Court Opinion

ID: 2714993
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-06 17:10:03.572348+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:50:37.828380
License: Public Domain

FILED 

                                                          MARCH 13, 2014 

                                                     In the Office of the Clerk of Court 

                                                   W A State Court of Appeals, Division III 

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 

                            DIVISION THREE 

WILLIAM HOUK and JANICE HOUK,            )   No. 31163-5-111
husband and wife,                        )
                                         )
                     Respondents,        )
                                         )
               v.                        )
                                         )   PUBLISHED OPINION
BEST DEVELOPMENT &                       )
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., a            )
Washington Corporation, DAVE WINLOW )
dba SUNDANCE EXCAVATING, BURT            )
SHAHAN, an individual, LANCE             )
POUNDER EXCAVATION, INC., a              )
Washington Corporation, JOHN AKINS       )
MASONRY, INC., a Washington              )
Corporation, R.K. STARK                  )
CONSTRUCTION CO., CHARLES                )
MAYFIELD, an individual dba CM           )
SIDING, TIM VIGIL, an individual dba T J )
VIGIL CONSTRUCTION, APOLLO               )
ELECTRIC, INC., a Washington             )
Corporation, GALE INSULATION,            )
WALKER ROOFING, LLC, a Washington )
Limited Liability Company, REED          )
CONCRETE COMPANY, INC., a                )
Washington Corporation, STI              )
NORTHWEST, INC., a Washington            )
Corporation,                             )
                     Defendants.         )
                                         )
NICHOLS & SHAHAN DEVELOPMENT,            )
LLC, a Washington Limited Liability      )
1   No. 31163-5-111
    Houk v. Best Dev. & Constr. Co., Inc.

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    Company, and JOSEPH NICHOLS, an
    individual,
                    Petitioners.
                                                    )
                                                    )
                                                    )

           BROWN, J.-On discretionary review, real estate developers Nichols & Shahan

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    Development, LLC (a dissolved limited liability company) and Joseph K. Nichols

    (collectively NSD) ask us to overturn the trial court's denial of its summary judgment

    motion against home purchasers and plaintiffs William and Janice Houk. NSD contends

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    the trial court erred in not concluding the limitation provisions of RCW 25.15.303 added

i   in 2010 are prospective and require a plaintiff to sue within three years after a certificate

    of dissolution is filed. We agree with NSD. Applying this law to the undisputed material

    facts, we reverse and grant summary judgment to NSD.

                                                FACTS

           In 2004, the Houks moved into a newly constructed home in NSD's development.

    The Houks soon began noticing multiple defects in their home, some serious. On

    October 2, 2006, Washington's secretary of state dissolved NSD as an LLC. On

    December 16, 2010, the Houks sued NSD for damages, alleging breach of contract,

    breach of implied warranties, and breach of express warranties, negligence, and

    violation of Washington's Consumer Protection Act, chapter 19.86 RCW. NSD

    requested summary judgment dismissal, arguing the Houks' complaint was time barred

    because it was filed more than three years after NSD dissolved. The trial court

    disagreed, concluding the recently amended RCW 25.15.303 required an LLC to file a

    certificate of dissolution and since NSD did not file the certificate, it was still subject to

    litigation. This court granted NSD's request for discretionary review.

                                                   2

No. 31163-5-111
Houk v. Best Oev. & Constr. Co., Inc.

                                          ANALYSIS

       The issue is whether the trial court erred by denying NSD's request for summary

judgment dismissal after it concluded the limitation provisions of RCW 25.15.303 as

amended in 2010 apply retroactively.

       We review the denial of a summary judgment motion de novo and perform the

same inquiry as the trial court. Macias v. Saberhagen Holdings, Inc., 175 Wash. 2d 402,

407-08,282 P.3d 1069 (2012). A party moving for summary judgment bears the burden

of demonstrating there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is

entitled to judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c); Atherton Condo. Apartment Owners

Ass'n Bd. of Oir. v. Blume Dev. Co., 115 Wash. 2d 506, 516, 799 P.2d 250 (1990).

Likewise, the interpretation of a statutory amendment is a question of law that we review

de novo. Oep't of Ecology v. Campbell & Gwinn, LLC, 146 Wn.2d 1,9,43 P.3d 4

(2002). We presume statutory amendments are prospective unless there is a legislative

intent to apply the statute retroactively or the amendment is clearly curative or remedial.

Johnson v. Cont'l   w., Inc., 99 Wn.2d 555,559,663 P.2d 482 (1983).
       RCW 25.15.303 first became effective in 2006. The statute stated, "The

dissolution of a limited liability company does not take away or impair any remedy

available against that limited liability company, its managers, or its members for any

right or claim existing, or any liability incurred at any time, whether prior to or after

dissolution, unless an action or other proceeding thereon is not commenced within three

years after the filing of the effective date of dissolution." RCW 25.15.303 (2006).

                                               3

No. 31163-5-111
Houk v. Best Dev. & Constr. Co., Inc.

       In 2009, our Supreme Court decided Chadwick Farms Owners Ass'n v. FHC

LLC, 166 Wn.2d 178,207 P.3d 1251 (2009). One issue in Chadwick was when does

the limitations period start when distinguishing between an administratively-dissolved

LLC (secretary of state cancels LLC for noncompliance) and nonadministratively­

dissolved LLC (LLC dissolves itself). The court held, "If a limited liability company is

dissolved upon events specified in the company agreement or the consent of the

members ... the company and its managers and members control the timing of

dissolution. . .. But when the secretary of state administratively dissolves a limited

liability company for failure to pay fees or file reports (as here), cancellation of the

certificate of formation automatically occurs two years later if the'company does not

seek reinstatement." Id. at 190. "In either case, the critical event is the cancellation of

the certificate of formation." Id. at 191. Once an LLC is cancelled, "it no longer exists

... for a~y purpose." Id. at 194. The Chadwick court referred to RCW 25.15.303 as a

"statute of limitations" and reasoned it "means that an action against a limited liability

company, whether arising before or after dissolution, must be brought within three years

of dissolution." Chadwick, 166 Wash. 2d at 195.

       In 2010, our legislature amended RCW 25.15.303 to read, "The dissolution of a

limited liability company does not take away or impair any remedy available to or

against that limited liability company, its managers, or its members for any right or claim

existing, or any liability incurred at any time, whether prior to or after dissolution, unless

the limited liability company has filed a certificate of dissolution." (Emphasis added.)

                                              4

No. 31163-5-111
Houk v. Best Dev. & Constr. Co., Inc.

       Under the 2006 version of RCW 25.15.303, no requirement existed for a

dissolved LLC to file documentation with the secretary of state before the statute of

limitations was triggered. The limitations period began to run on the LLC's "effective

date of dissolution." RCW 25.15.303 (2006). It is undisputed this version of RCW

25.15.303 was in effect on the date that NSD was administratively dissolved, during the

three year limitations period triggered by NSD's dissolution, and for an additional period

of eight months thereafter. Under RCW 25.15.303 (2006), the Houks were required to

commence their lawsuit against NSD no later than October 2,2009, which is three

years from the date that NSD was administratively dissolved. The Houks, however,

filed suit on December 16, 2.010. Thus, under RCW 25.15.303 (2006) their complaint

was untimely.

       If the amended version of RCW 25.15.303 applied retroactively then the Houks'

lawsuit would be timely. As discussed above, we presume statutory amendments are

prospective unless there is a legislative intent to apply the statute retroactively or the

amendment is clearly curative or remedial. Johnson, 99 Wash. 2d at 559. In the absence

of a clear declaration by the legislature regarding retroactivity, as here, it is "helpful to

characterize changes to a statute as ... 'curative' or 'remedial' to assist in determining

legislative intent." Hale v. Wellpinit School Dist. No. 49, 165 Wn.2d 494,508, 198 P.3d
1021 (2009).

       An amendment is curative and retroactive if it clarifies or technically corrects an

ambiguous statute. State v. Jones, 110Wn.2d 74, 82, 750 P.2d 620 (1988). The

amendment must be "clearly curative" for it to be retroactively applied. Howell v.

                                               5

No. 31163-5-111
Houk v. Best Dev. & Constr. Co., Inc.

Spokane & Inland Empire Blood Bank, 114 Wn.2d 42,47,785 P.2d 815 (1990). But

"[w]here ambiguity is lacking in statutory language, this court presumes an amendment

to the statute constitutes a substantive change in the law, and the amendment

presumptively is not retroactively applied." In re F.D. Processing, Inc., 119 Wash. 2d 452,

462,832 P.2d 1303 (1992). Thus, ambiguity in the statutory language is a condition

precedent to finding that an amendment was "curative."

       Relating'to RCW 25.15.303 (2006), the Chadwick court stated, "The plain

language in RCW 25.15.303 and the other provisions in the Act resolve the statute's

meaning. Because we find no ambiguity, we have no reason to consider legislative

history." 165 Wash. 2d at 195. One cannot cure anambiguity where none exists.

Because our Supreme Court determined that the 2006 version of RCW 25.15.303 was

unambiguous, the 2010 amendments to that statute (particularly those adding a new

filing requirement) cannot be interpreted as curative.

       Similarly, the strong presumption against retroactivity may be overcome where a

statute is "remedial." In re F.D. Processing, Inc., 119 Wash. 2d at 462-63. '''An

amendment is deemed remedial and applied retroactively when it relates to practice,

procedure or remedies, and does not affect a substantive or vested right.'" Id. (quoting

In re Mota, 114 Wash. 2d 465, 471, 788 P.2d 538 (1990)). "A 'right' is a legal

consequence deriving from certain facts, while a remedy is a procedure prescribed.by

law to enforce a right." Dep't of Ret. Sys. v. Kralman, 73 Wash. App. 25, 33, 867 P.2d 643

(1994) (citing Hammack v. Monroe St. Lumber Co., 54 Wash. 2d 224, 231,339 P.2d 684

(1959)). "A statute which provides a claimant with the right to proceed against persons

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No. 31163-5-111
Houk v. Best Dev. & Constr. Co., Inc.

previously outside the scope of the statute deals with a substantive right, and therefore

applies prospectively only." Kralman, 73 Wash. App. at 33.

       Here, the Houks' claims against NSD were time barred by RCW 25.15.303

(2006) beginning on October 2, 2009. From that date forward, the Houks no longer had

a legal right to proceed with their claims against NSD and NSD had a legal right to

assert the statute of limitations as a complete defense. The 2010 amendments to RCW

25.15.303 created a new substantive remedy that is outside the scope of the former

statute that would, if retroactively applied. deny NSD the right to assert the statute of

limitations as a complete defense. Accordingly, the 2010 amendments are not

remedial.

       Because the Houks have failed to show legislative intent to apply RCW

25.15.303 retroactively or that the amendments are clearly curative or remedial, we

follow the presumption that the statute is prospective. Thus, the trial court erred in

concluding differently. Therefore, the Houks' claims are time barred. Accordingly, we

reverse the trial court and grant summary dismissal of the Houks' suit.

       We note the Houks ask for affirmative relief in their response brief, asking us to

allow them to amend their complaint to add additional causes of action. The Houks, as

respondents, may not request affirmative relief without proper notice. See RAP 5.1 (d)

(requiring the filing of a notice of cross-review to request affirmative relief). Moreover,

the additional causes of action alleged against NSD and Mr. Nichol are issues raised for

the first time on appeal. Under RAP 9.12, arguments not brought to the attention of the

trial court at the time of summary judgment may not be considered by the appellate

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No. 31163-5-111
Houk v. Best Dev. & Constr. Co., Inc.

court. Accordingly, these issues are not properly before us. Nevertheless, based on

the reasoning above, further claims against NSD would be time barred. RCW

25.15.303.

       Finally, relying on RCW 4.84.330, NSD requests attorney fees on appeal. RCW

4.84.330 states that a contract containing an attorney fees provision entitles the

prevailing party in an enforcement action to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs.

The parties' 2004 real estate contract lists Mr. Nichols 1 as the seller and the Houks as

the purchaser. Their contract states, "If Buyer, Seller, or any real estate licensee or

broker involved in this transaction is involved in any dispute relating to any aspect of this

transaction or this Agreement, each prevailing party shall recover their reasonable

attorneys' fees. This provision shall survive Closing." Clerk's Papers at 157.

       Where a contract provides for an award of reasonable attorney fees to the

prevailing party, such an award "shall" be made. RCW 4.84.330. Here, the parties'

contract contains an attorney fee provision and several of their claims are based on the

contract, including violation of implied warranties. See Burbo v. Harley C. Douglass,

Inc., 125 Wn. App. 684,701-02, 106 P.3d 258 (2005) ("the implied warranty of

habitability is an implied-in-Iaw term of the contract for sale for the purposes of attorney

fees.") NSD prevails here. Thus, we grant attorney fees request.

       Reversed.

       1 The Houks attempt to distinguish Mr. Nichols from NSD in their argument that
fees are unwarranted, arguing Mr. Nichols was not acting on his own behalf but on
behalf of NSD; thus, he cannot receive fees. However, both parties are combined for
purposes of this appeal and for purposes of representation by their attorney.

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No. 31163-5-111 

Houk v. Best Dev. & Constr. Co., Inc. 

                                               Brown, J.

WE CONCUR:

/b:,
Korsmo, C.J.
                co: 

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