Court Opinion

ID: 1039241
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-08-28 22:31:47.944139+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:57:38.246833
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

CARY WILLIAM MEIRE,
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      Dwyer, J. — This appeal arises out of a dispute between adjoining

property owners, Cary Meire and Bradley and Monika Galvin. Meire brought suit

against the Galvins, claiming damages and requesting injunctive relief as a result

of ongoing excavation on the Galvins' property. Meire asserted several causes

of action, including trespass, waste, and injury damages pursuant to RCW

4.24.630. The Galvins counterclaimed, also asserting trespass damages

pursuant to RCW 4.24.630. They additionally sought an award of attorney fees

and costs pursuant to Civil Rule (CR) 11 and RCW 4.24.630.

      After a trial to the bench, the court found in favor of the Galvins on their

statutory trespass claims and concluded that Meire had filed and prosecuted his
No. 68818-9-1/2

complaint in violation of CR 11. The court additionally found that Meire prevailed

on one of his claims, proving damages in the amount of $150.00.

      Meire appeals, contending that the trial court erred by awarding the

Galvins damages pursuant to RCW 4.24.630, and by awarding the Galvins

attorney fees, costs of suit, and investigative costs pursuant to both RCW

4.24.630 and CR 11.

       Because we are unable to determine, based upon the trial court's findings,

whether the amount of attorney fees and costs awarded was proper, we reverse

the trial court's award of fees and costs and remand for further proceedings

consistent with this opinion. In all other respects, we affirm the judgment.

                                          I

       In March 2004, Meire purchased a home in Point Roberts, Washington.

The Galvins subsequently purchased an undeveloped lot adjacent to Meire's

property. In 2008, Bradley Galvin hired a contractor to excavate his property in

order to prepare it for construction of a home and a garage.

       On September 14, 2009, Whatcom County issued the Galvins a

"Revocable Encroachment Permit." The permit authorized them to build and use

a driveway on a county right-of-way abutting their lot. The driveway was required
to afford the Galvins access for construction of a retaining wall and a single

family residence on their property.

       After acquiring the permit, the Galvins encountered difficulties in following

through with their initial plans to develop their property. This was so because
Meire had installed paver bricks and parked a trailer on the county right-of-way

                                        -2-
No. 68818-9-1/3

that was subject to the permit granted to the Galvins. Meire refused to comply

with the Galvins' numerous requests to remove the paver bricks. Thus, the

Galvins were forced to relocate and redesign the foundation of their future

residence.

      On August 13, 2010, Meire, acting pro se,1 brought suitagainst the
Galvins, seeking damages and injunctive relief as a result of their excavation.

Meire asserted multiple claims, including timber trespass damages, pursuant to

RCW 64.12.030 and RCW 4.24.630, as well as damages for trespass, waste and

injury to his property, pursuant to RCW 4.24.630.

      The Galvins counterclaimed, also asserting damages pursuant to RCW

4.24.630, and seeking injunctive relief. Pursuant to CR 11, they additionally

sought an award of attorney fees and costs for defending against Meire's lawsuit.

       On February 1, 2012, the Galvins filed a motion for summary judgment,

seeking to dismiss all of Meire's claims. They submitted declarations from two

engineers whom they had hired to determine whether the Galvins' excavation

had caused damage or presented a danger to Meire's property, as he had

alleged in his complaint. Both engineers concluded that there was no indication

of anything more than a "de minimus" trespass onto Meire's property. They also

opined that no evidence demonstrated that the excavation had impacted or
damaged Meire's property. Finally, the engineers determined that the Galvins'

excavation posed no threat to Meire's property.

       1Meire subsequently retained counsel to represent him in the trial court proceedings.

                                             -3-
No. 68818-9-1/4

      The trial court granted the Galvins' motion for summary judgment and

dismissed most of Meire's claims. Meire's claims for timber trespass damages

and damages for trespass, waste and injury to property remained for trial.

      After a six day trial, the court entered its "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of

Law, Judgment and Order." The court found that Meire's claims were

unsupported by the facts, grossly exaggerated, and "made willfully, maliciously

and in bad faith." The court additionally determined that, during trial, Meire had

"presented with insufficient memory" key factual elements, particularly when

those factual elements "were not favorable to the theory of his case." The trial

court concluded that Meire had filed and prosecuted his claims in violation of CR

11.

       The trial court further concluded that Meire was liable to the Galvins

pursuant to RCW 4.24.630. This conclusion was supported by the court's finding

that Meire's positioning of the paver bricks and trailer on the county right-of-way

was "a clear attempt to continuously block, impede, and otherwise impair [the

Galvins'] use of and access to [their] property." The court also determined that

Meire, or someone acting on his behalf, had wrongfully deposited construction

material on the Galvins' property. Accordingly, the court awarded the Galvins a

principal judgment in the amount of $72,795.00. This award included damages

for the cost of removing and disposing of the construction waste, as well as the

cost of relocating and redesigning the Galvins' future residence. The court

additionally granted injunctive relief to the Galvins, which, among other things,

prohibited Meire from interfering with the Galvins' use of and access to the

                                        -4-
No. 68818-9-1/5

county right-of-way subject to the permit.

       In addition, the trial court found that the Galvins had improperly trimmed

Meire's cedar tree. However, the court also found that there was no evidence

that the tree had sustained anything more than "de minimus" cosmetic damage.

As a result, the trial court awarded Meire damages of $150.00, the cost of

completing the pruning of the tree, but found that Meire was not entitled to an

award of attorney fees or costs on his statutory trespass claim.

       In its conclusions of law, the trial court determined that the Galvins "should

be awarded their costs of suit, investigative costs and attorney fees, pursuant to

RCW 4.24.630 and CR 11." The court's fee and cost award granted the Galvins

attorney fees in the amount of $61,302.50, costs of suit and arborist fees in the

amount of $4,393.45, and investigative costs in the amount of $5,700.00.

       Meire appeals.

                                          II

       Meire first contends that the trial court erred by awarding the Galvins

damages in the amount of $10,000.00 because, he asserts, RCW 4.24.630 does

not provide a claimant relief for trespass onto land that is not owned by the

claimant. We disagree.

       Questions of law, such as this one, are reviewed de novo. Sunnvside

Valley Irrigation Pist. v. Dickie. 149 Wn.2d 873, 880, 73 P.3d 369 (2003).

       RCW 4.24.630(1) provides, in pertinent part:

       Every person who goes onto the land of another and who removes
       timber, crops, minerals, or other similar valuable property from the
       land, or wrongfully causes waste or injury to the land, or wrongfully
No. 68818-9-1/6

       injures personal property or improvements to real estate on the
       land, is liable to the injured party for treble the amount of the
       damages caused by the removal, waste, or injury.[2]
(Emphasis added.)

       Meire contends that the statutory language, "onto the land of another,"

indicates that the trespass statute only provides a remedy to the owners of the

land. Thus, he asserts, because Whatcom County—and not the Galvins—owned

the land upon which the paver bricks and trailer were placed, the Galvins were

not entitled to relief pursuant to RCW 4.24.630.

        In essence, Meire argues that the Galvins did not assert a claim for which

relief could be granted pursuant to RCW 4.24.630. "[A]s the plain language of

RCW 4.24.630(1) envisions wrongful conduct, any violation of that statute is

analogous to an intentional tort." Standing Rock Homeowners Ass'n v. Misich.
106Wn. App. 231, 246, 23 P.3d 520 (2001). In Washington, the intentional tort
oftrespass3 imposes liability on a person who intrudes "onto the property of
another that interferes with the other's right to exclusive possession." Phillips v.

King County, 136 Wn.2d 946, 957 n.4, 968 P.2d 871 (1998) (citing Hedlund v.

        2The remainder of this section provides:
        For purposes ofthis section, a person acts "wrongfully" if the person intentionally
        and unreasonably commits the act or acts while knowing, or having reason to
        know, that he or she lacks authorization to so act. Damages recoverable under
        this section include, but are not limited to, damages for the market value of the
        property removed or injured, and for injury to the land, including the costs of
        restoration. In addition, the person is liable for reimbursing the injured party for
        the party's reasonable costs, including but not limited to investigative costsand
        reasonable attorneys' fees and other litigation-related costs.
RCW 4.24.630(1).
        3To establish intentional trespass, a claimant must show (1) an invasion of property
affecting an interest in exclusive possession, (2) an intentional act, (3) reasonable foreseeability
that the act would disturb the plaintiffs possessory interest, and (4) actual and substantial
damages. Bradley v. Am. Smelting &Ref. Co.. 104 Wn.2d 677, 692-93, 709 P.2d 782 (1985).
No. 68818-9-1/7

White, 67 Wn. App. 409, 418 n.12, 836 P.2d 250 (1992)). According to the

Restatement (Second) of Torts, a person is in "possession" of land when he or

she:

           (a) is in occupancy of land with intent to control it, or
           (b) has been but no longer is in occupancy of land with intent to
       control it.. ., or
            (c) has the right as against all persons to immediate occupancy
       of land, if no other person is in possession as stated in Clauses (a)
       and (b).

Restatement (Second) of Torts § 157 (1965). Thus, it is the intrusion upon

one's right to possession—and not one's right of ownership—that is the

gravamen of an RCW 4.24.630 trespass claim.

       Here, the permit gave the Galvins a right to construct and use a driveway

on Whatcom County's right-of-way. Although the Galvins did not own the land,

they did have the right to occupy and control it through the construction and use

of a driveway. Thus, they had a right to the possession of the right-of-way.

Nevertheless, Meire—who acquired no such permit—installed paver bricks and

parked a trailer directly on this land ("the land of another"). By doing so, he

infringed upon the Galvins' right to possess and use the right-of-way. Hence, the

Galvins proved their cause of action under RCW 4.24.630 and were entitled to

recover damages accordingly.

       The trial court did not err by awarding the Galvins damages on this claim.

                                          Ill

       Meire next contends that the trial court erred by awarding the Galvins

damages on their statutory trespass claim because, he asserts, the Galvins did
No. 68818-9-1/8

not prove the amount of damages attributable to this claim to a reasonable

certainty or with the best evidence. We disagree. Sufficient evidence was

presented to support the trial court's award.

      Where the trial court weighs the evidence in a bench trial, our review is

limited to determining whether substantial evidence supported the trial court's

findings of fact and whether those findings support the court's conclusions of law.

Standing Rock. 106 Wn. App. at 242-43. Substantial evidence is "a quantum of

evidence sufficient to persuade a rational fair-minded person the premise is true."

Dickie. 149 Wn.2d at 879 (citing Wenatchee Sportsmen Ass'n v. Chelan County.

141 Wn.2d 169, 176, 4 P.3d 123 (2000)).

       "A trier of fact has discretion to award damages which are within the range

of relevant evidence." Mason v. Mortg. Am.. Inc.. 114 Wn.2d 842, 850, 792 P.2d

142 (1990). In considering a fact finder's award of damages, we will only disturb

such an award where it is "outside the range of substantial evidence in the

record, or shocks the conscience, or appears to have been arrived at as the

result of passion or prejudice." Mason. 114 Wn.2d at 850. "'Evidence of damage

is sufficient if it is the best evidence available and affords a reasonable basis for

estimating the loss.'" Spradlin Rock Prods.. Inc. v. Pub. Util. Dist. No. 1 of Grays
Harbor County. 164 Wn. App. 641, 663, 266 P.3d 229 (2011) (internal quotation

marks omitted) (quoting Kwik-Lok Corp. v. Pulse. 41 Wn. App. 142, 150, 702

P.2d 1226 (1985)). A claimant need not prove damages with mathematical

certainty. Harmony at Madrona Park Owners Ass'n v. Madison Harmony Dev.,

Inc.. 160 Wn. App. 728, 737, 253 P.3d 101 (2011).

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No. 68818-9-1/9

      Here, the trial court awarded the Galvins $10,000.00 for expenses

incurred in relocating and redesigning their future house as a result of Meire's

interference with their permit rights. The court properly based its award on

Galvin's testimony:

      [Galvins' counsel]    Now, can you give the court an approximation
                            of how much time and the cost to you for the
                            time involved in relocating the foundation of
                            your house due to the refusal by Mr. Meire to
                            move his pavers and his parked trailer?
      [Galvin]              Did you say - I'm sorry, did you say time or
                            money?
      [Galvins' counsel]    Both.
      [Galvin]              Well, you know, re-sketching, going to the
                            engineer, making a new plan, his hours are on
                            a previous invoice for that part. And as far as
                            the money, it's difficult. The whole footprint is
                            changed. You are required to have two off-
                            street parking stalls, so in order to do that, I
                            had to turn the entire building to get the
                            parking. So I have tamped and prepared, you
                            know, half of my lot. The building footprint is
                            now redundant, so massive, like weeks and
                            weeks of rolling and truckloads of geofill are
                            obsolete due to the changing in the driveway.
                            I couldn't give you a dollar figure.
      [Galvins' counsel]    You need to give the court a range.
      [Galvin]              Did I say $10,000? That's between 7 and 14.
                            Could I say 10,000 range?
       [Galvins' counsel]   Okay. Seven to 14 thousand?
       [Galvin]             Yes, sir.
       [Galvins' counsel]   Best guess is ten.
                            And where did that—how was that money
                            spent? Are we talking about the engineer?
                            Did it involve the engineers?
       [Galvin]             No. That was the money that was spent that
                            now became redundant. That was the
                            truckloads of gravel and broadcasting it and
                            tamping it in an area that is no longer a
                            building footprint. The building is one third the
                            size it originally was.
No. 68818-9-1/10

      Meire contends that this testimony was not reasonably certain to prove the

Galvins' damages. However, mathematical precision is not necessary to prove

damages. Madison Harmony Development. Inc.. 160 Wn. App. at 737. Rather,

the range of loss testified to by Galvin—between $7,000.00 and $14,000.00—

afforded the trial court a reasonable basis from which to estimate the Galvins'

loss. Spradlin Rock Prods.. Inc.. 164 Wn. App. at 663. Indeed, the trial court's

award of $10,000.00 was well within this range.4 Mason. 114Wn.2d at 850.
       Nor does Meire establish that the trial court's award to the Galvins in the

amount of $14,265.00 was unsupported by the evidence. This award was based

upon the estimated cost of removing the waste that Meire had discarded onto the

Galvins' property. Specifically, the Galvins were awarded $9,000.00 for the cost

of excavating and hauling away the waste, and $5,265.00 for disposing of the

waste at a legal site. Contrary to Meire's assertion, the Galvins presented

substantial evidence to prove these amounts.

      The trial court admitted into evidence a price estimate provided by Robert

Jewell—a contractor who excavated the Galvins' property—to remove, load, and

dispose of the waste. The estimate contained fixed charges in the amount of

$2,000.00 for a bin surcharge for contaminated waste and $7,000.00 to remove

and haul the waste, a total of $9,000.00.

      The estimate also contained an item described as "waste disposal," at a

cost of 13 cents per pound. However, a final total for this item was not set forth

in the estimate because the total weight of the waste was undetermined at the

       4 Notably, Meire made no attempt to rebut this testimony.

                                            -10-
No. 68818-9-1/11

time the estimate was prepared. At trial, Jewell testified to his belief that

approximately 15 cubic yards of waste was situated on the Galvins' property.

Subsequently, Galvin, an experienced professional carpenter and builder,

provided testimony to complete the computation of damages for the estimated

disposal of waste. He explained that 27 cubic feet is equal to one cubic yard and

that one cubic foot of the waste weighs 100 pounds:

       [Galvins' counsel]               Now, Mr. Jewell testified yesterday that I
                                        think it's $0.13 a pound to haul off that
                                        kind of material. Have you experience
                                        in determining the weight of that type of
                                        material?
       [Galvin]                         Dirt with rocks in it is about a hundred
                                        pounds a foot. Cubic foot.
       [Galvins' counsel]               Cubic feet?
       [Galvin]                         Yeah. Six cubic feet to a wheelbarrow
                                        and 27 to a yard.
        [Galvins' counsel]              Soil is different in weight whether it's wet
                                        or dry or whether there is rocks. So it's
                                        your testimony today it's about a
                                        hundred pounds for that type of
                                        material?
        [Galvin]                 That's generally the understood number.
                                 It can go anywhere from 70 for mulchy
                                 stuff to 70 pounds and over 200 for[,]
                                 like[,] limestone. It's real heavy.
        Based on Galvin and Jewell's testimony, the total estimated cost of

waste disposal amounted to $5,265.00,5 which is precisely the amount of
damages awarded to the Galvins by the trial court.

        Substantial evidence supported the trial court's award of damages

to the Galvins in the amounts of $10,000.00 and $14,265.00.6

         5The mathematical calculation used to compute the total cost for waste disposal is as
follows: 15 cubic yards * 27 cubic feet/1 cubic yard * 100 pounds/1 cubic foot * $0.13/1 pound =
$5,265.00.

                                             -11 -
No. 68818-9-1/12

                                           IV

         Meire next contends that the trial court erred by granting an award of

attorney fees, investigative costs, and costs of suit to the Galvins pursuant to CR

11 and RCW 4.24.630. Because the trial court neither segregated the amounts

awarded as between the rule and the statute, nor accounted for Meire's success

on an affirmative claim in calculating the award, we reverse the fee and cost

award and remand to the trial court for entry of sufficient findings of fact and

recomputation of the award.

         We do not disturb a trial court's decision to grant or deny an award of

attorney fees absent an abuse of discretion. Roats v. Blakelv Island Maint.
Comm'n. Inc.. 169 Wn. App. 263, 283-84, 279 P.3d 943 (2012). "A trial court

abuses its discretion if its order is manifestly unreasonable or is based on

untenable grounds." Marina Condo. Homeowner's Ass'n v. Stratford at Marina.

LLC. 161 Wn. App. 249, 263, 254 P.3d 827 (2011).

         A fee award must be supported by findings of fact and conclusions of law

that sufficiently establish an adequate record for review. Mahler v. Szucs. 135

Wn.2d 398, 435, 957 P.2d 632, 966 P.2d 305 (1998). "[T]he absence of an

         6Meire additionally argues thatthe Galvins did not produce evidence showing that Meire
was the individual responsible for installing the paver bricks or that Meire dumped the waste
discovered on the Galvins' property. However, the record demonstrates that the Galvins did, in
fact, produce evidence indicating that Meire installed the paver bricks and dumped material onto
their property. With regard tothe installation ofthe paver bricks, Meire himself testified that he
placed the paver bricks on the county right-of-way. Furthermore, Galvin provided testimony
evincing that Meire had installed the paver bricks and that Meire refused to remove them. With
regard to the waste damages, a contractor whom the Galvins' had hired testified that, when he
was performing excavation work on Meire's property, he observed contractors hired by Meire
discarding excavated material and waste onto the Galvins' property. Thus, Meire's contention is
false.

                                                -12-
No. 68818-9-1/13

adequate record upon which to review a fee award will result in a remand of the

award to the trial court to develop such a record." Mahler. 135 Wn.2d at 435.

       Here, the trial court awarded the Galvins attorney fees in the amount of

$61,302.50, costs of suit in the amount of $4,393.45,7 and investigative costs in
the amount of $5,700.00.8 These fees and costs were awarded pursuant to both

RCW4.24.630andCR11.

       CR 11 authorizes the trial court to impose sanctions against a party upon

any violation of the rule.9 Sanctions may include an award of reasonable
attorney fees and expenses. CR 11(a). The rule states, in relevant part:

        If a pleading, motion, or legal memorandum is signed in violation of
       this rule, the court, upon motion or upon its own initiative, may
       impose upon the person who signed it, a represented party, or
       both, an appropriate sanction, which may include an order to pay to
       the other party or parties the amount of the reasonable expenses
       incurred because of the filing of the pleading, motion, or legal
       memorandum, including a reasonable attorney fee.

CR 11(a). Thus, because the trial court determined that Meire violated CR 11,10

the Galvins were entitled to an award of fees and costs incurred in defending

against Meire's claims brought in violation of the rule.

        7The trial court's award of "$4,393.45 for costs" included $2,200.00 for arborist fees.
        8These investigative costs were for engineering fees incurred by the Galvins.
        9 Pursuant to CR 11, the signature of a party or attorney on a pleading, motion, or legal
memorandum constitutes a certificate by that party or attorney that the pleading, motion, or legal
memorandum is (1) well grounded in fact, (2) warranted by existing law or a good faith argument
for a change in existing law, (3) not interposed for an improper purpose, and (4) containsonly
factual contentions or denials warranted by the evidence. CR 11(a).
         10 Meire contends that the trial court erred by awarding the Galvins fees pursuant to CR
11 because, he asserts, no evidence supported a finding that Meire violated CR 11. However,
the record belies Meire's assertions. The trial court's CR 11 determination was supported by
evidence and the court properly issued sufficiently specific factual findings supporting the
decision to impose sanctions. Meire's claim to the contrary fails.

                                               -13-
No. 68818-9-1/14

       In addition, the trespass statute, RCW 4.24.630, allows the court to award

an injured party its "reasonable costs, including but not limited to investigative

costs and reasonable attorneys' fees and other litigation-related costs." RCW

4.24.630(1). The trespass statute limits a fee award to fees and costs associated

with bringing an affirmative trespass claim. Accordingly, because the trial court

found Meire liable to the Galvins pursuant to their affirmative trespass claims, the

Galvins were entitled to an award of costs and fees incurred in asserting those

claims.

          However, although Meire was unsuccessful on almost all of his claims, he

prevailed on his claim regarding the improper pruning of his cedar tree, and was

awarded damages in the amount of $150.00. Although a modest award, it is

nevertheless problematic because neither CR 11 nor RCW 4.24.630 provides a

basis for awarding fees and costs to the Galvins for defending against this claim.

The Galvins were not entitled to an award based on this claim pursuant to CR 11

because Meire prevailed on it and, thus, itwas not brought in violation of the rule.

Similarly, the Galvins could not recover an award offees and costs incurred in
defending against this claim pursuant to RCW 4.24.630 because itwas not a

component of their affirmative trespass claims.

          Thus, it would have been improper for the trial court to include in its fee

and cost award any fees or costs incurred by the Galvins in defending against

the one claim on which Meire prevailed. Unfortunately, however, the trial court's

findings offacts and conclusions of law do not enable us to discern with precision
whether the trial court made such an award. This is so because the trial court did

                                           -14-
No. 68818-9-1/15

not segregate the fees and costs awardable pursuant to CR 11 from those

awardable pursuant to the Galvins' affirmative statutory trespass claim, nor did it

specifically account, in its CR 11 findings, for the fact that Meire prevailed on this

claim.

         Accordingly, the award of attorney fees and costs, including investigative

costs, must be reversed and this matter remanded for the entry of necessary

findings of facts and conclusions of law regarding the fee and cost award.

Mahler. 135 Wn.2d at 435. On remand, we direct the trial court to undertake the

appropriate segregation of fees and costs recoverable pursuant to CR 11 and

those recoverable pursuant to the Galvins' affirmative statutory trespass claim.

         Moreover, the cost of litigating the amount of the fee award on remand is

itself compensable. See Fisher Properties. Inc. v. Arden-Mavfair. Inc.. 115

Wn.2d 364, 378, 798 P.2d 799, 804 P.2d 1262 (1990). The trial court should

take this into consideration in reaching its decision on remand.

                                           V

         The Galvins request an award of attorney fees on appeal pursuant to RAP

18.1 and RCW 4.24.630(1). Meire makes no such request.

         "Where a statute allows an award of attorney fees to the prevailing party at

trial, the appellate court has inherent authority to make such an award on
appeal." Standing Rock, 106Wn. App. at 247. As previously discussed, RCW
4.24.630 provides for an award of attorney fees, investigative costs, and other
litigation expenses. Thus, the Galvins are entitled to an award offees for work
done on appeal defending the underlying judgment amount. Because they do

                                         -15-
No. 68818-9-1/16

not prevail on the attorney fee issue, they are not entitled to an award of

appellate fees for work done on that issue. To avoid duplication, we direct the

trial court on remand to include in its amended judgment an amount awarded for

recoverable fees on appeal. RAP 18.1 (i).

      We affirm the trial court's order awarding the Galvins damages pursuant to

RCW 4.24.630, reverse the trial court's fee and cost award, and remand for

further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                          ^           ^
We concur:

                                       -16-