Court Opinion

ID: 4752283
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-12 17:46:40.586514+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:08:45.558745
License: Public Domain

*304¶43 I would affirm the summary judgment grant for Okanogan County and the State on two grounds. First, the common enemy rule applies as a defense to this flooding claim. Halverson v. Skagit County, 139 Wn.2d 1, 13-15, 983 P.2d 643 (1999). Moreover, the State lacks the necessary proprietary interest in the Sloan-Witchert Slough Dike to attach liability under Halverson. Even considering their inverse condemnation theory, the Fitzpatricks’ proposed watercourse exception to the general rule of non-liability would effectively eliminate the common enemy rule as developed in Washington for over 100 years. Second, even if the common enemy rule did not apply, I would hold that statutory immunity applies to the County under RCW 86.12.037 and to the State under RCW 86.16.071. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.
Brown, J.
Review granted at 164 Wn.2d 1008 (2008).