Court Opinion

ID: 1039230
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-08-28 22:31:44.136978+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:39:55.783187
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                      COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                             DIVIS10tq II

                                                                                     2013 AVM 20M112 45
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    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                        DIVISION II

JAMES BYRON HOLCOMB, individually
and as the Personal Representative of the
Estate of Karen R.Holcomb,
                             Appellants,                            No. 42917 9 II
                                                                              - -

       V.                                                     UNPUBLISHED OPINION

ASSIGNED JUDGE FOR THE KITSAP
COUNTY DISTRICT COURT IN
NO. 100203333; DIRECTOR, KITSAP
COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT; and
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY KITSAP
COUNTY,
                             Respondents.

       FEARING, J. —James Byron Holcomb appeals the superior court's denial of his writ of

prohibition. Holcomb sought the writ of prohibition to prevent the Kitsap County Health District

Health District)and the Kitsap County prosecuting attorney from enforcing an ordinance that

required him to have a valid operation and maintenance (O M)
                                                          & agreement for his alternative

sewage system. He primarily argues that the ordinance is unconstitutional. Because Holcomb

had an adequate remedy at law,he is not entitled to the extraordinary remedy of a writ of

prohibition. We hold that the trial court properly denied his writ. Accordingly, we affirm.

                                            FACTS

       Holcomb owns property on Bainbridge Island in Kitsap County. In the late 1990's,
                                                                                      the

Health District demanded that Holcomb   repair   his   septic tank systema simple septic
                                                                         —                  tank with
No. 42917 9 II
          - -

an associated drain field. In 2001, the superior court issued an injunction requiring Holcomb to

repair the system. As a result, Holcomb installed a new Glendon Biofilter septic system. He

also signed a notice to title acknowledging that his new system was an alternative method of

sewage disposal, which required regularly scheduled maintenance and monitoring. As required

by a Kitsap County Board of Health ( CBH)ordinance, Holcomb also signed a one year O M .
                                   K                                          -      &

agreement for the septic system. Holcomb did not renew his O M contract or obtain another
                                                             &

after the first contract lapsed on October 1,2002.
         Thereafter, the Health District sent Holcomb annual notice that KCBH regulations

required landowners with alternative septic systems to have an O M agreement. Holcomb
                                                                 &

contends that he objected to each notice and concedes that he did not obtain the required O M
                                                                                            &

agreement.

         On June, 17, 2011, the Health District filed a notice of civil infraction in Kitsap County

District Court against Holcomb for failure to hold an O M agreement for his alternative sewer
                                                        &

system in violation of KCBH Ordinance No. 2008 1,section 13(
                                               -         17)( )(penalty was
                                                           a).
                                                           C The
524. 0. Holcomb filed a motion to dismiss the infraction on multiple grounds.
   0 -

1
 Holcomb maintains that he never had an O M agreement. Regardless, it is undisputed that he
                                          &
did not have an O M agreement after 2002.
                  &
2
 KCBH Ordinance No. 2008 1,section 13(
                              -        17)( )(
                                             a)
                                             C requires landowners to obtain a valid
monitoring and maintenance contract with a certified service provider if their onsite sewage
system is an alternative system.
3
    Holcomb moved to dismiss the infraction on the following grounds: lack of subject matter
jurisdiction, failure to comply with court rules and name proper parties, expiration of the statute
of limitations, laches, criminal conduct by Health District officials, government misconduct, and
waiver.

                                                   2
No. 42917 9 II
          - -

       On August 2,2011, Holcomb applied for a building permit to rebuild his existing

detached garage. In response to Holcomb's application, the Health District sent him a letter

notifying him that he was required to obtain an O M agreement for his alternative sewage
                                                  &

system pursuant to the KCBH ordinance.

       On September 20, 2011, Holcomb filed a petition for a writ of mandamus and two writs

of prohibition in superior court. The writ of mandamus (count 1)was directed to the district

court, demanding that it grant Holcomb's motion to dismiss the civil infraction. The first writ of

prohibition ( ount 2)was an alternative to the writ of mandamus and demanded that the superior
            c

court prohibit the district court from hearing the civil infraction case. The second writ of

prohibition ( ount 3)was directed to the director of the Health District and the Kitsap County
            c

prosecuting attorney to forever prohibit enforcement of the O M agreement requirement in
                                                              &

KCBH Ordinance 2008 1.
                    -

       The superior court denied all three writs. Holcomb unsuccessfully sought reconsideration

of the superior court's order denying the writs. Holcomb timely appeals the superior court's

order denying the motion for reconsideration of its order and judgment denying his petition for

the writs.

       Holcomb unsuccessfully sought an emergency stay of the district court's adjudication of

the infraction pending this appeal. The district court heard the infraction matter on June 27,

2012, and Holcomb presented eight defenses to the infraction. He raised, but did not argue, that

the ordinance requiring an O M contract was unconstitutional. In a letter opinion dated July 24,
                             &

2012,the district court denied Holcomb's motion to dismiss and found that Holcomb committed

the infraction (
               failing to have   a   valid O M agreement for his alternative
                                             &                                 septic system) and.
No. 42917 9 II
          - -

imposed the $ 00 penalty. The district court did not expressly address the constitutionality of
            524.

the KCBH ordinance.

ISSUES oN APPEAL

       In his notice of appeal, Holcomb asks this court to review the superior court's rejection of

all of the counts pleaded in his petition. In his appeal brief,however, Holcomb restricts the

subject of the appeal. In his brief, Holcomb iterates the following assignments of error:

       1. The Court below erred in remanding the case to the Infraction Court without
          deciding the Constitutionality of administrative regulations of the Kitsap
          County Health District properly raised in Count [3]of the Petition for a Writ
          of Prohibition and Mandamus directed to the Director when named as a party
          separately from the Infraction Court.
       2. This Court possess[ s] jurisdiction independent of the Court below to
                             e
          entertain said Writs and decide the Constitutionality of said administrative
          regulations.

Br. of Appellant at 2 (emphasis added).

       RAP 10. (
           a)(directs an appellant to include in his opening brief a]
             4)
             3                                                     "[ separate concise

statement of each error a party contends was made by the trial court,together with the issues

pertaining to the assignments of error." party's failure to assign error, as required under RAP
                                       A

10. ,precludes appellate consideration of an alleged error. Emmerson v. Weilep, 126 Wn. App.
  3

930, 939 40, 110 P. d 214 (2005).
         -        3             Since Holcomb assigns error only to the superior court's

ruling with regard to count 3 of his complaint, we address whether the superior court committed

error when denying Holcomb's request for relief under this count. We note, however, that the

superior court never remanded the case to the district court.

       In his second assignment of error, Holcomb invites us to entertain independent

jurisdiction to issue a writ and to address the constitutionality of the KCBH ordinance. We

                                                 in
No. 42917 9 II
          - -

decline his invitation for several reasons. First, our analysis and conclusion would be the same

even if we asserted original or independent jurisdiction. Second, Holcomb has not filed a

petition for a writ with this court, but only filed a notice of appeal from the superior court. Third,

this court may not have independent jurisdiction to entertain writs of prohibition. See RCW

030;
2.6.RAP 16. ( But see . 7.6.
  0     b),
          1 2.        RCW 300.
                            1

WRIT OF PROHIBITION

       Holcomb appeals the superior court's denial of his petition for a writ of prohibition

directed to the director of the Health District and the prosecuting attorney to forever prohibit

enforcement of the O M agreement requirement. We hold that the superior court did not abuse
                     &

its discretion in denying his writ of prohibition because Holcomb had an adequate remedy at law

for challenging the Health District's enforcement of the ordinance requiring an O M agreement.
                                                                                  &

Accordingly, we affirm.

       Washington rejects most ancient writs invented under the English writ system, but one

writ surviving modernity is the writ of prohibition encapsulated in RCW 7.6.et seq. A writ
                                                                        290
                                                                          1

of prohibition is alegal order typically issued by a court to an inferior tribunal mandating that the
                                                                                              -

lower tribunal cease any action over a case or controversy because it lacks jurisdiction. See

BLACK'S LAw DICTIONARY 1331 (9th ed. 2009) defining "
                                           (        writ of prohibition          "). " lthough the
                                                                                     A

common law writ of prohibition restrains the unauthorized exercise of only judicial or quasi-

judicial power, the statutory writ of prohibition applies to executive, administrative, and

legislative acts as well."
                         Skagit County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 304 v. Skagit County Pub. Hosp.

Dist. No. 1,No. 86796 8,2013 WL 3483764, at * Wash. July 11, 2013).Under a Washington
                      -                     2 (

statute, adopted in 1895, the writ of prohibition " rrests the proceedings of any tribunal,
                                                  a

corporation, board or person, when such proceedings are without or in excess of the jurisdiction

                                                  5
No. 42917 9 II
          - -

of such tribunal, corporation, board or person."RCW 7.6. The writ " ay be issued by any
                                                    290.
                                                      1           m

court, except district or municipal courts,to an inferior tribunal, or to a corporation, board or

person."RCW 7.6.
            300.
              1

        A writ of prohibition is a drastic measure, which is to be issued only when two

conditions are met: 1) [ bsence or excess ofjurisdiction, and (2)
                    `( a]                                       absence of a plain, speedy,

and adequate remedy in the course of legal procedure. The absence of either one precludes the

issuance of the writ.' "Skagit   County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 304, 2013 WL 3483764, at *2

alteration in original)internal quotation marks omitted) quoting Kreidler v. Eikenberry, 111
                        (                                (

Wn. d 828, 838, 766 P. d 438 (1989)).
  2                  2

        A remedy is not inadequate merely because it is attended with delay, expense,
        annoyance, or even some hardship. There must be something in the nature of the
        action that makes it apparent that the rights of the litigants will not be protected or
        full redress will not be afforded without the writ.

City ofKirkland v. Ellis, 82 Wn. App. 819, 827, 920 P. d 206 (1996).
                                                     2

        An aging, but illustrative decision is State ex rel. Martin v. Hinkle, 47 Wash. 156, 157, 91

P. 640 (1907).The city of Spokane prosecuted Fred Martin for opening his business on Sunday

in violation of a city ordinance. Hinkle, 47 Wash. at 157. Martin petitioned the superior court

for a writ of prohibition to restrain the city from proceeding with trial,while arguing that the city

lacked power to pass the ordinance in the absence of a statute granting authority because the

same act denounced by the city ordinance also offended a state statute. Hinkle, 47 Wash. at 157.

Our Supreme Court held that the writ of prohibition was properly denied because Martin had an

adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law, either by appealing from an adverse judgment or

by application for a writ of habeas corpus. Hinkle, 47 Wash. at 157.

                                                   3
No. 42917 9 II
          - -

       Whether there is a plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of the law

depends on the facts of each particular case and is question left to the discretion of the court in
                                                  s

which the writ of prohibition is sought. Skagit County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 304, 2013 WL

3483764, at * .
            6 Thus, this court will not disturb the superior court's decision unless its exercise

of discretion was manifestly unreasonable, or exercised on untenable grounds, or for untenable

reasons. Skagit County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 304, 2013 WL 3483764, at *6.

       Here, the Health District issued a civil infraction against Holcomb for violation of KCBH

Ordinance No. 2008 1, §
                   -  17)( )( requires
                      13(
                        a),
                        C which                          that he have a valid O M agreement for
                                                                                &

his alternative septic system. While the infraction matter was pending before the district court,

Holcomb filed a petition for a writ of prohibition in the superior court, seeking to prevent the

Health District and prosecuting attorney from enforcing the ordinance against Holcomb, which

he alleges is unconstitutional. But Holcomb fails to demonstrate that he lacks an adequate

remedy at law to challenge the enforcement of the allegedly unconstitutional ordinance, which is

a requirement for issuance of the writ. Holcomb could and did respond to the infraction notice in

district court by challenging the validity of the ordinance.

       Holcomb states that the district court lacked jurisdiction to consider his constitutional

challenge. To the extent Holcomb argues that he lacked an adequate remedy at law to challenge

the KCBH ordinance because the district court did not have jurisdiction to decide a constitutional

challenge to the ordinance, we disagree.

        As an initial matter, we believe the district court possessed jurisdiction to adjudicate the

constitutionality of the KCBH ordinance, which the Health District and the prosecuting attorney

sought to enforce. See RCW 3.6.see, e. .,
                           020;
                            6        g City ofBellevue v. Lee, 166 Wn. d 581, 584,
                                                                     2

589, 210 P. d 1011 (2009);
          3              City ofRedmond v. Moore, 151 Wn. d 664, 666 67,678, 91 P. d
                                                        2            -           3

                                                  7
No. 42917 9 II
          - -

875 (2004);
          City ofBremerton v. Spears, 134 Wn. d 141, 146 47,949 P. d 347 (1998).
                                            2            -       2

Regardless, Holcomb had the right to challenge the constitutionality of the ordinance and the

validity of the infraction upon appeal to the superior court, if the district court refused to address

the constitutionality of the ordinance. RALJ 1. ;RALJ 2. ( 5. ,5. . Any alleged
                                              1       a)(IRLJ 1 2
                                                       1);
                                                       2

lack of jurisdiction in the district court concerning its power to address the constitutionality of

the ordinance could have been resolved on appeal.

        Holcomb also sought the writ of prohibition to prevent the Health District's enforcement

of the ordinance in the context of his building permit application. The record does not show that

Holcomb was aggrieved by enforcement of the ordinance in the context of his building permit.

But even if he was, Holcomb did not demonstrate that he lacks an adequate legal remedy to

challenge the Health District's enforcement of the ordinance in the building permit context.

        Because Holcomb failed to show that he met the requirements for issuance of a writ of
prohibition,we hold that the superior court did not abuse its discretion in denying his petition.

Not only was the superior court's denial of the writ a reasonable decision in this instance, it may

have been the only reasonable decision. 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

040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
 0
                                                                        V
We   concur:                                           FEARING, J.

Q INN-
     BRINTNALL, J.

 OHANSON, A. .
          J.
           C
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