Court Opinion

ID: 4656429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-02-01 23:18:23.714759+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:00:52.268302
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

ROSE DAVIS as Personal                     )   No. 79696-8-I
Representative of the Estate of RENEE )
L. DAVIS, deceased,                        )
                                           )   DIVISION ONE
                       Appellant,          )
                                           )
                       v.                  )
                                           )
KING COUNTY, a political subdivision )         ORDER GRANTING MOTION
of the State of Washington, TIMOTHY )          FOR RECONSIDERATION AND
LEWIS, Deputy, King County Sheriff’s )         PUBLICATION AND ORDER
Office, individually and in his official   )   WITHDRAWING AND SUBSTITUTING
capacity acting under the color of state )     OPINION
law; NICHOLAS PRITCHETT, Deputy, )
King County Sheriff’s Office, individually )
and in his official capacity acting under )
the color of state law; JOHN               )
URQUHART, in his individual capacity; )
MITZI JOHANKNECHT, Sheriff, King           )
County Sheriff’s Office, in her official   )
capacity; JOHN DOES 1-10, individually )
and in their official capacities acting    )
under the color of state law,              )
                                           )
                       Respondents.        )
                                           )

       Appellant Rose Davis filed a motion to reconsider and publish the court’s opinion

filed on August 31, 2020. Respondent King County has filed a response. The panel

has determined that the appellant’s motion for reconsideration and publication should
be granted and that the opinion filed on August 31, 2020 shall be withdrawn and

substituted with a new published opinion.

      Now, therefore, it is hereby

      ORDERED that appellant’s motion for reconsideration and publication is granted

and that the opinion filed on August 31, 2020 shall be withdrawn and substituted with a

new published opinion.

                     FOR THE COURT:

                                            2
          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

ROSE DAVIS as Personal                     )   No. 79696-8-I
Representative of the Estate of RENEE )
L. DAVIS, deceased,                        )
                                           )   DIVISION ONE
                       Appellant,          )
                                           )
                       v.                  )
                                           )
KING COUNTY, a political subdivision )
of the State of Washington, TIMOTHY )          PUBLISHED OPINION
LEWIS, Deputy, King County Sheriff’s )
Office, individually and in his official   )
capacity acting under the color of state )
law; NICHOLAS PRITCHETT, Deputy, )
King County Sheriff’s Office, individually )
and in his official capacity acting under )
the color of state law; JOHN               )
URQUHART, in his individual capacity; )
MITZI JOHANKNECHT, Sheriff, King           )
County Sheriff’s Office, in her official   )
capacity; JOHN DOES 1-10, individually )
and in their official capacities acting    )
under the color of state law,              )
                                           )
                       Respondents.        )
                                           )

       MANN, C.J. — Washington’s felony bar statute, RCW 4.24.420, creates a

complete defense to any action for damages for personal injury or wrongful death if the

person injured or killed was engaged in the commission of a felony at the time of the
No. 79696-8-I/2

injury or death and the felony was a proximate cause of the injury or death. On its face,

the statute applies even if the defendant was negligent or unreasonable.

       The estate of Renee Davis appeals the trial court’s summary judgment order

dismissing its wrongful death action. Davis was fatally shot by law enforcement during

a mental health crisis where she was suicidal. On appeal, the estate contends that the

trial court erred in granting the defendants’ summary judgment motions because the

court improperly inferred Davis’s specific intent to assault the deputies, made credibility

determinations about the deputies’ version of events, and because issues of material

fact exist as to whether the defendants’ negligence was the proximate cause of Davis’s

death. The estate also contends that the trial court erred because the felony bar statute

requires a criminal conviction or admission to felonious conduct before it can bar a

wrongful death action. We reverse.

                                              I. FACTS

       On October 21, 2016, T.J. Molina approached King County Sheriff’s Office

Deputy Nicholas Pritchett on the powwow grounds at the Muckleshoot Indian

Reservation during his patrol shift. 1 Molina was worried about his girlfriend, Davis, who

had been sending him concerning text messages. Davis had a history of psychiatric

treatment for mental illness and history of attempted suicide.

       At 6:21 p.m., Davis sent Molina a text message saying “[w]ell come and get the

girls or call 911 I’m going to shoot myself.” Another text message followed at 6:28 p.m.

       1 Davis was a member of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. It is common for residents of the
Reservation to seek out law enforcement officers for help rather than call 911.

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No. 79696-8-I/3

that said “[t]his is to show you I’m not lying,” with a blurry photo that appeared to be an

injury. It was unclear from the photo the severity and location of the potential injury.

       Molina sought out Pritchett’s help because Davis had two of her three children

with her and was also pregnant with a fourth child. Pritchett was familiar with both

Davis and Molina because he had responded to domestic violence incidents at Davis’s

home concerning Davis’s ex-boyfriend. Molina showed Pritchett the text messages

from Davis. Pritchett thought the picture could have been an injury or a “photo off the

internet,” but because the image was blurry, he could not be sure. Molina told Pritchett

that Davis had access to a rifle and a handgun.

       Pritchett advised dispatch of a “suicidal female, possibly armed with a rifle and

who has her two children with her,” texting “pictures of fresh injuries, unsure who is

injured,” and “female is Davis, Renee possibly born in 1993” at 6:37 p.m. Pritchett

indicated that he would conduct a welfare check. Dispatch advised Pritchett that

backup was approximately 26 minutes away. Pritchett asked dispatch to check if any

units from the Auburn Police Department were available to respond. At the same time,

Deputy Lewis was commuting home when he overheard Pritchett’s radio transmissions

and responded. Lewis had been attending a firearms training at the King County

Sheriff’s Office range.

       Pritchett parked a few blocks away from Davis’s home at 6:44 p.m. Pritchett

approached the home on foot to survey the area and look for signs of distress. Pritchett

returned to his vehicle to wait for backup. Lewis arrived at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Pritchett quickly told Lewis about a tree he observed outside Davis’s residence where

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No. 79696-8-I/4

they could shelter if there was gunfire. Lewis knew only what he heard over the radio

and did not know that Davis was pregnant or that Pritchett had prior contacts with Davis.

        Together, the deputies approached Davis’s house on foot at approximately 6:52

p.m. Neither heard any noise from the house or indication that the occupants were in

distress. Both deputies loudly knocked on the front door, siding, and windows of the

house. They repeatedly yelled “Sheriff’s Office!” “It’s the police!” and “Come to the

door!” to get Davis’s attention. Lewis tried to remove the screen from the window when

he saw Davis’s two children in the living room and asked them to open the front door;

Davis’s three-year-old child complied. Both children appeared to be under the age of

five.

        The deputies entered the home, Lewis had his weapon drawn. After quickly

assessing the children’s well-being, Lewis moved the children to the front door foyer

while Pritchett checked the living room and kitchen area. Lewis asked the children

“Where’s mommy’s room?” and one of the children pointed to a door down the hallway.

Lewis covered the hallway and the two bedrooms at the back of the hallway while

Pritchett approached the first bedroom. The doorknob had a child safety device on it,

and Pritchett was unable to maneuver the device because he had on gloves. Pritchett

kicked the child safety device off the doorknob.

        The deputies entered Davis’s bedroom and observed her lying in her bed,

covered in a blanket up to her neck, staring blankly at the door. The deputies instructed

Davis to show her hands; Lewis recalled that Davis did not respond, while Pritchett

recalled that Davis said “no.” Lewis pointed his weapon at Davis while Pritchett pulled

the blanket off Davis. Both deputies testified that they saw a gun. Lewis recalled that

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No. 79696-8-I/5

Davis’s right hand was over the top of or below the gun, with the muzzle facing the foot

of the bed, while Pritchett recalled that the gun was in Davis’s right hand resting on her

legs. Both deputies observed a magazine in Davis’s left hand, but could not tell whether

the gun was loaded or unloaded.

       Lewis ordered Davis to “drop the gun,” while Pritchett yelled “gun.” Pritchett

attempted to move back toward the door. Both officers testified that she raised the gun

and pointed it directly at them—apparently at the same time. Both Lewis and Pritchett

fired their weapons. Three bullets hit Davis. Pritchett announced “shots fired” over the

air. Davis slumped over, fell off the bed, and stated “Its not even loaded.”

       Lewis heard the children screaming and left Pritchett alone in the bedroom with

Davis. Lewis encountered Auburn Police Officer, Derek Pederson, as he took the

children outside. After removing the children from the home, Pederson and Lewis went

back to Davis’s bedroom. According to Pederson he saw the gun in Davis’s hand while

she was lying on the floor and one of the deputies took it out of her hand. Pritchett

testified that he told Lewis that they needed to make the scene safe and asked Lewis to

cover him while he got the gun. Pritchett claimed he recovered the gun from the bed,

checked it, and confirmed that it did not have a magazine nor round in the chamber. He

then put the gun in his belt. Lewis testified that he was watching Davis and did not see

Pritchett remove the gun from the bed.

       Pederson moved the bed away from Davis so that medical personnel could

provide treatment. Pritchett called for aid and moved Davis to a location where aid

could be provided. Fire department medics, who had been waiting outside entered and

performed lifesaving measures. Medics were unable to revive Davis.

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No. 79696-8-I/6

       On January 3, 2018, the estate filed a wrongful death action against King County,

Pritchett, Lewis, former King County Sheriff Urquhart and Sheriff Johanknecht 2

(collectively King County) for negligence, battery, negligent use of excessive force, and

outrage. King County moved for summary judgment to dismiss all of the estate’s claims

based on the felony bar statute, that the deputies had no legal duty to Davis, that

Washington does not permit a negligent investigation against police, the deputies’

actions were intentional, justified, and reasonable, the facts do not support a claim for

battery because the deputies were justified in using deadly force when confronted with a

deadly threat, and the elements of outrage could not be met. The estate responded that

RCW 4.24.40 required a felony conviction or admission by the plaintiff and that Davis

was accused of committing assault in the first degree, which requires specific intent to

cause bodily harm or an apprehension of bodily harm. At oral argument, the estate

argued that the jury could infer that Davis didn’t have the necessary specific intent.

       The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, concluding

that, while there may be disputes of material fact related to the reasonableness of the

deputies’ conduct, RCW 4.24.420 barred Davis’s action. The estate appeals.

                                              II. ANALYSIS

       A. Intent to Commit Assault

       The estate first contends that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment

based on the felony bar statute, RCW 4.24.420. It avers that there are questions of

material fact over whether Davis had the necessary specific intent to commit a felony

assault. We agree.

       2   Davis’s estate voluntarily dismissed Johanknecht as a defendant.

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No. 79696-8-I/7

       “We review summary judgment motions de novo, engaging in the same inquiry

as the trial court.” Vargas v. Inland Washington, LLC, 194 Wn.2d 720, 728, 452 P.3d

1205 (2019). “When reviewing summary judgment motions, we consider all disputed

facts in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party.” Vargas, 194 Wn.2d at 728

(internal quotes omitted). “Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine

issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”

CR 56. Estate of Lee v. City of Spokane, 101 Wn. App. 158, 166, 2 P.3d 979 (2000).

       The trial court based its order granting summary judgment on the affirmative

defense provided by the felony bar statute. RCW 4.24.420 provides that

       [i]t is a complete defense to any action for damages for personal injury or
       wrongful death that the person injured or killed was engaged in the
       commission of a felony at the time of the occurrence causing the injury or
       death and the felony was a proximate cause of the injury or death.
       However, nothing in this section shall affect a right of action under 42
       U.S.C. Sec. 1983.

In order to prevail on the defense provided by RCW 4.24.420, King County bears the

burden of demonstrating: (1) that Davis was engaged in the commission of a felony at

the time of her death and (2) that the felony was the proximate cause of her death.

Camicia v. Howard S. Wright Constr. Co., 179 Wn.2d 684, 693, 317 P.3d 987 (2014)

(the party raising affirmative defense bears the burden of proof).

       King County asserts that Davis was engaged in either second or third degree

assault at the time she was killed. RCW 9A.36.021(1) defines second degree assault,

in pertinent part: “[a] person is guilty of assault in the second degree if he or she, under

circumstances not amounting to assault in the first degree . . . (c) [a]ssaults another with

a deadly weapon.” RCW 9A.36.031(1)(g) defines third degree assault, in pertinent part:

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No. 79696-8-I/8

“[a] person is guilty of assault in the third degree if he or she, under circumstances not

amounting to assault in the first or second degree: . . . (g) Assaults a law enforcement

officer or other employee of a law enforcement agency who was performing his or her

official duties at the time of the assault.”

       Because “assault” is not defined in the criminal code, we resort to common law

definitions. State v. Abuan, 161 Wn. App. 135, 154, 257 P.3d 1 (2011). Washington

recognizes three common law definitions of ‘assault’: (1) an intentional touching (actual

battery); (2) an act done with intent to inflict bodily injury upon another, tending but

failing to accomplish it; and (3) an act done with intent to create in another

apprehension and fear of bodily injury, and which in fact creates in another a

reasonable apprehension and imminent fear of bodily injury. 11 W ASHINGTON PRACTICE:

WASHINGTON PATTERN JURY INSTRUCTIONS; CRIMINAL 35.01 (4th ed. 2016) (WPIC);

Abuan, 161 Wn. App. at 154 (citing State v. Elmi, 166 Wn.2d 209, 215, 207 P.3d 439

(2009)). Importantly here, specific intent to cause bodily harm or to create

apprehension bodily harm is a necessary element of assault. State v. Byrd, 125 Wn.2d

707, 713, 887 P.2d 396 (1995).

       “‘Intent’ to commit a criminal act means more than merely ‘knowledge’ that a

consequence will result.” State v. Bea, 162 Wn. App. 570, 579, 254 P.3d 948 (2011).

The known or expected result must also be the person’s objective or purpose. Bea, 162

Wn. App. at 579. Where there is no direct evidence, intent can be inferred from

circumstantial evidence. “A jury may infer criminal intent from a defendant’s conduct

where it is plainly indicated as a matter of logical probability.” Bea, 162 Wn. App. at 579

(citing State v. Myers, 133 Wn.2d 26, 38, 941 P.2d 1102 (1997)).

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No. 79696-8-I/9

        While the trier of fact is permitted to draw an inference or presumption that
        a defendant intends the natural and probable consequences of [their] acts,
        however, the defendant is entitled to have the jury give equal
        consideration to the possibility that [they] did not act intentionally, including
        any theory of nonintentional conduct that [they] might offer.

Bea, 162 Wn. App. at 579-80.

        Intent is a question of fact, normally reserved for the jury. “Where intent of the

accused is an ingredient of the crime charged, its existence is a question of fact which

must be submitted to the jury.” Morissette v. U.S., 342 U.S. 246, 274, 72 S. Ct. 240, 96

L. Ed. 288 (1952) (it is error for the trial court to instruct jury to presume intent). See

also Bea, 162 Wn. App. at 579; Wingert v. Yellow Freight Systems, Inc., 146 Wn.2d

841, 849, 50 P.3d 256 (2002) (“the statute’s requirement that the [person] act willfully

and with intent presents a question of fact.”). 3

        In granting summary judgment, the trial court relied on the testimony of Deputies

Pritchett and Lewis, that Davis pointed a weapon at them, to infer her intent to commit

felony assault. This was error. As the estate argues, the evidence in the record before

us raises numerous questions of fact over whether Davis intended to commit an assault.

This evidence includes Davis’s history of mental illness and attempted suicide, 4 the

deputies’ conflicting testimony about where the gun and clip were located, their

          3 King County cites Lee for the proposition that “a judge on summary judgment is fully authorized

to infer said intent.” Lee involved an appeal of a trial court decision dismissing a survivorship action
brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the City of Spokane after a police involved shooting. After
concluding dismissal was appropriate, the court went on to address several additional immunity defenses
raised by the City. In a short, two sentence discussion at the end of the opinion, the court concluded that
RCW 4.24.420 provided the City a defense because “[b]y the plaintiff’s own account, Mr. Lee pointed a
gun at Officer Langford and Ms. Lee after threatening to shoot them. This is first degree assault, a
felony.” The court did not discuss intent, much less, conclude that intent could be inferred by the trial
court on summary judgment.
          4 Evidence of diminished capacity is admissible to prove or disprove that a defendant was

capable of forming the requisite specific intent to commit a crime. State v. Poulsen, 45 Wn. App. 706,
708, 726 P.2d 1036 (1986).

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No. 79696-8-I/10

testimony that she pointed the gun at each of them—apparently at the same time,

Davis’s dying statement that “Its not even loaded,” and the conflicting testimony whether

the gun was found in Davis’s hand on the floor, or still on the bed. While a jury might

find the officers’ testimony credible and Davis’s act of pointing the gun demonstrates her

intent to commit an assault, it might also conclude to the contrary. The trial court erred

in concluding Davis had the requisite specific intent to commit assault. 5

       B. Conviction or Admission

        While we reverse and remand for trial, we also address the estate’s alternative

argument that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment under RCW 4.24.420

because there must be a felony conviction or admission to felonious conduct before the

court can bar a wrongful death action under RCW 4.24.420. We disagree.

       We review statutory interpretation de novo. Tesoro Ref. & Mktg. Co. v. State,

Dep’t of Revenue, 173 Wn.2d 551, 556, 269 P.3d 1013 (2012). “The primary objective

of any statutory construction inquiry is to ascertain and carry out the intent of the

Legislature.” Tesoro, 173 Wn.2d at 556. First, we look to the statute’s plain language

and if the language is unambiguous, our inquiry ends. State v. Armendariz, 160 Wn.2d

106, 110, 156 P.3d 201 (2007). “The statute is to be enforced in accordance with its

plain meaning.” Armendariz, 160 Wn.2d at 110. “Where the plain language of the

statute is subject to more than one reasonable interpretation, it is ambiguous.” When a

statute’s language is ambiguous, we may resort to legislative history to discern

legislative intent. Armendariz, 160 Wn.2d at 110-11.

       5Because we reverse and remand for trial, we do not address the estate’s argument that there
was a question of fact over whether Davis’s actions were the proximate cause of her death.

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No. 79696-8-I/11

       Here, the statute’s language is unambiguous. The plain language of the statute

does not require that a person be convicted of a felony or admit to felonious conduct

before RCW 4.24.420 is a complete defense to a civil action. Instead, the language

states “[i]t is a complete defense to any action for damages for personal injury or

wrongful death that the person injured or killed was engaged in the commission of a

felony.” RCW 4.24.420 (emphasis added). A wrongful death action will likely never

involve a conviction or admission to felonious conduct because the death would

proceed any possible trial or admission. When possible, we “give effect to every word,

clause and sentence of a statute.” Cox v. Helenius, 103 Wn.2d 383, 387, 693 P.2d 683

(1985). The argument advanced by the estate reads the language “wrongful death” out

of the statute by making the defense unavailable in almost all wrongful death actions.

We read the statute to specifically contemplate its applicability in wrongful death

actions.

       We reverse the trial court’s order granting summary judgment based on RCW

4.24.420.

WE CONCUR:

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