filing of the complaint 

that invokes the trial court’s jurisdiction. RCW 4.28.020. A summons that commences an action 

would not have a cause number because it is only when a complaint is filed with the court that a 
No. 46105-6-II

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cause receives a number. Cf. Kramer v. J.I. Case Mfg. Co., 62 Wn. App. 544, 548, 815 P.2d 798 

(1991). The summonses served on Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp all contained a cause 

number, specifically the one assigned to the Snohomish County action. These summonses could 

not have commenced an action already commenced. They therefore did not act to confer 

jurisdiction on the King County Superior Court. For these three reasons, the summonses served 

on Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp were defective summonses for Snohomish County 

Superior Court.

3. Substantial Compliance and Amendability of the Summonses Served on Anderson 

Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp

Having determined that the summonses served on Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp 

were defective Snohomish County summonses, we now examine whether the summonses 

substantially complied with the relevant rules and statutes and whether the defect in the caption 

was amendable. We hold that the summonses substantially complied with the rules and statutes 

governing service and that any defect did not prejudice the lawyers, making the defect 

amendable.

The requirements as to the form of a summons laid out in CR 4 ensure that the summons 

serves its function, namely “‘giv[ing] certain notice of the time prescribed by law to answer and 

to advise the defendant of the consequences of failing to do so.’” Quality Rock Prods., 126 Wn. 

App. at 264 (quoting Sprincin King St. Partners v. Sound Conditioning Club, Inc., 84 Wn. App. 

56, 60, 925 P.2d 217 (1996)). Citing these purposes, Washington’s Supreme Court has held that 

“‘[a]ny summons . . . which definitely and certainly gives notice of these things must be held a 

substantial, hence a sufficient, compliance with that form.’” Codd v. Westchester Fire Ins. Co., 

14 Wn.2d 600, 605, 128 P.2d 968 (1942) (quoting Spokane Merch. Ass’n v. Acord, 99 Wash. 

674, 170 P. 329, 8 A.L.R. 835 (1918)).
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Both court rule8and statutory authority9permit the amendment of defective, but 

substantially compliant, process. These amendments are permissible “so long as the defendant is 

not prejudiced.” Sammamish Pointe Homeowners Ass’n v. Sammamish Pointe LLC, 116 Wn. 

App. 117, 124, 64 P.3d 656 (2003). If the defect is amendable, the trial court should permit the 

amendment, and deny any motion seeking dismissal of the claims based on the defect, so long as 

the plaintiff moves to amend. In re Marriage of Morrison, 26 Wn. App. 571, 573-75, 613 P.2d 

557 (1980). 

The summonses served on Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and Knapp substantially complied 

with their purpose. The summonses informed the defendants of the time prescribed by law to 

answer and the consequences of a default. Any defect in the summonses did not prejudice the 

lawyers. The complaint not only specified that Auer and Traster had filed suit in Snohomish 

County, but its factual allegations make clear that no venue other than Snohomish County was 

proper. The superior court case summary also confirmed that the action was filed in Snohomish 

 

8 CR 4(h) provides that 

At any time in its discretion and upon such terms as it deems just, the 

court may allow any process or proof of service thereof to be amended, unless it 

clearly appears that material prejudice would result to the substantial rights of the 

party against whom the process issued.

9 RCW 4.32.250 provides that 

A notice or other paper is valid and effectual though the title of the action in which 

it is made is omitted, or it is defective either in respect to the court or parties, if it 

intelligently refers to such action or proceedings; and in furtherance of justice upon 

proper terms, any other defect or error in any notice or other paper or proceeding 

may be amended by the court, and any mischance, omission or defect relieved 

within one year thereafter; and the court may enlarge or extend the time, for good 

cause shown, within which by statute any act is to be done, proceeding had or taken, 

notice or paper filed or served, or may, on such terms as are just, permit the same 

to be done or supplied after the time therefor has expired.
No. 46105-6-II

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County. The lawyers appeared pro se in Snohomish County after receiving the summonses. 

When they retained an attorney, he appeared there as well. Most importantly, the lawyers timely 

filed answers to the complaint filed in Snohomish County Superior Court. As was proper, Auer 

and Traster moved to amend the summonses. 

The lawyers claim that the trial court erred by allowing an amendment to the summonses, 

because proper summonses were already on file with the court and Auer and Traster did not 

serve those summonses. CR 5(d)(1) requires, in effect, that plaintiffs must file the summons and 

complaint served in accordance with CR 4 with the court. We have held that the summons filed 

need not be identical to the one served and that the plaintiff complies with RCW 4.16.170 by 

filing a summons “substantially identical” to the one served. Nearing v. Golden State Foods 

Corp., 52 Wn. App. 748, 752, 764 P.2d 242 (1988). The unamended summonses here were 

substantially identical to the ones on file with the court: they had the same case name, cause 

number, and parties. More importantly, they had identical response times and contained 

identical language about the effect of a default. The summonses served by Auer and Traster 

complied with CR 5(d)(1). For all of these reasons, we hold that the trial court did not err by 

denying the summary judgment motion to dismiss Auer’s and Traster’s claims against Anderson 

Hunter, Knapp, and Gibbs due to untimely commencement. Morrison, 26 Wn. App. at 573-75. 

4. Service on Leach and Jane Doe Leach

Auer and Traster served Leach and Jane Doe Leach with a summons on June 16, 2011. 

That summons properly listed Snohomish County as the action’s venue, but was served outside 

the 90-day tolling period initiated by the filing of the complaint under RCW 4.16.170. The 

lawyers argue that the Snohomish County action was not properly commenced until this 
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summons was served on Leach and Jane Doe Leach and that this time-barred the malpractice 

claim against all defendants. 

This argument fails under Sidis. That decision held that under RCW 4.16.170, serving 

any one of multiple defendants tolls the statute of limitations against all the defendants, subject 

to the restriction that a defendant must in fact be served before the action may proceed against 

that defendant. Sidis, 117 Wn.2d at 329-30. As held above, Anderson Hunter, Gibbs, and 

Knapp were served on April 26, 2011 in compliance with CR 5(d)(1), well within 90 days of 

filing the complaint. Leach and Jane Doe Leach were served in June 2011, before Auer and 

Traster proceeded against them. Thus, under Sidis, Auer and Traster properly commenced their 

action against Anderson Hunter, Leach, Jane Doe Leach, Gibbs and Knapp.

5. Service on Jane Doe Gibbs and Jane Doe Knapp

No affidavit of service or any other evidence shows service of process on Jane Doe Gibbs 

or Jane Doe Knapp. Under Sidis, 117 Wn.2d at 329-30, a defendant must be served at some 

point to maintain an action against her. Therefore, we reverse the order of summary judgment as 

far as it denied Jane Doe Knapp and Jane Doe Gibbs dismissal of Auer’s and Traster’s 

malpractice claim as time-barred. We remand for the trial court to enter an order granting 

summary judgment dismissing the malpractice claim against Jane Doe Gibbs and Jane Doe 

Knapp on those grounds. 

C. The Malpractice Claim

Auer and Traster argue that the trial court erred by dismissing their malpractice claim on 

summary judgment because (1) the trial court applied an incorrect evidentiary standard when it 

required expert testimony on causation to survive the motion for summary judgment and (2) they 
No. 46105-6-II

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offered evidence that created genuine issues of material fact as to whether the lawyers’

malpractice proximately caused Auer’s and Traster’s injuries.10 We disagree.11

1. Applicable Legal Principles

A plaintiff must show four elements to succeed on a claim of legal malpractice: 

(1) the existence of an attorney-client relationship giving rise to a duty of 

care on the part of the lawyer; (2) an act or omission breaching that duty; (3) damage 

to the client; and (4) the breach of duty must have been a proximate cause of the 

damages to the client.

Nielson v. Eisenhower & Carlson, 100 Wn. App. 584, 589, 999 P.2d 42 (2000). 

Proximate cause provides “the nexus between breach of duty and resulting injury.” Estep 

v. Hamilton, 148 Wn. App. 246, 256, 201 P.3d 331 (2008). Establishing proximate cause 

requires showing that the alleged breach of a duty was both a cause-in-fact and a legal cause of 

the claimed injury. Nielson, 100 Wn. App. at 591. 

 

10 Auer and Traster also argue that the trial court erred by granting the lawyers summary 

judgment because they failed to show the absence of genuine issues of material fact with 

citations to the record as required by White v. Kent Medical Center, Inc., 61 Wn. App. 163, 170, 

810 P.2d 4 (1991). The lawyers, however, did point to the record to show that Auer and Traster 

had failed to support the essential elements of their claims with evidence. 

11 The lawyers raise a number of issues related to the dismissal of the malpractice claim that we 

do not address on their merits. 

First, the lawyers argue, for the first time on appeal, that the attorney judgment rule that 

we recognized in Clark County Fire Dist. No. 5 v. Bullivant Houser Bailey P.C., 180 Wn. App. 

689, 701-04, 324 P.3d 743, review denied, 181 Wn.2d 1008 (2014), shields them from liability. 

The lawyers failed to raise this issue to the trial court and we decline to consider it. RAP 2.5(a). 

Second, the lawyers also assign error to the trial court’s refusal to exclude certain 

evidence. They have waived this assignment of error because they fail to make any argument as 

to how or why the trial court erred. Instead, they simply incorporate their trial briefing. We do 

not allow parties to argue issues in that manner. U.S. W. Commc’ns, Inc. v. Wash. Utils. & 

Transp. Comm’n, 134 Wn.2d 74, 111-12, 949 P.2d 1337 (1997); Holland v. City of Tacoma, 90 

Wn. App. 533, 538, 954 P.2d 290 (1988). 

Finally, the lawyers give passing treatment to arguments that Auer and Traster have not 

supported their claims of damages. Again, we generally do not reach the merits of issues given 

passing treatment. Habitat Watch, 155 Wn.2d at 416 (quoting Thomas, 150 Wn.2d at 868-69). 
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Auer’s and Traster’s appeal concerns the cause-in-fact prong of proximate causation. An 

act is a cause-in-fact of an injury, if, “‘but for’” the act, the injury would not have occurred. Kim 

v. Budget Rent A Car Sys., Inc., 143 Wn.2d 190, 203, 15 P.3d 1283 (2001) (quoting Hertog v. 

City of Seattle, 138 Wn.2d 265, 282-83, 979 P.2d 400 (1999)). A cause-in-fact, in other words, 

is one that provides an “‘immediate connection between an act and an injury.’” Nielson, 100 

Wn. App. at 591 (quoting City of Seattle v. Blume, 134 Wn.2d 243, 251-52, 947 P.2d 223 

(1997)). Where the injury would occur regardless of any breach by the attorney, there is no “but 

for” connection between the breach and the injury; consequently, in malpractice cases the 

plaintiff must show that, absent the breach, he or she “‘would have prevailed or at least would 

have achieved a better result.’” Estep, 148 Wn. App. at 256 (quoting Halvorson v. Ferguson, 46 

Wn. App. 708, 719, 735 P.2d 675 (1986)); Geer v. Tonnen, 137 Wn. App. 838, 840, 155 P.3d 

163 (2007); Smith v. Preston Gates Ellis, LLP, 135 Wn. App. 859, 864, 147 P.3d 600 (2006); 

Griswold v. Kilpatrick, 107 Wn. App. 757, 760-61, 27 P.3d 246 (2001); see Sherry v. Diercks, 29 

Wn. App. 433, 438, 628 P.2d 1336 (1981).

2. Expert Testimony

Auer and Traster first contend that summary judgment was inappropriate because the trial 

court held them to an improper burden of proof by requiring expert testimony about causation in 

order to survive summary judgment. We disagree.

Auer and Traster contend that the trial court “did not find . . . that [the] plaintiffs had not 

established evidentiary facts to meet their burden.” Appellant’s Reply Br. at 5 (emphasis 

omitted). To the contrary, the trial court found no evidence in the record that would directly 

show, or allow the inference, that Auer and Traster would have prevailed or obtained a better 

result in the underlying trial without the defendants’ malpractice. As discussed below, it was 
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correct in that assessment. Given that lack of evidence, the trial court concluded that expert 

testimony was necessary to establish causation; otherwise the jury could only find the lawyers

had proximately caused Auer’s and Traster’s losses by pure speculation. 

The trial court did not apply an incorrect evidentiary burden. Washington has recognized 

that expert testimony is usually necessary where the jury could otherwise only find an element of 

negligence by pure speculation. See Estate of Bordon v. Dep’t of Corr., 122 Wn. App. 227, 243-

44, 95 P.3d 764 (2004). An opinion from Division One of this court, see Geer, 137 Wn. App. at 

851, and a treatise on legal malpractice, 4 R. Mallen & J. Smith, Legal Malpractice § 34:20, at 

1172 (2008 ed.), have recognized this principle’s application in the context of legal malpractice. 

The trial court’s order on summary judgment reflects the logic of this authority and the principle 

that a plaintiff alleging malpractice must introduce evidence of each element of his or her claim 

to avoid summary judgment. Geer, 137 Wn. App. at 851 n.11.

Auer and Traster also contend, in their reply brief, that the trial court erred by requiring 

expert testimony on causation because any such testimony would be speculative and 

impermissible. Auer and Traster, however, waived this argument by failing to raise it in their 

opening brief.12 Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley, 118 Wn.2d 801, 809, 828 P.2d 549 

(1992).

 

12 Regardless, their argument lacks merit. The type of expert testimony the trial court found 

necessary given the lack of other evidence of causation is analogous to the type of expert 

testimony about causation not only accepted, but generally required, in other types of 

professional malpractice claims. E.g., Harris v. Robert C. Groth, M.D., Inc., 99 Wn.2d 438, 449, 

663 P.2d 113 (1983); see Hill v. Sacred Heart Med. Ctr., 143 Wn. App. 438, 448, 117 P.3d 1152 

(2008).
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3. Causation

Auer and Traster next contend that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment, 

because they created genuine issues of material fact about causation. They contend that they 

showed (1) the failure to seek equitable relief, (2) the failure to seek timely discovery, and (3) the 

lawyers’ lack of diligence caused them damages. They also argue that (4) the lawyers’ 

pretextual withdrawal from representing them so soon before trial required them to retain a new 

attorney, resulting in higher attorney fees than they otherwise would have needed to pay. We 

consider these in turn. 

Auer and Traster did not present sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material 

fact that the lawyers’ failure to pursue equitable relief caused them damages. While Brain did 

opine that the pursuit of monetary damages breached the duty of care, he did not opine that this 

caused Auer and Traster any injury until his supplemental declaration. That declaration, 

however, was not before the trial court at the time of summary judgment, and we cannot consider 

it when reviewing the order on summary judgment. RAP 9.12. Without that declaration, Auer 

and Traster fail to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether they would have prevailed 

in the underlying action, or at least have fared better than they did. Further, establishing 

causation based on the failure to seek equitable relief requires Auer and Traster to show that the 

trial court would have found their remedies at law inadequate. Sorenson v. Pyeatt, 158 Wn.2d 

523, 531, 146 P.3d 1172 (2006) (equitable remedies unavailable unless damages at law 

inadequate). Brain never opined, in his original or supplemental declaration, that monetary 

damages were inadequate and Auer and Traster had no difficulty monetizing their losses.

Auer’s and Traster’s second argument, alleging the failure to seek timely discovery, also 

fails. Nothing in the record shows or allows an inference that Auer’s and Traster’s knowledge of 
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the underlying defendants’ insurance coverage limits would have affected how the parties would 

have proceeded in the underlying suit. Instead, Auer and Traster offer only speculation that the 

outcome of the underlying suit would have differed had the lawyers timely obtained discovery. 

That speculation is insufficient to create a genuine issue of material fact on the element of 

causation. Smith, 135 Wn. App. at 864; Young, 112 Wn.2d at 225-26. 

Auer’s and Traster’s third argument fares no better. Evidence in the record does create a 

genuine issue of material fact as to whether Auer and Traster settled because the lawyers’ lack of 

diligence left them without the resources necessary to continue pursuing their claims. There is a 

difference, though, between the lawyers’ actions causing Auer and Traster to accept the 

settlement and the lawyers’ actions causing them an injury. Any lack of diligence only caused 

Auer and Traster an injury if they would have received more than the settlement they accepted 

had they gone to trial, e.g., Estep, 148 Wn. App. at 256 (quoting Halvorson, 46 Wn. App. at 

719), and no evidence indicates or allows the inference that they would have. 

Auer’s and Traster’s fourth argument is that Gibbs offered pretextual reasons for 

withdrawing from his representation of them. Brain opined that Gibbs offered those pretextual 

reasons to advance the lawyers’ interests, instead of those of Auer and Traster. Auer and Traster 

also point out that Leach had testified in his deposition that he did not believe the disparity in 

damages to be a conflict.

This evidence, however, does not controvert the validity of Gibbs’ proffered reason for 

withdrawal: that the difference between the individual amounts at risk for Auer and Traster 

created a conflict of interest. Further, an attorney representing a client in a civil matter may only 

withdraw from representation with the permission of the court if the client objects to the 

withdrawal. Kingdom v. Jackson, 78 Wn. App. 154, 158, 896 P.2d 101 (1995); CR 71. The 
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attorneys presented the court with their reasons for withdrawing and received the trial court’s 

permission over Auer’s and Traster’s objections. Thus, the immediate cause of the withdrawal 

was the order of the trial court.

We recognize that Auer and Traster alleged that in his argument on withdrawal Gibbs 

made inaccurate representations to the court about Auer’s and Traster’s payment status and their 

failure to respond to his communications. We make no determination of the truth of these 

allegations. These representations, however, do not raise factual issues as to whether the 

asserted reason for withdrawal, the presence of a conflict, was an artifice or pretext. Rather, at 

most they may raise an issue as to the validity of the order of withdrawal. The validity of that 

action, though, is not before us.

Auer and Traster raise no genuine issues of material fact about causation as to their 

malpractice claim. The court properly entered summary judgment for the lawyers on that claim.

D. The CPA Claim

Auer and Traster also contend that the trial court erred by dismissing their CPA claims on 

summary judgment because they offered evidence that would create a genuine issue of material 

fact as to (1) whether the lawyers acted deceptively or unfairly in withdrawing from 

representation and (2) whether these deceptive or unfair acts affected the public interest. We 

affirm the order of summary judgment on the CPA claim on different grounds, because the 

evidence did not raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the lawyers’ actions related 

to withdrawal caused Auer and Traster injury.

1. Applicable Legal Principles

The CPA proscribes “[u]nfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or 

practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce.” RCW 19.86.020. The CPA contains a 
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private right of action allowing individuals to enforce its proscriptions. RCW 19.86.090. 

Success on a CPA claim requires a plaintiff to establish five elements: “(1) [an] unfair or 

deceptive act or practice; (2) occurring in trade or commerce; (3) [a] public interest impact, (4) 

injury to [the] plaintiff in his or her business or property[, and] (5) causation.” Hangman Ridge 

Training Stables, Inc. v. Safeco Title Ins. Co., 105 Wn.2d 778, 780, 719 P.2d 531 (1986). The 

failure to make the necessary showing on any of the elements defeats a CPA claim. Hangman 

Ridge, 105 Wn.2d at 784.

2. Causation

For the reasons set out above in the analysis of the malpractice claim, the lawyers’

withdrawal from representation was not the proximate cause of injury to Auer and Traster. Once 

Auer and Traster opposed it, withdrawal could only be granted by court order. After hearing 

from both sides, the trial court granted the withdrawal. Gibbs’ claimed misrepresentations to the 

court in arguing for withdrawal may raise a question about the basis for the order, but the validity 

of the court’s withdrawal order is not before us. Because the court ordered withdrawal in an 

action we must presume valid, the evidence does not show the needed causal link between the 

lawyers’ actions and Auer’s and Traster’s increased expenses due to the withdrawal. 

We may affirm a challenged decision on any grounds supported by the record. 

Accordingly, we affirm the order of summary judgment on the CPA claim.

II. RECONSIDERATION

Auer and Traster claim that the trial court improperly (1) excluded Brain’s supplemental 

declaration on reconsideration and (2) denied the motion for reconsideration. Again, we 

disagree.
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A. Applicable Legal Principles

We review a trial court’s decision on a motion for reconsideration for an abuse of 

discretion. Landstar Inway, Inc. v. Samrow, 181 Wn. App. 109, 120-121, 325 P.3d 327 (2014). 

We review a trial court’s “decision to consider new or additional evidence presented with a 

motion for reconsideration” for an abuse of discretion. Martini v. Post, 178 Wn. App. 153, 162, 

313 P.3d 473 (2013). A trial court abuses its discretion where it exercises its discretion in a 

manifestly unreasonable manner or on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons. SentinelC3, 

Inc. v. Hunt, 181 Wn.2d 127, 144, 331 P.3d 40 (2014).

B. Brain’s Supplemental Declaration

Auer and Traster first contend that the trial court abused its discretion when it refused to 

consider Brain's supplemental declaration, which they offered in conjunction with their motion 

for reconsideration, claiming that nothing in CR 59 or case law interpreting that rule prevented 

the trial court from considering new evidence on reconsideration. Auer and Traster correctly 

characterize the trial court’s ability to consider new evidence. The court, however, excluded 

Brain’s supplemental declaration as a discovery sanction: Auer and Traster had not provided 

Brain’s opinion as required by the discovery rules until long after the discovery cutoff. 

In Keck v. Collins, No. 90357-3, 2015 WL 5612829 (Sept. 24, 2015), the Supreme Court 

held that the trial court must consider the factors from Burnet, 131Wn.2d at 497-98, on the 

record before striking untimely filed evidence submitted in response to a summary judgment 

motion. Keck, No. 90357-3, 2015 WL 5612829 at *8. Our review of the trial court’s decision is 

for an abuse of discretion. Id. Only in their reply brief do Auer and Traster cite Burnet or argue 

that the trial court erred by excluding Brain’s supplemental declaration as a discovery sanction. 
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Under Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, 118 Wn.2d at 809, Auer and Traster waived this claim of 

error by failing to raise it until their reply brief. 

C. Denial of Reconsideration

Without Brain’s supplemental declaration, any new evidence considered by the trial court 

did not change the analysis of the causation issue: nothing before the court on reconsideration 

showed that Auer and Traster would likely have prevailed or obtained a better result in the 

underlying matter. With that, any claim of malpractice fails for lack of evidence to support the 

causation element, and reconsideration was unwarranted. Cf. Martini, 178 Wn. App. at 164 

(reconsideration of summary judgment warranted where all the evidence before the court 

establishes a genuine issue of material fact).

CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the lawyers on the 

malpractice and CPA claims. We also affirm the trial court’s order striking Brain’s supplemental 

declaration and its order denying reconsideration of the malpractice claim. On the cross-appeal, 

we affirm the trial court’s denial of summary judgment dismissing the malpractice claim against 

Anderson Hunter, Leach, Jane Doe Leach, Gibbs and Knapp as time-barred, but reverse the trial 

court’s denial of summary judgment dismissing the malpractice claim against Jane Doe Gibbs 

and Jane Doe Knapp on the same grounds. Accordingly, we remand for the trial court to enter an 

order granting summary judgment dismissing the malpractice claim against Jane Doe Gibbs and 
No. 46105-6-II

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Jane Doe Knapp as time-barred. 

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.

BJORGEN, A.C.J.

We concur:

LEE, J.

SUTTON, J.