Court Opinion

ID: 4435868
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-04 20:18:16.567652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:51:49.120286
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                           Washington State
                                                                                           Court of Appeals
                                                                                            Division Two

                                                                                           September 4, 2019

       IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                            DIVISION II
    In the Matter of the Guardianship of:                              No. 51591-1-II

    CHERYL RUSSELL,

                      An Incapacitated Person.                  UNPUBLISHED OPINION

          LEE, J. — Earl Russell appeals the superior court’s denial of his motion to revise a superior

court commissioner’s order denying his motion for CR 60(b) relief from an order approving the

guardian’s reports in his mother’s guardianship proceeding. Earl1 argues that the superior court

abused its discretion in denying his motion to revise because his mother’s guardian never provided

notice of the underlying proceeding that led to the entry of an order approving the guardian’s

reports. He also challenges the superior court’s subject matter jurisdiction over his mother’s trust

and two of the superior court’s findings of fact in its order on revision. We affirm.

                                                 FACTS

A.        THE LIVING TRUST

          Cheryl Russell established a revocable living trust in 2008. The trust instrument named

Cheryl as the trustee and provided Cheryl exclusive power during her lifetime to control and direct

1
  Because multiple parties share the last name “Russell,” we refer to the parties by their first names
for clarity. We mean no disrespect.
No. 51591-1-II

payments, remove trust property, and amend or revoke the trust. The trust also provided for the

distribution of Cheryl’s remaining property to her children upon her death, including to her son

Earl.

        In 2011, Cheryl amended the trust and designated Earl as the successor trustee in the event

of her disability. Under the terms of the trust, Cheryl shall be deemed disabled upon a court

determination that she is incompetent, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to effectively manage

her property or financial affairs.

B.      ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN

        In May 2016, Earl filed a petition for guardianship, wherein he alleged that Cheryl, who

was 76 years old at the time, was exhibiting signs of dementia and was unable to manage her

personal and financial affairs. Earl asked the superior court to appoint a guardian of Cheryl’s

person and estate.

        The superior court appointed a guardian ad litem (GAL) to meet with Cheryl and prepare

a written report. Following an investigation, the GAL recommended that Cheryl be found

incapacitated and that Anchor Guardianship Services, Inc. be appointed to serve as limited

guardian of Cheryl’s person and full guardian of her estate.

        Earl filed an objection to the GAL’s recommendation and asked the superior court to

appoint him as guardian for his mother. The court denied this request and on September 2,

appointed Anchor Guardianship to serve as full guardian of Cheryl’s estate and limited guardian

of her person. In its order appointing Anchor Guardianship, the court entered a finding that “[t]here

is a [L]iving Trust in place to manage most of Cheryl Russell’s financial assets. The trust shall

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No. 51591-1-II

remain in place for the named trustee to manage assets pursuant to its terms and directions.”

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 116. The order also authorized the guardian:

       To close any financial accounts, including bank accounts held individually or
       jointly with another, and to make withdrawals, deposits or transfer of funds into or
       out of any such accounts, without the necessity of obtaining the written authority
       of any other person named on any such joint accounts and opening guardianship
       accounts for the Incapacitated Person. The signature of the guardian of the estate
       holds the full force and effect of the signature of CHERYL RUSSELL with all the
       rights and authority and access to the asset as the signature of CHERYL RUSSELL
       would provide, whether the account is individually held by CHERYL RUSSELL
       or held jointly with another person;

                ....

              . . . To convert all holdings, including but not limited to, savings accounts,
       money market accounts, IRAs, mutual funds, stocks, bonds, cash, automobiles,
       mobile homes, and any other personal property, including pension annuities, 401Ks
       and any other income, into the name of said guardian for the purposes of the
       guardianship.

CP at 119-20.

       The superior court’s order identified the due date as December 1 for the guardian’s 90 day

reports, which included the guardian’s initial personal care plan, inventory, and proposed budget.

The order also listed January 6, 2017, as the next court date to review the 90 day reports.

C.     EARL’S REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE

       On September 26, 2016, Earl filed a request for special notice pursuant to RCW 11.92.150.2

In his request, Earl identified himself as “A relative of the Incapacitated Person.” CP at 85. He

2
  RCW 11.92.150 allows any relative of the incapacitated person in a guardianship proceeding to
submit a written request stating the specific action for which he or she request advance notice. If
the applicant does not specify which matters for which notice is requested, the guardian or limited
guardian “shall provide copies of all documents filed with the court and advance notice of his or
her application for court approval of any action in the guardianship.” RCW 11.92.150.

                                                 3
No. 51591-1-II

asked for “special notice of all matters, steps, and proceeding described in RCW 11.92.150,

including a copy of all documents filed with the Court and advance notice of any application for

Court approval of any action in the guardianship.” CP at 85.

D.     ORDER APPROVING THE GUARDIAN’S 90 DAY REPORTS

       On December 2, Anchor Guardianship filed its 90 day reports. The inventory identified a

$6,500 monthly trust fund allowance as part of Cheryl’s monthly income. The inventory also

explained that Cheryl had created a revocable living trust and that Earl was the successor trustee

due to Cheryl’s incapacity. The inventory stated that “Earl Russell, in his role as Trust Manager,

will continue to provide funds from the Trust for IP’s use and benefit, as necessary.” CP at 52.

The inventory also listed the current trust fund balance as approximately $2.5 million. These

reports were not served on Earl at the time they were filed.

       On December 21, Anchor Guardianship filed a docket notice for the January 6, 2017,

hearing. The docket notice identified the nature of the January 6 hearing as “APPROVAL OF

FIRST ANNUAL ACCOUNTING.” CP at 23. Anchor Guardianship also filed a petition for

approval of its 90 day reports. The petition requested that Earl, as trustee of Cheryl’s trust,

continue to pay $6,500 per month and to also “pay any expenses that exceed her monthly income”

from the trust. CP at 38. Anchor Guardianship provided Earl a copy of the petition for approval

of 90 day reports and the docket notice of the January 6 hearing.

       A hearing on Anchor Guardianship’s petition for approval of its 90 day reports was held

before the superior court on January 6, 2017. Earl did not attend the hearing. The court entered

an order approving Anchor Guardianship’s 90 day reports (1/6/17 order). The 1/6/17 order

                                                 4
No. 51591-1-II

obligated Earl, as trustee of Cheryl’s trust, to pay a monthly sum of $6,500 to the guardianship and

“any expenses that exceed the monthly income of [Cheryl].” CP at 10. Earl received a copy of

the initial personal care plan and inventory on January 11.

E.     MOTION TO VACATE AND MOTION TO REVISE

       On May 12, Earl, in his capacity as trustee of Cheryl’s trust, filed an amended CR 60(b)

motion to vacate the January 1/6/17 order approving Anchor Guardianship’s 90 day reports. Earl

acknowledged that he had received a copy of the Anchor Guardianship’s petition for approval of

90 day reports on December 23. However, Earl argued that relief from judgment was warranted

under CR 60(b)(1) because Anchor Guardianship did not provide him with a copy of the initial

personal care plan and inventory until after the January 6 hearing. The petition contained the

following request:

              [Cheryl] has funds available in excess of approximately 2.5 million from
       the Cheryl Russell Living Trust, of which she is the sole beneficiary. Even though
       [Cheryl] has funds in Vanguard Roth IRA[s], [Cheryl]’s CPA has suggested to the
       Guardian that funds should be pulled from the Trust and not the IRA[s] if needed
       to support [Cheryl]. The Guardian is thus requesting the Trustee to continue to pay
       the $6,500 per month to [Cheryl] and also pay any expenses that exceed her
       monthly income.

CP at 38.

       Earl also argued that the superior court did not have jurisdiction over Cheryl’s trust and

that the court’s lack of jurisdiction was an extraordinary circumstance justifying relief under CR

60(b)(11). Earl claimed that the Anchor Guardianship’s failure to make timely service of the initial

personal care plan and inventory and to provide him notice of the correct subject for the January 6

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No. 51591-1-II

hearing were an extraordinary circumstances justifying relief under CR 60(b)(11). On June 16, a

superior court commissioner denied Earl’s CR 60(b) motion to vacate the 1/6/17 order.

       Earl then filed with the superior court a motion to revise the court commissioner’s order

denying his motion to vacate the 1/6/17 order. Earl argued that the commissioner had ignored the

jurisdictional issues he had raised, and he again claimed that the late service of the initial personal

care plan and inventory was a procedural irregularity justifying relief.

       The superior court heard Earl’s motion to revise on November 17. In issuing its oral ruling,

the superior court observed that Judge Brosey, who had entered the underlying 1/6/17 order, was

“very thorough” and “incredibly attentive to detail.” Verbatim Report Proceedings (VRP) (Nov.

17, 2017) at 21. The superior court found that Earl had sufficient notice of the January 6 hearing

and held that the late service of the initial personal care plan and inventory was not an extraordinary

circumstance justifying relief under CR 60(b)(11). Thus, the superior court denied Earl’s motion

to revise the commissioner’s order denying Earl’s CR 60(b) motion to vacate the 1/6/17 order.

       The superior court entered several findings of fact in its written order denying Earl’s

motion to revise, including “the court takes judicial notice of the carefulness of Judge Brosey in

matters appearing before him and he vigorously reviews the files before the hearings.” CP at 604.

The court also entered a finding “that the appropriate remedy for the 1/6/17 order was appeal or

request for discretionary review.” CP at 605.

       Earl appeals the superior court’s order denying revision of the commissioner’s order

denying Earl’s CR 60(b) motion to vacate.

                                                  6
No. 51591-1-II

                                                 ANALYSIS

A.     MOTION FOR REVISION

       Earl argues that the superior court erred in denying his motion to revise the court

commissioner’s order denying his motion for CR 60(b) relief to vacate the 1/6/17 order because

(1) Anchor Guardianship never provided Earl notice of the January 6 hearing or a copy of the

initial personal care plan and inventory, and (2) the superior court did not have subject matter

jurisdiction over Cheryl’s trust. We disagree.

       1.      Standard of Review and Legal Principles

       On a motion for revision, the superior court reviews a superior court commissioner’s ruling

de novo based on the evidence and issues presented to the court commissioner. RCW 2.24.050;

In re the Marriage of Williams, 156 Wash. App. 22, 27, 232 P.3d 573 (2010). When a party appeals

from an order denying revision of a court commissioner’s decision, we review the superior court’s

decision, not the commissioner’s ruling. In re Guardianship of Decker, 188 Wash. App. 429, 438,

353 P.3d 669, review denied, 184 Wash. 2d 1015 (2015).

       We review a superior court’s revision of a commissioner’s ruling under RCW 2.24.050 for

an abuse of discretion.3 See In re Marriage of Dodd, 120 Wash. App. 638, 644, 86 P.3d 801 (2004).

A court abuses its discretion if it exercises its discretion on untenable grounds or for untenable

reasons. Williams, 156 Wash. App. at 27. We defer to the superior court’s findings of fact, and we

3
   Earl incorrectly maintains that the standard of review is de novo because he argues that the
superior court made several errors of law. Alleging that the superior court misinterpreted the law
does not change our standard of review. However, we will find an abuse of discretion where the
lower court’s ruling is based on a misinterpretation of a statute or rule. Diaz v. Med. Ctr. Lab.,
Inc., 175 Wash. 2d 457, 462, 285 P.3d 873 (2012).

                                                  7
No. 51591-1-II

do not substitute our judgment for that of the superior court. In re Marriage of Dodd, 120 Wn.

App. at 644; State v. Ramer, 151 Wash. 2d 106, 115, 86 P.3d 132 (2004).

        “‘Irregularities pursuant to CR 60(b)(1) occur when there is a failure to adhere to some

prescribed rule or mode of proceeding, such as when a procedural matter that is necessary for the

orderly conduct of trial is omitted or done at an unreasonable time or in an improper manner.’”

Lane v. Brown & Haley, 81 Wash. App. 102, 106, 912 P.2d 1040 (1996) (quoting Mosbrucker v.

Greenfield Implement, Inc., 54 Wash. App. 647, 652, 774 P.2d 1267 (1989)).

       Relief under CR 60(b)(11) is limited to situations involving extraordinary circumstances

that are not covered by any other section of the rule. Union Bank, N.A. v. Vanderhoek Assocs.,

191 Wash. App. 836, 844, 365 P.3d 223 (2015). Extraordinary circumstances involve irregularities

extraneous to the action of the court and are generally confined to unusual circumstances that are

outside the control of either party. Tatham v. Rogers, 170 Wash. App. 76, 100, 283 P.3d 583 (2012);

State v. Gamble, 168 Wash. 2d 161, 169, 225 P.3d 973 (2010).

       2.      Failure to Provide Notice

       Earl first argues that the superior court erred in finding that he had notice of the January 6

hearing, relying on the fact that the docket notice incorrectly identified the nature of the January 6

hearing as “‘Approval of First Annual Accounting.’” Br. of Appellant at 23 (quoting CP at 23).

Earl also argues that the superior court should have revised the commissioner’s ruling and vacated

the order approving the guardian’s 90 day reports because he did not receive a copy of the initial

personal care plan or inventory until after the January 6 hearing. We disagree.

                                                  8
No. 51591-1-II

       As an initial matter, we note that Earl’s arguments conflate his dual roles. Earl filed a

petition for guardianship as Cheryl’s son. And he requested special notice of all matters and

proceedings in the guardianship as “A relative of the Incapacitated Person.” CP at 85. However,

Earl filed his CR 60(b) motion to vacate and his motion to revise the commissioner’s order denying

his motion to vacate in his capacity as trustee of Cheryl’s trust, not as her relative. Thus, Earl’s

reliance on his request for special notice as Cheryl’s relative is misplaced on review of the motions

he brought in his capacity as trustee of Cheryl’s trust.

       Guardianships are created by the courts to protect vulnerable persons who are unable to

provide for their basic needs or manage their own financial affairs. RCW 11.88.005. The scope

of a guardianship is expressly limited to the minimum extent necessary to adequately protect an

incapacitated person’s health, safety, or ability to adequately manage his or her financial affairs.

RCW 11.88.005. Once appointed, a guardian serves under the general direction and control of the

court. In re Guardianship of Cornelius, 181 Wash. App. 513, 523, 326 P.3d 718 (2014). However,

the court retains the ultimate responsibility for protecting the ward’s person and estate. In re

Guardianship of Lamb, 173 Wash. 2d 173, 184, 265 P.3d 876 (2011).

       The guardianship statutes provide a mechanism by which interested persons may request

notice of actions in the guardianship:

       At any time after the issuance of letters of guardianship in the estate of any person
       and/or incapacitated person, any person interested in the estate, or in the
       incapacitated person, or any relative of the incapacitated person . . . may serve upon
       the guardian or limited guardian . . . a written request stating the specific actions of
       which the applicant requests advance notice. Where the notice does not specify
       matters for which notice is requested, the guardian or limited guardian shall provide
       copies of all documents filed with the court and advance notice of his or her
       application for court approval of any action in the guardianship.

                                                  9
No. 51591-1-II

RCW 11.92.150.

       Here, Earl requested notice of actions in Cheryl’s guardianship under RCW 11.92.150.

Anchor Guardianship provided Earl with a copy of the petition for approval of its 90 day reports

and the docket notice for the January 6 hearing. However, the docket notice for the January 6

hearing incorrectly identified the nature of the January 6 hearing as “APPROVAL OF FIRST

ANNUAL ACCOUNTING.” CP at 23. And Anchor Guardianship did not provide to Earl a copy

of the initial personal care plan and inventory until after the hearing.

       Earl argues that Anchor Guardianship’s failure to comply with the special notice statute

was a procedural irregularity compelling relief from judgment under CR 60(b)(1). However, the

purpose of notice statutes is to provide due process for a nonmoving party and to allow that party

an opportunity to intelligently respond. See Nisqually Delta Ass’n v. City of DuPont, 103 Wash. 2d
720, 727, 696 P.2d 1222 (1985). Under the facts of this case, Earl was provided due process and

was not prejudiced by the defective notice.

       It is true that the docket notice of the January 6 hearing incorrectly identified the nature of

the January 6 hearing as “APPROVAL OF FIRST ANNUAL ACCOUNTING.” CP at 23.

However, the order appointing Anchor Guardianship as limited guardian of Cheryl’s person and

full guardian of Cheryl’s estate, a copy of which was provided to Earl, specifically ordered that a

hearing to review the guardian’s initial reports be held on January 6, 2017. And Anchor

Guardianship provided Earl a copy of its petition for approval of 90 day reports on December 23,

2016. The petition clearly stated that Anchor Guardianship was requesting the court to order the

trustee of Cheryl’s trust to continue to pay $6,500 per month “and to pay any expenses that exceed

                                                  10
No. 51591-1-II

[Cheryl]’s monthly income.” CP at 39. Thus, the record does not support Earl’s contention that

he was never provided notice as to the nature of the January 6 hearing that led to the 1/6/17 order.

       Therefore, although Anchor Guardianship did not provide a copy of the initial personal

care plan and inventory to Earl until after the January 6 hearing, under the circumstances of this

case, Earl received due process.4 The superior court did not abuse its discretion in denying Earl’s

motion to revise on this basis.

       And to the extent Earl’s motion to vacate was based on CR 60(b)(11), his delay in receiving

a copy of these documents was not an extraordinary circumstance justifying relief. CR 60(b)(11)

is a catchall provision that allows a lower court to vacate a judgment for “[a]ny other reason

justifying relief.” CR 60(b)(11).

       Earl makes no effort to explain how late service of the initial personal care plan and

inventory constituted an extraordinary circumstance justifying relief under CR 60(b)(11). Instead,

he combines his argument under CR 60(b)(11) with his argument under CR 60(b)(1). Because

Earl fails to show that late service of these documents was an extraordinary circumstance justifying

relief under CR 60(b), he fails to show the superior court’s ruling was an abuse of discretion.5

4
    Earl also filed a statement of additional authorities, citing the Uniform Guardianship,
Conservatorship, and Other Protection Arrangements Act, SECOND SUBSTITUTE S.B. 5604, 66th
Leg., Reg. Sess. (Wash. 2019). Signed on May 21, 2019, this Act adds a new chapter to Title 11
RCW, and repeals a number of existing guardianship statutes, including RCW 11.92.150.
However, the Act does not take effect until January 1, 2021, and is therefore not applicable to the
issues raised here. Laws of 2019, ch. 437, § 807.
5
  Earl also raises several arguments on behalf of Cheryl and his sister Holly. We have repeatedly
held that a third party does not have standing to raise another party’s or an incapacitated person’s
due process rights. Decker, 188 Wash. App. at 445 (former attorney of incapacitated person in
guardianship case did not have standing to vindicate her due process rights); In re Guardianship

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No. 51591-1-II

       3.      Subject Matter Jurisdiction

       Next, Earl challenges the superior court’s subject matter jurisdiction over Cheryl’s trust.

According to Earl, the 1/6/17 order approving the guardian’s 90 day reports was void because the

superior court did not have subject matter jurisdiction over matters involving Cheryl’s trust. We

disagree.

       We review questions of a court’s subject matter jurisdiction de novo. In re Marriage of

McDermott, 175 Wash. App. 467, 479, 307 P.3d 717, review denied, 179 Wash. 2d 1004 (2013). A

party may challenge subject matter jurisdiction for the first time at any point in the proceeding,

including on appeal. Id. Even if neither party initially objected to the court’s exercise of subject

matter jurisdiction, judgments entered without subject matter jurisdiction must be vacated. Id.

       “A court has subject matter jurisdiction where it has authority ‘to adjudicate the type of

controversy involved in the action.’” Id. at 480-81 (quoting Shoop v. Kittitas County, 108 Wn.

of Cobb, 172 Wash. App. 393, 402, 292 P.3d 772 (2012), review denied, 177 Wash. 2d 1017 (2013)
(siblings of incapacitated person lacked standing to vindicate incapacitated person’s constitutional
rights). Because Earl lacks standing to raise issues on behalf of Cheryl or Holly, we do not consider
any assignment of error on this basis.

       Also, Earl devotes substantial argument to challenging the validity of the 1/6/17 order,
which he maintains was inaccurate, signed incorrectly, and issued in “secrecy.” Br. of Appellant
at 36. These arguments are not properly before this court.

        An appeal from denial of a motion to vacate is not a substitute for appeal and the “exclusive
procedure to attack an allegedly defective judgment is by appeal from the judgment, not by appeal
from a denial of a CR 60(b) motion.” Bjurstrom v. Campbell, 27 Wash. App. 449, 451, 618 P.2d
533 (1980). “An appeal from denial of a CR 60(b) motion is limited to the propriety of the denial
not the impropriety of the underlying judgment.” Id. at 450-51. Thus, Earl’s challenges to the
propriety of the underlying 1/6/17 order are not properly before this court, and we do not consider
them.

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No. 51591-1-II

App. 388, 393, 30 P.3d 529 (2001)). The Washington Constitution vests superior courts with

broad original subject matter jurisdiction. WASH. CONST. art. IV, § 6. Exceptions to this broad

grant of jurisdiction are to be construed narrowly. McDermott, 175 Wash. App. at 481. Superior

courts retain jurisdiction in “‘all cases . . . in which jurisdiction shall not have been by law vested

exclusively in some other court’” by either the legislature or an explicit act of Congress. Hous.

Auth. of Seattle v. Bin, 163 Wash. App. 367, 375, 260 P.3d 900 (2011) (quoting WASH. CONST. art.

IV, § 6). And the superior court’s subject matter jurisdiction “‘cannot be whittled away by

statutes.’” McDermott, 175 Wash. App. at 481 (quoting Shoop, 108 Wash. App. at 396).

       Earl argues that the superior court did not have subject matter jurisdiction over Cheryl’s

trust under the Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA), Chapter 11.96A RCW.

However, TEDRA vests “original subject matter jurisdiction over trusts and all matters relating to

trusts” in the superior courts. RCW 11.96A.040(2). The only support Earl provides to the contrary

is In re the Estate of Rathbone, 190 Wash. 2d 332, 412 P.3d 1283 (2018). However, Rathbone did

not address an issue of subject matter jurisdiction, but instead addressed whether a trial court had

authority under TEDRA to interpret a will’s language and overrule a personal representative’s

interpretation of that language.6 190 Wash. 2d at 339. Given that the superior court had original

6
  Earl also quotes, without argument, the language of RCW 11.97.020, which concerns the rules
of construction that apply when interpreting the terms of a trust in the disposition of trust property.
Earl does not explain how RCW 11.97.020 strips the superior court of subject matter jurisdiction
over matters relating to trusts.

                                                  13
No. 51591-1-II

subject matter jurisdiction over all matters relating to Cheryl’s trust, Earl’s challenge on this basis

fails.7

          To the extent Earl argues that the superior court lacked authority over Cheryl’s trust assets,

he provides no support for this claim. He similarly fails to provide any support for his argument

that a guardian must file a separate petition under TEDRA in order “to join the assets of the Trust

into the authority of the Guardianship Court.” Br. of Appellant at 41. TEDRA vests superior

courts with “full and ample power and authority under this title to administer and settle . . . [a]ll

trust and trust matters.” RCW 11.96A.020(1)(b). It further provides that the superior court “has

full power and authority to proceed with such administration and settlement in any manner and

way that to the court seems right and proper, all to the end that the matters be expeditiously

administered and settled by the court.” RCW 11.96A.020(2). Thus, Earl’s challenge on this basis

fails.

B.        CHALLENGED FINDINGS OF FACT

          Earl also assigns error to two findings of fact entered by the superior court in its order

denying his motion for revision. Both of these challenges fail.

7
  Again, Earl improperly raises claims on Cheryl’s behalf, arguing that the superior court used her
assets without consent and “violated Cheryl’s right to autonomy.” Br. of Appellant 44. As
explained above, Earl does not have standing to advocate on Cheryl’s behalf. See Cobb, 172 Wn.
App. at 402.

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No. 51591-1-II

       1.      Finding Regarding Appropriate Remedy

       Earl first argues that the superior court erred as a matter of law in finding that “the

appropriate remedy for the 1/6/17 order was appeal or request for discretionary review.” 8 CP at

605. Earl’s challenge fails because it is well established that the “exclusive procedure to attack an

allegedly defective judgment is by appeal from the judgment, not by appeal from a denial of a CR

60(b) motion.” Bjurstrom, 27 Wash. App. at 451. Also, “[e]rrors of law may not be corrected by a

CR 60 motion; rather, they must be raised on appeal.” Union Bank, N.A., 191 Wash. App. at 843.

Therefore, Earl’s assignment of error on this basis fails.

       2.      Judicial Notice

       Next, Earl argues that the superior court erred in taking judicial notice that Judge Brosey

carefully prepares for matters appearing before him and vigorously reviews the files before the

hearings. We hold that any error would not compel reversal.

       Washington judges may take judicial notice of “adjudicative facts.” ER 201(a). An

adjudicative fact “must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either (1) generally

known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready

determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonable be questioned.” ER 201(b).

We review de novo a court’s taking of judicial notice. State v. Disney, 199 Wash. App. 422, 431,

398 P.3d 1218 (2017).

8
  Earl incorrectly asserts that the superior court found that appeal was the “only” remedy. Br. of
Appellant at 45. Instead, the superior court found that appeal was “the appropriate remedy.” CP
at 605.

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No. 51591-1-II

       Here, without deciding error, even if the superior court erred in taking judicial notice of

Judge Brosey’s preparation and attention to detail, any error does not compel reversal. Judge

Brosey entered the 1/6/17 order approving the guardian’s 90 day reports Although the superior

court noted Judge Brosey’s attention to detail, the court reviewed de novo Earl’s motion to revise

the court commissioner’s order denying his CR 60(b) motion. And the superior court denied Earl’s

motion to revise and vacate the 1/6/17 order because it found that Earl had adequate notice of the

January 6 hearing and that the superior court had subject matter jurisdiction over Cheryl’s trust.

Thus, the superior court’s judicial notice finding relating to Judge Brosey did not bear on the

court’s order on revision. Earl fails to show any error would compel reversal.

C.     APPELLATE ATTORNEY FEES

       Earl and Anchor Guardianship both request reasonable attorney fees on appeal under RAP

18.1 and RCW 11.96A.150(1). We deny both requests.

       RAP 18.1(a) allows a party to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs on appeal if

applicable law grants the right to recover attorney fees and costs. RCW 11.96A.150 provides

courts broad discretion to award attorney fees “‘in such a manner as the court determines to be

equitable’ in ‘all proceedings governed by this title.’” Sloans v. Berry, 189 Wash. App. 368, 379,

358 P.3d 426 (2015) (quoting RCW 11.96A.150). In awarding costs, we may consider “any and

all factors that [we] deem[] to be relevant and appropriate.” RCW 11.96A.150(1).

       Earl appeals from the order on revision. However, he directs very little argument to the

propriety of the order subject to this appeal. Instead, Earl improperly raises numerous issues that

were not before the superior court, such as the accuracy of the guardianship inventory and the

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No. 51591-1-II

proposed budget filed on December 2.        He also repeatedly and improperly challenges the

underlying 1/6/17 order. And he repeatedly attempts to vindicate the rights of others, including

Cheryl. We deny Earl’s request for attorney fees on appeal. And based on the facts of the case,

we also deny Anchor Guardianship’s request for attorney fees on appeal.

        We affirm.

        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.

                                                    Lee, J.
 We concur:

 Maxa, C.J.

 Cruser, J.

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