Opinion ID: 2564768
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Bradley v. American Smelting and Refining Company

Text: ¶ 15 We turn now to a more recent case. Michael and Marie Bradley lived on Vashon Island. Microscopic airborne particles of heavy metal from American Smelting and Refining Company in Ruston had fallen on their land since 1905. In 1983, they brought suit in federal court, claiming a nuisance and continuing trespass. The federal court certified questions to this court, asking us to decide whether the pollutants constituted a trespass and what effect the statute of limitations had on the tort of continuing trespass. ¶ 16 We held the factory's conduct was a trespass. Bradley v. Am. Smelting & Ref. Co., 104 Wash.2d 677, 691-92, 709 P.2d 782 (1985). As a trespass, the three-year statute of limitations set forth in RCW 4.16.080(1) applied. Id. at 693, 709 P.2d 782. Finally, we held, the tort falls within the theory of continuing trespass. Id. (emphasis added). As such, damages were available within the 3-year period preceding suit. Id. at 695, 709 P.2d 782. ¶ 17 Bradley does not prevent the recovery of damages incurred after the lawsuit is filed. We recognize that the following line might cause confusion: we find it proper to also require that damages claimed not extend past the 3-year period of limitations. Id. at 693-94, 709 P.2d 782. ¶ 18 This is a retrospective limit. We did not limit damages to the sum total of three calendar years. Instead, we held that damages cannot be claimed past, i.e., before, the period of limitations. In other words, damages may not be claimed based on injuries sustained more than three years prior to filing.