Opinion ID: 1199837
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Most Significant Relationship Standard

Text: In an ordinary conflict of laws case, the applicable law is decided by determining which jurisdiction has the most significant relationship to a given issue. Johnson v. Spider Staging Corp., 87 Wn.2d 577, 580, 555 P.2d 997 (1976); Barr v. Interbay Citizens Bank, 96 Wn.2d 692, 697, 635 P.2d 441, 649 P.2d 827 (1981); Southwell v. Widing Transp., Inc., 101 Wn.2d 200, 204, 676 P.2d 477 (1984). See generally Philip A. Trautman, Evolution in Washington Choice of Law  A Beginning, 43 Wash. L. Rev. 309 (1967-1968). In this case, however, we do not reach the choice of law question because when California's interest is examined, it does not prove fundamentally incompatible with Washington's. To that extent, this is a false conflict case, [3] rendering the trial court's application of the presumptive local law  Washington law  proper.