Court Opinion

ID: 9792399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 02:28:55.788125+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:42.615108
License: Public Domain

Roe, C.J.
(concurring in part, dissenting in part)—I concur except as to the award of attorney's fees. There is not one word in respondents' brief as to attorney's fees as required by RAP 18.1(b).
The method of the majority in permitting an award is totally contrary to the rule, unsupported by any authority, and a highly irregular step which tends to impeach the entire concept of appellate practice. The parties should have fair notice of the relief requested with an opportunity to respond, which has been denied the appellants, who *333must be shocked by this procedure. The majority is not in harmony with RAP 10.3 which requires the brief to contain the assignments of error and argument, and the court will only review a claimed error which is included in the assignment of error or clearly disclosed. The majority position is inconsistent in principle with Thomas v. French, 99 Wn.2d 95, 659 P.2d 1097 (1983), which refused to consider alleged error in an instruction because such was not quoted in the brief as required by RAP 10.4(c).
The majority relies on Marketing Unlimited, Inc. v. Jefferson Chem. Co., 90 Wn.2d 410, 583 P.2d 630 (1978) to justify the award. The reliance is misplaced since in that case, unlike the present one, there was a failure to file the affidavit detailing the expenses as required by RAP 18.1(c). The fault in the instant case is the failure to claim attorney's fees in the brief. No case has been cited which permits that to be remedied after argument, although discretion is allowed to permit the late filing of the supporting affidavit.
It is interesting to observe the prevailing respondents found refuge in the rule that matters not raised in the trial court will not be considered on appeal, but now seek to ignore a rule which would deny them this added relief.
Reconsideration denied May 28, 1983.
Review granted by Supreme Court August 12, 1983.