Court Opinion

ID: 4394592
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-07 16:49:28.677522+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:04.100299
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                       Washington State
                                                                                       Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Division Two

                                                                                          May 7, 2019

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                        DIVISION II
    CHARLES WOLFE,                                                  No. 50894-0-II

                Appellant/Cross-Respondent,

         v.

    WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF                           UNPUBLISHED OPINION
    TRANSPORTATION,

                Respondent/Cross-Appellant.

        TRICKEY, J.P.T.*   —     Charles Wolfe requested records from the Washington State

Department of Transportation (WSDOT) pursuant to the Public Records Act (PRA), ch. 42.56

RCW. He sued the WSDOT, alleging that it violated the PRA in its responses to his requests. The

superior court held a show cause hearing. The superior court ruled that the WSDOT failed to

produce a few records.

        Wolfe appeals. He argues that (1) the WSDOT failed to provide entire boxes of records in

response to his May 2008 PRA request, (2) the superior court erred in ruling that Wolfe’s PRA

claims (except for three records) were barred by the statute of limitations, (3) the superior court

erred in denying attorney fees for Allen Miller, and (4) the superior court erred in denying

*
 Judge Michael Trickey is serving as a judge pro tempore of the Court of Appeals pursuant to
CAR 21(c).
No. 50894-0-II

sanctions against the WSDOT. Wolfe also argues that he is entitled to additional attorney fees on

appeal under RCW 42.56.550(4).

       The WSDOT cross appeals. The WSDOT maintains that (1) all of Wolfe’s claims are

barred by the statute of limitations, (2) the WSDOT conducted an adequate search for the records,

(3) the superior court erred in awarding Wolfe attorney fees because they were not reasonable, and

(4) the superior court erred in assessing penalties of $20 per day. Because we hold that the statute

of limitations bars all of Wolfe’s claims, we reverse and vacate the trial court’s granting of

penalties and fees without considering the other issues.

                                             FACTS

       Wolfe owns riverfront property downstream from the SR4/Naselle River Bridge in Pacific

County. Wolfe became concerned that bridge construction and the angle of the bridge piers

changed the flow of the river causing erosion on his property.

                  I. MAY 2008 PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST—PDR-08-0455

       In May 2008, Wolfe submitted his first PRA request to the WSDOT. He asked for permits

and certifications that the WSDOT received for the bridge in 1986. The WSDOT designated this

PRA request as number PDR-08-0455.

       The WSDOT assigned Kelso Project Engineer Denys Tak, Southwest Region Assistant

Regional Administrator for Engineering Bart Gernhart, and Public Records Coordinator Michelle

Ewaniec to locate the records for this request. The WSDOT sent Wolfe three record installments

(May 15, June 2, June 30). The WSDOT closed the request on June 30.

       On July 9, Wolfe expanded his request by identifying categories of records he wanted. Tak

gathered more records and put them in the WSDOT Kelso office for Wolfe to inspect.

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No. 50894-0-II

       On July 13, before inspecting the records, Wolfe expanded his request again.             He

specifically sought

       all WSDOT files related to the bridge that have NOT been sent to the archieves
       [sic] . . .
       Specifically, are there any bridge related files in your Raymond, Kelso, Vancouver,
       or Olympia offices? I am particularly interested in any files at the Olympia
       Hydrogeology and the Olympia Hydraulics Section offices.
       Likewise, I am interested in any files the [sic] relate to any work that WSDOT has
       done on the bridge or within 500 feet, both upstream and downstream, of the bridge
       since 1986.

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 224, 1764 (emphasis added).

       On July 17 and August 12, Wolfe reviewed the WSDOT records at the Kelso office. The

WSDOT then closed PDR-08-0445 on August 13.

          II. SEPTEMBER 2008 PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST—PDR-08-0856

       On September 19, Wolfe wrote a letter to the WSDOT alleging that the “WSDOT has NOT

fully complied with my request to research the cause(s) of the erosion activity affecting our

property.” CP at 1858. In the letter, Wolfe requested additional documents. Wolfe also stated,

“Any civil action I take will be from the standpoint of a citizen whose property is the source of

that sedimentation pollution.” CP at 1861. The WSDOT acknowledged that this letter contained

specific requests for additional records and treated this as a new PRA request on September 25.

The WSDOT assigned this request number PDR-08-0856.

                            III. JUNE 2010 PACIFIC COUNTY LAWSUIT

       In June 2010, Wolfe sued the WSDOT in Pacific County. Wolfe brought claims alleging

that the WSDOT damaged his property as well as claims that the WSDOT violated the PRA. The

WSDOT moved to dismiss Wolfe’s tort claims because the agency alleged that the claims were

time barred under both the 10-year prescriptive period and the 2-year statute of limitations.

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No. 50894-0-II

       On August 19, the Pacific County Superior Court held a summary judgment hearing. The

superior court dismissed Wolfe’s tort claims. It also dismissed the PRA claims without prejudice

on jurisdictional grounds based on the WSDOT’s argument that the records were not located in

Pacific County.

       Wolfe appealed the superior court’s summary judgment dismissal of his tort claims to this

court. In October 2012, at oral argument, we asked the WSDOT’s attorney if work had been done

on the bridge since 1986, and she responded no. We affirmed the dismissal of Wolfe’s tort claims.

                  IV. 2011 PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST—PDR-11-1498

       In 2011, Wolfe made another PRA request (PDR 11-1498) for documents. He made this

request based on evidence discovered by an expert that the WSDOT had placed rip rap 1 around

the bridge. When responding to this request, the WSDOT found three records responsive to

Wolfe’s May 2008 PRA request. These three records were related to a 1998 “rip-rap” project.

The WSDOT then produced these records to Wolfe.

                                V. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       In May 2012, Wolfe filed this current PRA case in Thurston County. He alleged that the

WSDOT violated the PRA by withholding boxes of records in 2008. Wolfe filed an amended

complaint that included additional PRA violation claims.

       The WSDOT moved to dismiss Wolfe’s claims based on the statute of limitations. The

WSDOT also moved the superior court to stay Wolfe’s discovery requests until the superior court

1
 “Rip rap” is “a foundation or sustaining wall of stones thrown together without order (as in deep
water, on a soft bottom, or on an embankment slope to prevent erosion).” WEBSTER’S THIRD NEW
INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 1960 (2002).

                                                4
No. 50894-0-II

considered the WSDOT’s motion to dismiss. The superior court denied the WSDOT’s motion to

stay.

          In February 2013, Wolfe moved for partial summary judgment. The superior court held a

hearing on March 8 and denied both the WSDOT’s motion to dismiss and Wolfe’s motion for

partial summary judgment.

          On February 20, 2015, the superior court issued an order to show cause. The superior court

held a show cause hearing on May 1. At the hearing, Wolfe argued that the WSDOT withheld

whole boxes of responsive records, specifically 58 records.2 Wolfe argued that the statute of

limitations did not bar these claims.

          The WSDOT’s show cause hearing brief admitted that it failed to produce three records

(the 1998 “rip rap” records) until Wolfe’s 2011 PRA request. However, the WSDOT argued that

it made a reasonable search for those records. The WSDOT also argued that Wolfe’s claims should

be dismissed because of the statute of limitations.

          The parties presented conflicting evidence as to whether the WSDOT provided whole

boxes of records for Wolfe to review in 2008. The WSDOT primarily relied on Tak’s declaration

and the WSDOT’s Southwest Region Design Services Engineer David Bellinger’s declaration.

Wolfe relied on a WSDOT spreadsheet. Wolfe also relied on an October 30 to 31, 2008 e-mail

thread.

2
  Wolfe filed an amended list of withheld records on March 12, 2015 that includes a list of 58 items
that he claims the WSDOT withheld.

                                                  5
No. 50894-0-II

                              A. SUPERIOR COURT’S RULING

       The superior court ruled that the WSDOT did not timely produce the three 1998 records in

response to Wolfe’s May 2008 PRA request. The superior court rejected the WSDOT’s argument

that the statute of limitations barred Wolfe’s claims with respect to the three records. It found that

the WSDOT produced the records 1,305 days late. The superior court held that the statute of

limitations barred the remaining claims. The superior court further ruled that the remaining records

“were present at the time that the review took place by Mr. Wolfe in a number of boxes.” CP at

3270. The superior court’s oral rulings were later adopted into a written order. The superior court

ordered a hearing on the attorney fees and penalties for the three PRA record violations.

                            B. ATTORNEY FEES AND PENALTIES

       On July 14, 2017, the superior court awarded attorney fees and costs to Wolfe. The

superior court awarded Wolfe $102,892.08 in attorney fees and costs. The superior court also

awarded statutory penalties of $20 per record (three responsive 1998 records) for 1,305 days for a

total penalty of $78,300.

       The superior court granted Wolfe attorney fees for Allied Law Group and Greg Overstreet

but not for Miller. Miller was Wolfe’s attorney for the Pacific County case. The superior court

reasoned that for Miller “there is absolutely no way to differentiate what that billing consists of

based upon the attachment that was included.” CP at 3286.

       Wolfe also asked the superior court to impose sanctions against the WSDOT “for lack of

candor towards both the Pacific County trial and Division II appeals courts (RPC 3.3)” when

misrepresenting that no work had been done on the bridge since 1985 and 1986. CP at 2731. The

                                                  6
No. 50894-0-II

trial court denied Wolfe’s request for sanctions and did not award Wolfe any just compensation or

property damage repair or restoration costs.

       Both parties appealed.

                                            ANALYSIS

                                    I. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

       Wolfe argues that the superior court erred in ruling that the statute of limitations under

RCW 42.56.550(6) barred Wolfe’s claims (except for the three 1998 “rip rap records”). He also

asserts that we should apply the doctrine of equitable tolling. The WSDOT maintains that the

superior court correctly ruled that the statute of limitations barred these claims.

       Furthermore, the WSDOT argues in its cross appeal that the three 1998 “rip rap” records

are subject to the statute of limitations so that all of Wolfe’s claims are barred. We agree with the

WSDOT that all of Wolfe’s claims are time barred.

                                       A. PRINCIPLES OF LAW

       The PRA establishes a one-year statute of limitations. “Actions under this section must be

filed within one year of the agency’s claim of exemption or the last production of a record on a

partial or installment basis.” RCW 42.56.550(6). The PRA also specifies that “[j]udicial review

of all agency actions taken or challenged under RCW 42.56.030 through 42.56.520 shall be de

novo.” RCW 42.56.550(3).

       The statute of limitations begins to run “on an agency’s final, definitive response to a public

records request.” Belenski v. Jefferson County, 186 Wash. 2d 452, 460, 378 P.3d 176 (2016).

However, it may be subject to equitable tolling. Belenski, 186 Wash. 2d at 462. The doctrine of

equitable tolling allows a court to toll the statute of limitations when justice requires. Millay v.

                                                  7
No. 50894-0-II

Cam, 135 Wash. 2d 193, 206, 955 P.2d 791 (1998). “The predicates for equitable tolling are bad

faith, deception, or false assurances by the defendant and the exercise of diligence by the plaintiff.”

Millay, 135 Wash. 2d at 206. The party who asserts equitable tolling bears the burden of proof.

Nickum v. City of Bainbridge Island, 153 Wash. App. 366, 379, 223 P.3d 1172 (2009). The doctrine

of equitable tolling is to be used only sparingly. State v. Duvall, 86 Wash. App. 871, 875, 940 P.2d
671 (1997).

       “Under the discovery rule, a cause of action accrues when the plaintiff knew or should have

known the essential elements of the cause of action.” Allen v. State, 118 Wash. 2d 753, 757-58, 826
P.2d 200 (1992) (footnote omitted). A discovery rule is generally applied where “the statute does

not specify a time at which the cause of action accrues.” Douchette v. Bethel Sch. Dist. No. 403,

117 Wash. 2d 805, 813, 818 P.2d 1362 (1991). However, the PRA specifies a time at which its causes

of action accrue as defined by Belenski as the time of the agency’s final, definitive response. 186
Wash. 2d at 460. It appears that no Washington courts have applied the discovery rule in the context

of the PRA.

           B. ALL OF WOLFE’S CLAIMS ARE BARRED BY THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

       The superior court ruled that the statute of limitations did not bar Wolfe’s claims regarding

the three 1998 “rip rap” records. The WSDOT located these three records during a search for

responsive records relating to a PRA request that Wolfe made in 2011. The superior court

reasoned, “I think it has to do with the last production and when the State closed the request and

there were three requests. . . . And each [of] those were ultimately closed with, obviously, the

reopening in 2011 as to the documents 1, 2, 3.” CP at 3276.

                                                  8
No. 50894-0-II

       It is unclear from the superior court’s ruling what its basis was for applying the statute of

limitations to the other records but not applying the statute of limitations to the three 1998 “rip

rap” records. The WSDOT argues that the superior court was applying the discovery rule to these

three records and that the discovery rule does not apply to this case. The WSDOT gave its final

definitive response to Wolfe’s May 2008 request in August 2008, and therefore Wolfe knew at

that time that the WSDOT was not going to provide any more records. Wolfe appears to concede

that the discovery rule does not apply here.3 We accept Wolfe’s concession that the discovery rule

does not apply.

       Both parties appear to agree that the statute of limitations bars Wolfe’s claims unless

equitable tolling applies.

       Wolfe argues that equitable tolling applies to all of Wolfe’s claims, not just the three

records, because both the elements of equitable tolling are met: (1) bad faith, deception, or false

assurances by the defendant and (2) the exercise of diligence by the plaintiff. Millay, 135 Wash. 2d

at 206. The WSDOT argues that all of Wolfe’s claims are barred by the statute of limitations,

including the three 1998 “rip rap” records and that equitable tolling does not apply here.

                        C. BAD FAITH, DECEPTION, OR FALSE ASSURANCES

       First, Wolfe contends that the first element of equitable tolling is met because the WSDOT

acted in bad faith, deception, or made false assurances. Relying on Belenski, Wolfe argues that

the WSDOT had an incentive to withhold the records because of the Pacific County lawsuit, and

the WSDOT relied on its failure to produce these records to argue that Wolfe’s claims were barred

3
  Wolfe argued below that the one-year statute of limitations began when the WSDOT provided
the three rip rap documents in 2011 and the case was filed in 2012. However, Wolfe appears to
have abandoned that position on appeal.
                                               9
No. 50894-0-II

by the 10-year statute of limitations in the Pacific County case. Wolfe further argues that there is

evidence of bad faith, deception, or false assurances based on the fact that the WSDOT never

corrected the factual record in the Pacific County case to admit that work had been done on the

bridge since 1986.

       The WSDOT argues that Wolfe failed to show that the WSDOT acted in bad faith, in a

deceptive manner, or gave false assurances. Specifically, the WSDOT argues that Wolfe makes

assertions without evidence that the WSDOT silently withheld records to defeat Wolfe’s Pacific

County claims. And with respect to the three 1998 “rip rap” records, the record does not show that

the WSDOT knew about them in 2008 when the WSDOT produced all records they knew to exist.

Additionally, the WSDOT notes that the WSDOT did not have an “incentive” in 2008 to withhold

documents because Wolfe’s Pacific County suit was not filed until 2010. Wolfe v. Dep’t of

Transp., 173 Wash. App. 302, 304, 293 P.3d 1244 (2013). The WSDOT also relies on the superior

court’s statements (later adopted into findings) that this was an “honest attempt to try to comply

with the Public Records Act.” CP at 3273.

       In Belenski, the appellant requested public records from the county regarding Internet

access logs (IAL). 186 Wash. 2d at 455. The county responded that it had no responsive records.

Belenski, 186 Wash. 2d at 455. Later, Belenski discovered e-mails between county employees

admitting that IALs existed but suggesting that the county did not need to provide them because

they were not “natively viewable.” Belenski, 186 Wash. 2d at 455. Our Supreme Court remanded to

the trial court to determine whether equitable tolling applied. Belenski, 186 Wash. 2d at 462. The

court in Belenski said,

       Belenski and amici raise legitimate concerns that allowing the statute of limitations
       to run based on an agency’s dishonest response could incentivize agencies to

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No. 50894-0-II

       intentionally withhold information and then avoid liability due to the expiration of
       the statute of limitations. On one hand, we recognize that such an incentive could
       be contrary to the broad disclosure mandates of the PRA and may be fundamentally
       unfair in certain circumstances; on the other hand, certain facts in this specific case
       indicate that Belenski knew the County possessed IAL data, yet he inexplicably
       waited over two years before filing his claim.
186 Wash. 2d at 461-62.

       Belenksi is distinguishable from this case. Although Belenksi emphasizes how allowing

the statute of limitations to run could incentivize agencies to withhold information, here, unlike in

Belenski, this is not a silent withholding case. Wolfe has not shown that the WSDOT had an

incentive to “intentionally withhold information,” knew these records existed in 2008, or that the

WSDOT acted in bad faith or in a deceptive manner.

       In his reply, Wolfe argues that the WSDOT has failed to explain how it would be equitable

to permit the WSDOT to assert the statute of limitations. However, the party who asserts equitable

tolling bears the burden of proof. Nickum, 153 Wash. App. at 379. Here, Wolfe contends that the

WSDOT might have had an incentive to withhold records, but fails to show any acts of bad faith,

deception, or false assurances. The WSDOT did not have an “incentive” in 2008 to withhold

documents because Wolfe’s Pacific County suit was not filed until 2010. Wolfe, 173 Wash. App. at

304. Wolfe has not shown that the WSDOT’s failure to correct its assertion made in oral argument

before this court in a separate lawsuit that it had not worked on the bridge since 1986 rises to the

level of bad faith, deception, or false assurances.

       Even if Wolfe used the 1998 “rip rap” records in the Pacific County case, he still would

have lost that case. The 10-year statute of limitations was not at issue, but we noted in the Pacific

                                                 11
No. 50894-0-II

County case that “[t]he Wolfes do not directly contest application of this two-year statute of

limitations to their negligence claim” and held that the 2-year statute of limitations barred this

claim. Wolfe, 173 Wash. App. at 306. Additionally, we held that Wolfe’s inverse condemnation

claim failed because of the subsequent purchaser rule. Wolfe, 173 Wash. App. at 309. We further

stated that the Wolfes did not show that that government action contributed to the erosion of the

riverbank since they purchased the properties in 2003 and 2004. Wolfe, 173 Wash. App. at 309

(emphasis added).

       Therefore, we hold that Wolfe has not met his burden of proof that the doctrine of equitable

tolling applies to these claims. Because Wolfe has not shown bad faith, deception, or false

assurances by the WSDOT, we do not address whether Wolfe exercised diligence.

       We hold that equitable tolling does not apply, and therefore the statute of limitations bars

Wolfe’s claims. Accordingly, we reverse the superior court and hold that all of Wolfe’s claims,

including the three claims regarding the 1998 “rip rap” records, are time barred. Because the

claims are time barred, we do not reach the other issues raised by Wolfe and the WSDOT.

                                       II. ATTORNEY FEES

       RAP 18.1(a) allows us to grant attorney fees if authorized by statute. RCW 42.56.550(4)

allows the prevailing party to be awarded costs and attorney fees.

       Wolfe argues that if he prevails, then he is entitled to attorney fees. Because the statute of

limitations bars Wolfe’s claims, he is not the prevailing party. Accordingly, he is not entitled to

attorney fees.

                                                12
No. 50894-0-II

                                          CONCLUSION

        In conclusion, we hold that all of Wolfe’s claims are barred by the statute of limitations

and Wolfe is not entitled to costs and attorney fees. We reverse and vacate the trial court’s granting

of penalties and fees.

        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 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

                                                      TRICKEY, J.P.T.
 We concur:

 LEE, A.C.J.

 SUTTON, J.

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