<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jim,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I haven’t briefed it in years, but make sure you file a tort claim before you file a lawsuit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thomas J. Westbrook<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><img width=136 height=54 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D14F84.D2FA2020" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01CFC835.0D3988D0"></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Rodgers, Kee & Card, P.S.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>324 West Bay Drive NW, Suite 201<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Olympia, Washington 98502<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Phone: 360-352-8311<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Facsimile: 360-352-8501<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Email: tjw@buddbaylaw.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Skype: thomas.westbrook<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>www.buddbaylaw.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The information contained in this email and attachment(s) are for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) and may contain private, privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the addressee, you are strictly prohibited from reading, photocopying, distributing or otherwise using this email or its contents in any way. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone at 360-352-8311 or by e-mail to reception@buddbaylaw.com, and destroy the original message from your electronic files.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jim Doran<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, January 15, 2016 8:41 AM<br><b>To:</b> Real Property Section<br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBAPT] Latent Defect in Sidewalk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Before I go spend hours in the law library or on line I thought I would ask the listserve gurus about the meaning of "latent" in the recreational user statute. My client was walking on Port property on the sidewalk and stumbled on a 1 3/4 inch raised portion of the sidewalk at an expansion joint. The very spot where this lip was located is under a tree with shadows obscuring the lip. The client fell and had some very serious injuries. <br><br>The Port says that the defect was readily apparent to the recreational user and that it doesn't matter if she didn't see the lip on the sidewalk at that moment. They cite some cases that use an objective standard of whether a reasonable person would have seen the defect and that "an obvious defect cannot be latent". <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>It seems to me that the distinguishing fact is that the sidewalk lip was obscured by shadows and was therefore, not readily observable and, therefore, "latent". <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Anyone brief this kind of situation lately?<br> <br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>James R. Doran<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>100 E. Pine Street - Suite 205<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Bellingham, WA 98225<br>(360)393-9506<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:jim@doranlegal.com" target="_blank">jim@doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.doranlegal.com" target="_blank">www.doranlegal.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>