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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Krista--I should clarify, on occasion I have filed a pro se's document, but only as an exhibit to my own declaration concerning the nature of contacts with
the defendant and not as a substantive pleading, and expressly reserving the right to move to strike and all rights to challenge its sufficiency under Civil Rules and other applicable law.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","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">I think that
<a href="http://www.courts.wa.gov/court_rules/?fa=court_rules.display&group=ga&set=RPC&ruleid=garpc4.3">
RPC 4.3</a> (dealing with pro se parties) can be a trap if we just file stuff for non-clients. I don't want a pro se coming back and claiming that, for example, after I filed their first pleading for them they just thought they could rely on me to file whatever
they send to me. Such an assertion would almost certainly be tactical BS but I don't want to hand them that leverage. Pro se parties are hard enough to deal with.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","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">And in litigation, the importance of an Answer to Complaint is quite a bit greater than, say, some random letter submitted in response to a motion. If I see
a tactical advantage to my client from an unfiled Answer, I don't want to give that up.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","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">It also matters to me what kind of pro se I am dealing with, and what the dispute is about. Some parties have reasonable positions and fair arguments, and the
best route for my client is to move things forward to review by the court. I might facilitate the other side's filing in that case. But some pro se parties are obstructive, obtuse and obstreperous, and are advancing some lame legal claim just to be extortionate
or annoying, and I wouldn't even take their phone call, much less help with a filing. If I can cut them off at the knees, I will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","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">Of course this is all subject always to duties of candor to the tribunal, fairness to opposing parties, and so forth--I would never conceal anything, but I
also don't want to guide a pro se into mounting a more effective defense against my client.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Eric C. Nelsen<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">SAYRE LAW OFFICES, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">1417 31st Ave South<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Seattle WA 98144-3909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">phone 206-625-0092<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">fax 206-625-9040<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<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>Krista MacLaren<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 16, 2019 3:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsba probate & trust<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Receipt of unfiled answer from pro se defendant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When this has happened to me I have put a coversheet on it stating that I received it from the pro se and it was not previously filed, and I have filed it, probably via electronic filing. I have considered this my duty as an officer of
the court, though Eric makes me wonder if that is misguided. Still, I would probably do this the next time as well. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Krista J. MacLaren<br>
Attorney at Law<br>
Northgate Executive Center II<br>
9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 600<br>
Seattle WA 98115<br>
(206) 523-6116<br>
<a href="mailto:kjm.inc@icloud.com">kjm.inc@icloud.com</a><br>
<br>
Please note, as with most email providers, Mac does not encrypt email messages. Accordingly, the confidentiality of messages sent to this address cannot be assured. This e-mail is intended for viewing only by the individual or entity to whom its content is addressed,
and it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you received this email in error, please honor the privacy of the intended recipient: reply to the sender regarding the error and delete the message.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Jul 16, 2019, at 1:46 PM, JOYCE SCHWENSEN <<a href="mailto:Joyce@schwensenlaw.com">Joyce@schwensenlaw.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Listmates,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">I received by mail a hand-written answer from a pro se defendant. It hasn’t been filed and is not formatted correctly. Do I have some responsibility to file it with the court,
or can I just mail it back to the defendant with a letter stating that it is their responsibility to file it with the clerk, and otherwise treat it as an appearance? If I need to file it, any suggestions about how? Should I mail it to the court clerk for paper-filing,
try to e-file it as-is, put some type of cover sheet with a statement from me as to where it came from?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Thanks, Joyce<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">Law Office of Joyce S. Schwensen</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">Joyce S. Schwensen, PS</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">12055 15<sup>th</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Ave NE</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:navy"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">Seattle, WA 98125</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:navy"> </span></span><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:navy"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">Tel: (206) 367-1065</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">Fax</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#000099">(206)
899-1674</span><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="mailto:Joyce@SchwensenLaw.com"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">Joyce@SchwensenLaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.schwensenlaw.com/"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">www.SchwensenLaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#002060"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy">PLEASE NOTE<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>NEW ADDRESS</u>:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><u>12055 15<sup>TH</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>AVE.
NE, SEATTLE, WA 98125</u>.</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:navy"> </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><br>
</span></i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">This communication (including any attachments) is confidential and may contain legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient or believe that you may have received
this communication in error, please delete this communication from your computer and do not retransmit, copy, print or otherwise disseminate this communication.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP:<br>
</span></i></b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">This e-mail does not in any way intend to provide legal advice to be relied upon by any recipient and does not create any duty or obligation for legal representation on behalf of
the sender Joyce S. Schwensen, PS on behalf of the recipient of this e-mail without a written engagement agreement.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">REFERRALS:</span></i></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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