Court Opinion

ID: 4699219
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-28 19:25:51.841626+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:01.450804
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

 TERENCE R. JOHNSON,
                                                     No. 81646-2-I
                       Appellant,
                                                     DIVISION ONE
       v.
                                                     UNPUBLISHED OPINION
 WASHINGTON STATE
 DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING,

                       Respondent.

       COBURN, J. — Terence Johnson, unrepresented, appeared at Kirkland

Municipal Court (Kirkland) hoping to be added to the court calendar. He wanted

Kirkland to recall his legal financial obligations (LFOs) from collections and reset

his next payment due date in light of his indigency. Kirkland staff told Johnson

that they preferred he make his request by letter. Johnson complied and

submitted a letter explaining his circumstances and his request. Kirkland did not

set a hearing or respond to Johnson. Eventually, when Johnson failed to make a

payment, Kirkland notified the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL)

which suspended Johnson’s privilege to drive.

       Evidence of this turn of events is what Johnson tried to get and submit to

King County Superior Court to support his claim against DOL that, inter alia, it

violated his right to due process by suspending his license before Kirkland

afforded him a hearing to consider his indigency. However, the 2019 novel

Citations and pin cites are based on the Westlaw online version of the cited material.
No. 81646-2-I/2

coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) prevented Johnson from timely obtaining the

Kirkland records and timely responding to DOL’s motion for summary judgment.

Johnson submitted a late request to the superior court for a continuance. The

next day, without oral argument because of COVID-19, the superior court

granted DOL’s motion for summary judgment. After Johnson moved for

reconsideration, the superior court vacated its previous order, denied Johnson’s

request for a continuance, and again granted DOL’s motion for summary

judgment. We conclude the superior court abused its discretion when it denied

Johnson’s request for a continuance. We reverse the superior court’s order

granting DOL’s motion for summary judgment. We remand to the superior court

and order it to set a new summary judgment hearing, thereby giving Johnson an

opportunity to submit additional discovery.

                                     FACTS 1

      In 2014, Johnson, unrepresented, pled guilty to driving under the influence

in Kirkland. As part of his sentence, Kirkland imposed $4,068.91 in LFOs. The

judgment and sentence directed Johnson to either pay the LFOs within 30 days

or contact Signal Management to set up a payment plan within 30 days. The

judgment and sentence also warned Johnson that his failure to pay or set up a

payment plan “may result in additional late penalties and the matter will be

referred to a collection agency. It may also result in a bench warrant and/or the

suspension of your driving privileges.”

      1 In reviewing summary judgment orders, we view all facts and reasonable
inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Elcon Constr., Inc.
v. E. Wash. Univ., 174 Wn.2d 157, 164, 273 P.3d 965 (2012).

                                          2
No. 81646-2-I/3

       About a year later, Kirkland informed DOL of Johnson’s failure to pay.

DOL mailed Johnson a notice that it would suspend his driver’s license if he did

not resolve the payment issue with Kirkland. The notice also provided Johnson

the option to contest the suspension by requesting an administrative review of

DOL’s proposed suspension. See RCW 46.20.245(2). Johnson timely

requested an administrative review. DOL completed the review and informed

Johnson of its decision to uphold the suspension. Johnson appealed DOL’s

decision in the King County Superior Court. 2

       While his appeal was pending in superior court, Johnson filed a petition for

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. The action of filing for bankruptcy automatically stayed

all collection actions against Johnson including DOL’s suspension of his license.

Accordingly, DOL lifted Johnson’s suspension and reissued his license, and the

superior court dismissed his appeal as moot.

       Then, in July 2017, the bankruptcy court dismissed Johnson’s petition. 3

Without an active bankruptcy action, Johnson was again subject to the LFOs in

Kirkland. Around fall 2017, Johnson’s father became ill. Johnson became his

       2  Simultaneously, Johnson filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court
for the Western District of Washington, which that court dismissed for failure to
exhaust administrative remedies. Johnson v. Dep’t of Licensing, No. C18-
0147JLR (W.D. Wash. Feb. 26, 2018) (citing Johnson v. Dep’t of Licensing,
No. C15-0446MJP (W.D. Wash. June 22, 2015)). In January 2018, Johnson filed
a second civil complaint against DOL in federal court. The federal court again
dismissed that complaint because Johnson failed to exhaust his administrative
remedies. Johnson v. Dep’t of Licensing, No. C18-0147JLR (W.D. Wash. Feb.
26, 2018).
        3 According to Johnson, the court dismissed his bankruptcy petition

because he “missed the Ch 13 listing date deadline by a week.”

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No. 81646-2-I/4

father’s 24-hour caretaker. Instead of paying the LFOs, he used his money to

purchase his father’s medication.

       Johnson contacted Kirkland to request relief. On August 28, 2017,

Johnson went to Kirkland in person in hopes of getting a hearing, but the clerk

told him that they preferred he submit his request in a written letter. The same

day, Johnson wrote a letter to the Kirkland judge requesting he recall his LFOs

from collections, asking for a later payment due date, and explaining his inability

to pay. On August 31, the clerk forwarded a copy of the letter to the prosecutor

and public defender. Despite Johnson’s follow-up with Kirkland on September 5,

it did not set a hearing, did not rule on Johnson’s request, did not respond to

Johnson’s letter, and did not delay reporting Johnson’s failure to pay to DOL.

       After Johnson’s bankruptcy petition was dismissed, in December 2017,

Kirkland again notified DOL of Johnson’s failure to pay, and DOL notified

Johnson that it would suspend his license if it did not receive proof that he

resolved the payment issue with Kirkland prior to the set suspension date.

       On January 29, 2018, “in an attempt to negotiate a payment plan to avoid

the suspension of his license[,]” Johnson contacted Kirkland’s collection agency,

Alliance One, who told Johnson that he had to make a minimum payment of

$1,797. Johnson could not afford to make that payment. On February 4, DOL

suspended his license. 4

       4 Subsequently, the City of Mercer Island charged Johnson with the crime
of driving with a suspended license in the third degree. More than one year after
DOL suspended his license, during the May 7, 2019 hearing in Kirkland
addressing electronic home monitoring, Kirkland reconsidered Johnson’s LFOs.
Kirkland removed Johnson’s LFOs from collections, waived interest, reduced the

                                         4
No. 81646-2-I/5

       In September 2019, Johnson filed a second complaint against DOL in

King County Superior Court. Johnson alleged DOL unlawfully suspended his

license and requested inter alia “relief which the court finds equitable, appropriate

or just” and “Ordering Mandamus requiring issuance of a License without

improper restrictions.”5 DOL denied Johnson’s claims and asserted affirmative

defenses that Johnson failed to state a claim upon which the court could grant

relief, that he lacked standing to bring the action, that his claims were frivolous,

that he failed to exhaust his administrative remedies, and that DOL complied with

the statutory requirements for suspending a license.

       In January 2020, DOL moved for summary judgment. On February 14,

the superior court notified Johnson that it would hold a summary judgment

hearing on May 22. Because the hearing was set for May 22, Johnson’s

response was due May 11. 6

       On February 29, 2020, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed

a state of emergency due to COVID-19. 7 On March 4, the Washington Supreme

Court authorized lower courts “to adopt, modify, and suspend court rules and

orders, and to take further actions concerning court operations, as warranted to

amount he owed by half, and reduced his monthly payments to $50 per month.
Then, Kirkland informed DOL that Johnson was eligible for licensure, and DOL
reissued Johnson a license.
       5 Johnson also sought monetary damages, which the superior court

denied. Johnson does not appeal that ruling.
       6 The party opposing a motion for summary judgment may file and serve a

response no later than 11 calendar days before the hearing. CR 56(c).
       7 Proclamation of Governor Jay Inslee, No. 20-25 (Wash. Mar. 23,

2020), https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/20-50%20-
%20COVID19%20Reducing%20Prison%20Population.pdf [https://perma.cc/PJ48
-WAEY].

                                          5
No. 81646-2-I/6

address the current public health emergency.” 8 On March 23, Governor Inslee

issued a “Stay Home-Stay Healthy” proclamation requiring Washington residents

to stay home except for essential reasons and all businesses except essential

businesses to close. On March 27, King County Superior Court issued

Emergency Order #15 providing in relevant part,

      2. All civil motions shall be heard without oral argument unless
      specifically requested by the assigned judge. The parties may
      request oral argument, but the decision will be left to the assigned
      judge.
      3. If the Court requests oral argument, it will be conducted by
      telephone, video, or other electronic means.
      ...
      6. The Court is aware that parties may face difficulties in timely
      responding to motions for personal or case (.i.e., [sic] discovery)
      reasons related to COVID-19. Parties may request a continuance
      related to COVID-19 from the Court and such requests will be
      liberally granted.[9]

      Because of COVID-19, Johnson could not access the municipal, superior,

or federal courts’ records, libraries, and other resources. Additionally, Johnson

suffered a stroke and was hospitalized April 1-2, 2020. The stroke caused

Johnson to experience “difficulties in focusing and concentrating on my personal

affairs, including this litigation.” COVID-19 and the stroke affected Johnson’s

      8   Order, No. 25700-B-602, In re Response by Washington State Courts to
the Public Health Emergency in Washington State (Wash. Mar. 4, 2020),
http://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicUpload/Supreme%20Court%20Orders/S
C%20Order%20Closure%2025700-B-602.pdf [https://perma.cc/MF47-TY8W].
        9 Emergency Order No. 15 re Civil and Family Law Matters, In re

Response by King County Superior Court to the Public Health Emergency in
Washington State (King County Super. Ct., Wash. Mar. 27, 2020),
https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/courts/superior-court/docs/COVID-19/FILED-
Emergency-Order15-KCSC-200120505.ashx?la=en [https://perma.cc/2QF3-
UPRL].

                                         6
No. 81646-2-I/7

ability to prepare and timely file a response to DOL’s motion for summary

judgment.

       On April 7, 2020, DOL emailed Johnson and the superior court asking,

due to COVID-19, whether the court would hear its motion for summary judgment

telephonically or without oral argument. The same day, without copying the

court, Johnson replied to DOL’s email “I will demand oral argument.” On

April 24, the superior court emailed both parties that per Emergency Order #15

they could request a telephonic or video oral argument. Johnson did not request

an oral argument.

       On May 19, 2020, Johnson filed his response to DOL’s motion for

summary judgment. Johnson requested an in-person oral argument on the

motion for summary judgment and requested a continuance so that he could

obtain court records and access the court resources that were closed due to

COVID-19. The same day, he followed up his filing by emailing DOL and the

superior court judge to explain his broken computer and the court closures

caused “this un [sic] avoidable delay.”

       The next day, on May 20, without holding oral argument, the superior

court granted DOL summary judgment and dismissed Johnson’s claims with

prejudice. The superior court wrote, while the hearing had been set for May 22,

“[n]o opposition was filed.” The order further explained, “King County Emergency

Order #15 waives the requirement of oral argument provided in LCR 56. All civil

motions shall be heard without oral argument unless specifically requested by the

                                          7
No. 81646-2-I/8

assigned judge. The undersigned declined to request oral argument in this case,

and decides the motion on the written filings.”

       On June 2, 2020, now represented by legal counsel, Johnson filed a

motion to reconsider and to vacate the order granting summary judgment.

Johnson again explained his response to DOL’s motion for summary judgment

was untimely because of his inability to access court records due to COVID-19

closures and his stroke.

       The superior court granted Johnson’s motion for reconsideration and

vacated its order granting summary judgment, explaining it had not considered

Johnson’s untimely response because it was unaware of it prior to issuing its

ruling. On reconsideration, the superior court denied Johnson’s request for a

continuance and granted DOL summary judgment. Johnson appeals the order

denying the continuance and granting summary judgment. 10

                                  DISCUSSION

       We agree with Johnson’s contention that the superior court abused its

discretion by denying his motion to continue the summary judgment hearing.

       Summary judgment is appropriate if there is no genuine issue of material

fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c).

CR 56(f) provides that a party opposing a motion for summary judgment may

request, and the trial court may grant, a continuance to obtain additional

       10Attached to his appellate brief are records Johnson obtained after the
superior court dismissed his claims. DOL did not ask to strike those records from
our consideration. We may take additional evidence if it would fairly resolve
issues on appeal and serve the ends of justice. RAP 9.11.

                                         8
No. 81646-2-I/9

discovery “that will justify its opposition to summary judgment.” West v. Seattle

Port Comm’n, 194 Wn. App. 821, 833, 380 P.3d 82 (2016). We review the

superior court’s CR 56(f) ruling for abuse of discretion. Id. at 834. A superior

court abuses its discretion when its decision is manifestly unreasonable or based

on untenable grounds or reasons. Id.

       In ordinary times, “the court ‘may deny a motion for a continuance when

(1) the moving party does not offer a good reason for the delay in obtaining the

evidence; (2) the moving party does not state what evidence would be

established through the additional discovery; or (3) the evidence sought will not

raise a genuine issue of fact.’ ” Id. at 833-34 (quoting Coggle v. Snow, 56 Wn.

App. 499, 507, 784 P.2d 554 (1990)). However, these were not ordinary times

and the application of CR 56(f) stood in the shadow of King County Superior

Court’s own emergency order recognizing that COVID-19 might cause parties to

face difficulties in timely responding to motions.

       The emergency order permitted parties to request a continuance related to

COVID-19 and provided that “such requests will be liberally granted.” 11

However, on reconsideration, the superior court denied Johnson’s request for a

continuance because:

       Plaintiff has had so long to respond and presents no persuasive
       reasons for a continuance. . . . Plaintiff has not satisfied the

       11  Emergency Order No. 15 re Civil and Family Law Matters, In re
Response by King County Superior Court to the Public Health Emergency in
Washington State (King County Super. Ct., Wash. Mar. 27, 2020),
https://kingcounty.gov/~/media/courts/superior-court/docs/COVID-19/FILED-
Emergency-Order15-KCSC-200120505.ashx?la=en [https://perma.cc/2QF3-
UPRL].

                                          9
No. 81646-2-I/10

       requirements of CR 56(f) to justify a continuance; Plaintiff has not
       indicated what additional evidence is essential to a determination
       that he has not put before the Court, and his general statements
       are not persuasive.

       Johnson offered “a good reason for the delay in obtaining evidence,” and

for needing a continuance. He explained he could not conduct research and

collect court records earlier because the courts and libraries were closed or were

not “open for normal business” in response to COVID-19. He explicitly wrote,

“resources . . . have not been available to me the last two plus months.” With the

response due in May, Johnson provided a reasonable explanation as to how

COVID-19 closures prevented him from obtaining records, conducting research,

and timely responding to DOL’s motion.

       The superior court also denied Johnson’s request for a continuance

because his “general statements” about the records he wished to obtain were not

persuasive enough to defeat DOL’s summary judgment motion. But the records

Johnson wanted to obtain included the Kirkland records that establish facts

beyond “general statements.” The records show that Johnson requested

Kirkland consider his indigency, and that without consideration of his request,

Kirkland notified DOL of his failure to pay and DOL suspended Johnson’s

license. DOL’s administrative review process would not have permitted Johnson

to raise the issues of his indigency or of Kirkland’s failure to consider his

indigency before reporting him to DOL. 12 DOL argues that,

       12DOL’s administrative review is limited to determining “(i) Whether the
records relied on by the department identify the correct person; and (ii) Whether
the information transmitted from the court or other reporting agency or entity
regarding the person accurately describes the action taken by the court or other
reporting agency or entity.” RCW 46.20.245(2)(b).

                                          10
No. 81646-2-I/11

       under RCW 46.20.289, it was required to suspend Johnson’s
       license upon receiving notice from a court that Johnson had failed
       to pay monetary fees and penalties, and that the municipal court
       that imposed the fines—not the Department—was the only entity
       statutorily authorized to inquire into Johnson’s ability to pay those
       monetary obligations.

“The Supreme Court of the United States has held that the due process and

equal protection clauses prevent a state from invidiously discriminating against,

or arbitrarily punishing, indigent defendants for their failure to pay fines they

cannot pay.” State v. Johnson, 179 Wn.2d 534, 552-55, 316 P.3d 1090 (2014)

(citing Bearden v. Georgia, 461 U.S. 660, 665, 103 S. Ct. 2064, 76 L. Ed. 2d 221

(1983)). The records Johnson could not timely obtain during the pandemic go to

the heart of his due process claim.

       We reverse the superior court’s order granting DOL’s motion for summary

judgment. We remand to the superior court and order it to set a new summary

judgment hearing, thereby giving Johnson an opportunity to submit additional

discovery.

WE CONCUR:

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