Court Opinion

ID: 9566853
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:43:59.316459+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:41.379040
License: Public Domain

Callow, C.J.
(dissenting) — The plaintiff in this Federal Tort Claims Act case has no right to a jury trial. 28 U.S.C. *694§ 2402; United States v. Neustadt, 366 U.S. 696, 701 n.10, 6 L. Ed. 2d 614, 81 S. Ct. 1294 (1961). Therefore, this court's decision in Sofie v. Fibreboard Corp., 112 Wn.2d 636, 771 P.2d 711 (1989) that RCW 4.56.250 conflicts with the Washington State Constitution's guarantee of the right to a jury trial does not dispose of the question certified by the federal court. I would, at least, request further briefing on Sofie's impact before dismissing this case.
Dolliver, J., concurs with Callow, C.J.