Court Opinion

ID: 2648987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-01-13 22:30:57.394205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:55:17.997735
License: Public Domain

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      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON                         ^       ^3C
                                                                                             f£rnc
ROBERT K. HALL, a single man,                    NO. 68727-1-1                       ^       "§£.
and DAYLIGHT PROPERTIES, LLC,
a Washington limited liability company,          (Consolidated with
                                                 No. 68927-4-1)
                     Respondents,
                                                 DIVISION ONE
       v.

MATTHEW FEIGENBAUM and JANE                      PUBLISHED OPINION
DOE FEIGENBAUM, husband and
wife, and the marital community
comprised thereof,

                     Appellants.                 FILED: January 13, 2014

       Leach, C.J. — In this commercial unlawful detainer action, Matthew

Feigenbaum appeals multiple trial court orders, based primarily upon allegations

that Robert Hall failed to comply with the notice requirements of the parties' lease

and applicable statutes. Because Hall complied with these notice requirements

and Feigenbaum does not otherwise show reversible error, we affirm and award

Hall attorney fees incurred on appeal.

                                      FACTS

       In 2003, Matthew Feigenbaum entered into a commercial lease with

Robert K. Hall to operate a nightclub (premises).        The lease provided that

Feigenbaum's failure "to keep and perform any of the covenants and agreements
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[that] continues for twenty (20) days after written notice from Lessor" would

entitle Hall to either terminate and reenter or continue the lease and sublet the

space. The lease specified that "[a]ny notice required to be given ... to the

Lessee" would use the address of the premises or "such other address as either

party may designate to the other in writing."

      At some point, Feigenbaum stopped operating the nightclub.1 He did not
pay rent for September and October 2010. On November 5, 2010, Hall served

Feigenbaum with a three-day notice to pay or vacate by posting and mailing to

the premises. On December 1, Hall commenced an unlawful detainer action by

filing a summons and complaint and secured ex parte a temporary restraining

order and an order to show cause why a writ of restitution should not be issued.

The order restrained Feigenbaum from removing property from the premises but

did not restrict Feigenbaum's access to them and did not require that Hall post a

bond. The return date for both orders was December 17.

       Between December 1 and 3, Hall made six unsuccessful attempts to

personally serve Feigenbaum with the summons and complaint. After a court

commissioner entered an ex parte order allowing service by posting and mailing,

       1 Feigenbaum states that he stopped operating the nightclub and
attempted to sell the business in 2010. Hall states that Feigenbaum ceased
doing business in 2008.
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No. 68727-1-1 (consol. with
No. 68927-4-1) / 3

Hall mailed the pleadings to the premises on December 6 and posted them at the

premises on December 7. Feigenbaum received the pleadings on December 9.

        The court granted Hall's motion for a preliminary injunction, barring

Feigenbaum from removing personal property from the premises. The injunction

did not require a bond. The court ordered Feigenbaum to pay $14,400 into the

court's registry immediately for unpaid rent and to deposit future rent moneys into

the court's registry as they came due. Feigenbaum deposited the $14,400 but

did not pay January's rent. On January 7, 2011, the trial court found that "no

monthly rent payment currently due has been timely paid to the registry of the

court" and entered an order for writ of restitution. Finding that Feigenbaum was

properly served and received adequate notice, the court denied Feigenbaum's

motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. The court ordered that $12,700 of the

funds held in the court's registry be released to Hall.

        On August 30, 2011, Hall relet the premises to a new tenant. The new

tenant's lease provided for rent lower than the monthly rent that Feigenbaum

paid.

        On January 9, 2012, Feigenbaum filed a motion asking that the trial court

clarify whether the court had converted the unlawful detainer action into an
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ordinary civil action. On February 10, 2012, the court entered an order stating

that it had done so.

       On April 13, 2012, the court granted Hall summary judgment for

$136,809.29.     The judgment included rent through December 31, 2011,

decreased rent from January 1, 2012, to August 31, 2013, and costs related to

mitigation and cleaning.      On July 2, 2012, the court awarded Hall costs and

reasonable attorney fees totaling $43,000.00, bringing the final judgment to

$179,807.29. Feigenbaum appeals.

                                     ANALYSIS

Waiver of Certain Issues on Appeal

       Feigenbaum appealed a number of the trial court's orders in this lengthy

litigation but did not address them in his opening brief. We deem an issue not

briefed to be waived.2 We decline to review these orders. Moreover, although

Feigenbaum assigns error on appeal to the trial court's issuance of the temporary

restraining order and preliminary injunction, he did not raise the associated

issues below. An appellate court "may refuse to review any claim of error which

was not raised in the trial court."3 Consequently, we decline to review them here.

       2 Kadoranian v. Bellinqham Police Dep't. 119 Wash. 2d 178, 191, 829 P.2d
1061 (1992); see Norcon Builders. LLC v. GMP Homes VG. LLC. 161 Wash. App.
474, 486, 254 P.3d 385 (2011) (declining to consider an inadequately briefed
argument).
       3 RAP 2.5(a); Roberson v. Perez. 156 Wash. 2d 33, 39, 123 P.3d 844 (2005).
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Unlawful Detainer Actions Generally

       An unlawful detainer action brought under RCW 59.12.030 is a summary

proceeding designed to enable the recovery of possession of leased property.4
"The action is a narrow one, limited to the question of possession and related

issues such as restitution ofthe premises and rent."5 Due to the summary nature

of the action, a trial court generally does not permit the assertion of

counterclaims that are not '"based on facts which excuse a tenant's breach.'"6

The civil rules are the rules of practice for unlawful detainer actions,7 but when
the civil rules conflict with the unlawful detainer statute, the statute, as a "special

proceeding," controls.8 Washington courts require strict compliance with the time

and manner requirements for unlawful detainer actions9 and strictly construe
them in favor of the tenant.10 The superior court has jurisdiction over unlawful

detainer actions.11   The state constitution vests the superior court with broad

authority over real estate disputes, and the unlawful detainer statute explicitly

       4 Munden v. Hazelriqg, 105 Wash. 2d 39, 45, 711 P.2d 295 (1985).
       5 Munden, 105 Wash. 2d at 45.
       6 Munden, 105 Wash. 2d at 45 (quoting First Union Mamt.. Inc. v. Slack, 36
Wash. App. 849, 854, 679 P.2d 936 (1984)).
       7 RCW 59.12.180.
       8 CR 81(a); Christensen v. Ellsworth, 162 Wash. 2d 365, 374, 173 P.3d 228
(2007).
       9 Christensen, 162 Wash. 2d at 372.
       10 See Hous. Auth. v. Terry, 114 Wash. 2d 558, 569, 789 P.2d 745 (1990).
       11 RCW 59.12.050. Superior courts have broad general jurisdiction over
real estate disputes. See Wash. Const, art. IV, § 6.
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gives jurisdiction over unlawful detainer actions to the superior court.12 This
jurisdiction "remains constant regardless of procedural missteps by the parties,"13
but a party filing an action after improper notice "'may not maintain such action or

avail itself ofthe superior court's jurisdiction.'"14

Sufficiency of Service and Notice

       A challenge to the adequacy of notice presents a mixed question of law

and fact,15 which we review de novo.16

       RCW 59.12.040 provides that

       [a]ny notice provided for in this chapter shall be served either (1) by
       delivering a copy personally to the person entitled thereto; or (2) if
       he or she be absent from the premises unlawfully held, by leaving
       there a copy, with some person of suitable age and discretion, and
       sending a copy through the mail addressed to the person entitled
       thereto at his or her place of residence; or (3) if the person to be
       notified be a tenant, or an unlawful holder of premises, and his or
       her place of residence is not known, or if a person of suitable age
       and discretion there cannot be found then by affixing a copy of the
       notice in a conspicuous place on the premises unlawfully held, and
       also delivering a copy to a person there residing, if such a person
       can be found, and also sending a copy through the mail addressed

       12 Wash. Const, art. IV, § 6; Hous. Auth. v. Bin, 163 Wash. App. 367, 373-
74, 260 P.3d 900 (2011).
       13 Bin^ 163 Wash. App. at 373-74 (citing Tacoma Rescue Mission v. Stewart,
155 Wash. App. 250, 254 n.9, 228 P.3d 1289 (2010)).
       14 Bin, 163 Wash. App. at 374 (quoting Tacoma Rescue Mission, 155 Wn.
App. at 254 n.9).
      15 Speelman v. Bellinqham/Whatcom County Hous. Auths., 167 Wash. App.
624, 630, 273 P.3d 1035 (2012) (citing Miebach v. Colasurdo, 102 Wash. 2d 170,
175, 685 P.2d 1074 (1984)).
        16 Speelman, 167 Wash. App. at 630 (citing Humphrey Indus., Ltd. v. Clay
St. Assocs.. 170 Wash. 2d 495, 501-02, 242 P.3d 846 (2010)).
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      to the tenant, or unlawful occupant, at the place where the
      premises unlawfully held are situated.

      The purpose of the notice is to give a tenant "'at least one opportunity to

correct a breach before forfeiture of a lease under the accelerated restitution

provisions of RCW 59.12.'"17 Service by mail adds an additional day to the notice

requirement; therefore, when a landlord serves by mail, a tenant is not guilty of

unlawful detainer until four days after service.18

       The lease required that "any notice required to be given" to Feigenbaum

be sent to the premises. In case of default, the lease provided for 20 days' notice

before the start of any legal action.        On November 5, 2010, Hall served

Feigenbaum with the 3-day notice to pay or vacate pursuant to RCW

59.12.040(3), affixing and then mailing a copy of the notice to the premises. Hall

filed the eviction summons and complaint on December 1, 2010: over 20 days

after posting and mailing the notice to pay rent or vacate.

       Hall knew the nightclub was no longer operating, but Feigenbaum did not

change his address for lease notice purposes, as required by the lease. The

repeated use of the word "or" in RCW 59.12.040 implies that (1), (2), and (3) are

equal alternatives for notice under chapter 59.12 RCW, with alternative (3) a

       17 Christensen, 162 Wash. 2d at 371 (quoting Terry. 114 Wash. 2d at 569).
       18 RCW 59.12.040; Christensen, 162 Wash. 2d at 371.
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logical choice when a plaintiff does not know a defendant's home address.19
Feigenbaum argues that Hall knew his home address and so did not comply with

RCW 59.12.040.       However, Feigenbaum offers no evidence to support this

assertion and does not assert that he provided Hall with a written notice of a

changed address for receiving written notices, pursuant to the lease. At best,

Feigenbaum raises a factual dispute that the trial court resolved in favor of Hall.

Substantial evidence supports the trial court's findings.

       Feigenbaum also argues that Hall's service of a 3-day notice to pay or

vacate, when the lease required 20 days' notice of default before a legal action

could be filed, invalidated service and precluded the trial court from obtaining

personal or subject matter jurisdiction. He relies on Community Investments. Ltd.

v. Safeway Stores, Inc..20 where the plaintiff landlord served the commercial

tenant with a 10-day notice when the lease required 20 days' notice to cure any

default. This reliance is misplaced. In Community Investments, what the court

       19 See 17 William B. Stoebuck & John W. Weaver, Washington
Practice: Real Estate: Property Law § 6.80, at 441 (2d ed. 2004) ("RCWA
59.12.040 is quite explicit about the manner of serving notice. . . . [I]f service
cannot be made by the first method, or if either step of the second method
cannot be accomplished, then the person serving notice should affix a copy in a
'conspicuous place' on the premises; hand a copy to any person 'there residing' if
such a person is present; and mail a copy to the tenant at the demised
premises.").
       20 36 Wash. App. 34, 36-37, 671 P.2d 289 (1983).
                                         -8-
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found improper was not the form of the notice but the insufficient waiting period:

the landlord commenced a legal action 19 days after giving notice.21
       First Union Management. Inc. v. Slack22 is on point.         In First Union,

defendant tenants contended that their landlord's 3-day notice was improper

because their lease required 10 days' notice.23 The court disagreed, concluding
that the clause in the lease did not address notice required in an unlawful

detainer action but only specified that the landlord could not bring suit under the

lease unless the tenants failed to pay rent within 10 days of the due date, i.e.,

when tenants were in default for the prescribed period.24 This court noted that
the tenants did not allege that the landlord terminated their lease or their right of

possession before the requisite 10-day period had elapsed.25
       Hall's notice was titled "3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate." However,

Hall did not exercise his rights by commencing a legal action until December 1,

more than 20 days after serving notice to Feigenbaum. Feigenbaum does not

contend that he was misled or deceived by the language of the notice or that Hall

terminated his lease or his right of possession before 20 days had elapsed.26

       21 Cmtv. Invs., 36 Wash. App. at 37-38.
       22 36 Wash. App. 849, 679 P.2d 936 (1984).
       23 First Union Mqmt., 36 Wash. App. at 859.
       24 First Union Mqmt., 36 Wash. App. at 859.
       25 First Union Mqmt., 36 Wash. App. at 859.
       26 See Davis v. Jones, 15 Wash. 2d 572, 576-78, 131 P.2d 430 (1942)
(finding notice valid when the initial notice and summons "performed the function
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Feigenbaum made no attempts to cure his default, either within 3 days or 20

days. Hall complied with both RCW 59.12.040 and the terms of the lease in

giving Feigenbaum notice of default.

      RCW 59.12.070 describes the requirements for the unlawful detainer

summons and complaint. The statute specifies that

      [a] summons must be issued as in other cases, returnable at a day
      designated therein, which shall not be less than seven nor more
      than thirty days from the date of service, except in cases where the
      publication of summons is necessary, in which case the court or
      judge thereof may order that the summons be made returnable at
      such time as may be deemed proper, and the summons shall
      specify the return day so fixed.

      After attempting to personally serve Feigenbaum from December 1 to 3,

Hall obtained an order from the trial court permitting him to post and mail the

summons and complaint to the premises.          The court also set a show cause

hearing for December 17. Hall mailed the pleadings on December 6 and posted

them at the premises on December 7.

       Feigenbaum contends that he had 90 days to answer the summons under

CR 4(d)(4) and that Hall's service of the mailed eviction summons did not give

the notice required by CR 6(e).27 While the civil rules govern unlawful detainer

of giving notice according to the statutory requirements with such particularity as
not to deceive or mislead").
       27 CR 6(e) provides,
         Additional Time After Service by Mail. Whenever a party has
         the right or is required to do some act or take some proceedings
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proceedings, where the civil rules conflict with the unlawful detainer statute they

are inapplicable because unlawful detainer actions are "special proceedings"

within the meaning ofCR 81(a).28 RCW 59.12.070 requires the return date for an

unlawful detainer summons "shall not be less than seven nor more than thirty

days from the date of service." This is consistent with the statute's purpose as a

summary means of resolving leased property disputes.           Feigenbaum admits

receiving the summons and complaint by mail on December 9. The return date

for the show cause hearing was December 17. Thus, Hall served Feigenbaum

not less than 7 days before the summons's return date. Feigenbaum received

sufficient notice of the return date to respond to the summons and complaint.

We conclude that statutory process was proper and thus that the trial court

properly exercised its jurisdiction.

The Requirement of an Injunction Bond

       On April 22, 2011, the court denied Feigenbaum's motions to dismiss and

to require the court to set a bond for the preliminary injunction and a bond for the

writ of restitution.   Feigenbaum assigns error to the court's issuance of the

injunction and writ without requiring a bond.

          within a prescribed period after the service of a notice or other
          paper upon him and the notice or paper is served upon him by
          mail, 3 days shall be added to the prescribed period.
       28 Christensen, 162 Wash. 2d at 374.
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       RCW 7.40.080 states, "No injunction or restraining order shall be granted

until the party asking it shall enter into a bond, in such a sum as shall be fixed by

the court or judge granting the order." The Washington State Supreme Court has

held that while the amount of a bond for an injunction under RCW 7.40.080 is

within the discretion of the trial court,29 the requirement of an injunction bond is

mandatory.30

       Similarly, RCW 59.12.090 requires that before a writ of restitution is issued

prior to judgment, the plaintiff "shall execute to the defendant and file in court a

bond in such sum as the court or judge may order."

       The form order for the temporary restraining order and order to show

cause entered by the trial court had two "check the box" alternatives: "without

posting of a bond by the Plaintiff" and "upon posting of a bond in the amount of

$       by Plaintiff." The trial court here checked the space next to the first

alternative.   Neither the court's order granting the preliminary injunction nor its

order authorizing the writ of restitution required a bond. The trial court erred by

not ordering a bond as required by chapter 59.12 RCW and chapter 7.40 RCW.

       29 See RCW 4.44.470; Hockley v. Hargitt. 82 Wash. 2d 337, 345, 510 P.2d
1123(1973).
       30 Evar, Inc. v. Kurbitz, 77 Wash. 2d 948, 951, 468 P.2d 677 (1970); Irwin v.
Estes, 77 Wash. 2d 285, 286, 461 P.2d 875 (1969).
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       "'[Ejrror is not prejudicial unless, within reasonable probabilities, had the

error not occurred, the outcome of the trial would have been materially

affected.'"31 Feigenbaum demonstrates no prejudice from this error. Therefore,

we do not consider this issue further.

Conversion of the Case from Unlawful Detainer to Ordinary Civil Case

       In an unlawful detainer action, "'the court sits as a special statutory

tribunal to summarily decide the issues authorized by statute and not as a court

of general jurisdiction with the power to hear and determine other issues.'"32 Due
to the summary nature of unlawful detainer proceedings, other claims, such as

counterclaims, are generally not permitted.33 However,

       "[wjhere the right to possession ceases to be at issue at any time
       between the commencement of an unlawful detainer action and trial
       of that action, the proceeding may be converted into an ordinary
       civil suit for damages, and the parties may then properly assert any
       cross claims, counterclaims, and affirmative defenses."1 ]
The trial court "has inherent power to fashion the method by which an unlawful

detainer action is converted to an ordinary civil action."35

       31 State v. Smith. 106 Wash. 2d 772, 780, 725 P.2d 951 (1986) (quoting State
v. Cunningham. 93 Wash. 2d 823, 831, 613 P.2d 1139 (1980)).
       32 Angelo Prop. Co. v. Hafiz, 167 Wash. App. 789, 808-09, 274 P.3d 1075
(quoting Granat v. Keasler, 99 Wash. 2d 564, 571, 663 P.2d 830 (1983)), review
denied. 175 Wash. 2d 1012 (2012).
       33 Munden, 105 Wash. 2d at 45 (quoting Granat, 99 Wash. 2d at 570).
       34 Munden, 105 Wash. 2d at 45-46.
       35 Munden, 105 Wash. 2d at 47.
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         Feigenbaum paid no rent after his deposit of $14,400 into the registry of

the court in December 2010. The court entered an order for a writ of restitution

restoring the property to Hall on January 7, 2011. We hold that the trial court,

finding that possession of the premises was no longer at issue, acted within its

discretion when it converted the case from an unlawful detainer to an ordinary

civil action for damages on February 10, 2012.

The Order on Summary Judgment and Award of Damages

         Feigenbaum claims the court erred in entering summary judgment

awarding Hall damages, statutory costs, and attorney fees. This court reviews

de novo a trial court's summary judgment order. We engage in the same inquiry

as the trial court, considering the facts and all reasonable inferences from the

facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.36 "Summary judgment is
properly granted if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and

admissions on file, together with the affidavits, show that there is no genuine

issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment

as a matter of law."37

         36 Right-Price Recreation, LLC v. Connells Prairie Cmtv. Council, 146
Wash. 2d 370, 381, 46 P.3d 789 (2002).
         37 Phillips v. King County, 136 Wash. 2d 946, 956, 968 P.2d 871 (1998); CR
56(c).
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       After hearing oral argument on 12 separate occasions and reviewing

pleadings, motions, memoranda, declarations, and affidavits from both parties,

the trial court found that Feigenbaum was in breach of the lease for nonpayment

of rent.    The court found that Hall did not breach or default on any of his

obligations under the lease and that he mitigated damages by reletting the

premises.

       Feigenbaum conceded to the court that he had not complied with the

court's order to deposit future rent into the court's registry. In spite of over two

years of litigation, Feigenbaum raised no genuine issue of any material fact

regarding his unlawful detainer of the premises and breach of the lease. We hold

that the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment to Hall.

       The trial court awarded Hall $136,807.29, comprised of $108,969.00 for

rent due under the lease, $21,016.00 for the deficiency between Feigenbaum's

rent and the rent paid by the new lessee during the balance of Feigenbaum's

lease term, and $6,822.29 for Hall's costs for mitigation and cleaning.

       The lease provided that in case of Feigenbaum's default, Hall had the right

to either

       terminate the Lease and re-enter the Premises, or. . . without
       terminating this Lease, re-enter said Premises, and sublet the
       whole or any part thereof for the account of the Lessee upon as
       favorable terms and conditions as the market will allow for the
       balance of the term of this Lease and Lessee covenants and
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       agrees to pay to Lessor any deficiency arising from a re-letting of
       the Premises at a lesser amount than herein agreed to.

RCW 59.12.170 provides that the court "shall assess the damages

occasioned to the plaintiff. . . alleged in the complaint and proved on the

trial, and . . . find the amount ofany rent due."38
       RCW 59.12.170 entitles Hall to damages and "any rent due," and

the lease entitles him to any deficiency in rent payments arising from the

need to relet following default.    Feigenbaum failed to raise any genuine

issue of material fact about what he owed Hall. We affirm the trial court's

order on summary judgment and award of damages and costs to Hall.

Attorney Fees

       Feigenbaum also appeals the trial court's award to Hall of $43,000

in reasonable attorney fees and costs.           This court applies a two-part

review to awards or denials of attorney fees:         (1) the court reviews de

novo whether a legal basis exists for awarding attorney fees by statute,

under contract, or in equity and (2) the court reviews the reasonableness

of an attorney fee award for abuse of discretion.39 Atrial court abuses its

       38 RCW 59.12.170 also provides for double rent and damages; Hall has
waived this claim on appeal.
       39 Gander v. Yeager, 167 Wash. App. 638, 647, 282 P.3d 1100 (2012).
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No. 68927-4-l)/17

discretion when its decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on

untenable grounds.40
       Here, the lease provides for attorney fees and costs to the

prevailing party. In determining the appropriate amount, the trial court

apparently took into consideration not only Hall's request but also

Feigenbaum's objection to the inclusion of fees associated with vacated

judgments. We hold that Hall was entitled to attorney fees as a matter of

law and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in its award.

       Hall requests fees on appeal. A contract providing for an award of

attorney fees at trial also supports such an award on appeal. Hall is the

prevailing party in this appeal. Subject to his compliance with RAP 18.1,

we award Hall his attorney fees on appeal in an amount to be determined

by a commissioner of this court.

       Affirmed.

                                                       /uz^^) C
WE CONCUR:

                                                                          J
           )ixv. ICT Grp., Inc.. 160 Wash. 2d 826, 833, 161 P.3d 1016 (2007).
                                         -17-