<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">I realize I should have said I believe there are claims that exist now (not if the allegations turn out to be true - that's what discovery would help in).</div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="color:rgb(56,118,29);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large">Diane Kiepe</span></div><div><font color="#38761d" face="georgia, serif" size="4">Kiepe Estate and Probate, PLLC<br></font><div><font size="4" face="georgia, serif" color="#38761d"><a href="mailto:diane@kiepelaw.com" target="_blank">diane@kiepelaw.com</a></font></div><div><font size="4" face="georgia, serif" color="#38761d">200 N. Mullan Rd., Suite 203</font></div><div><font size="4" face="georgia, serif" color="#38761d">Spokane Valley, WA 99206</font></div></div><div><span style="color:rgb(56,118,29);font-family:georgia,serif;font-size:large">509-280-6414</span></div><div><div><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px">Confidentiality</span><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px"> Notice: This page and any accompanying documents contain information that is </span><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px">confidential</span><span style="color:rgb(105,105,105);font-family:Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:10px">, privileged, or exempt from disclosure under applicable law and is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee. This information is private and protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this information in any manner is strictly prohibited.</span></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 22, 2026 at 2:28 PM Dave Culbertson <<a href="mailto:dculbertson@culbertsonlawoffice.com">dculbertson@culbertsonlawoffice.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, Listmates.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’m throwing the wide-net on this one, apologies for double posting.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have a potential client who started a business (LLC) with a partner. There are only the two partners, and the business seems to be doing well enough—they are both drawing decent salaries from it, they have between 1 – 3 employees, depending
on the workload.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The PC is becoming suspicious/alarmed that their partner may be steering some of their business to a new competing shop of his own, and secretly devoting his energy and time to it. They don’t have any operating agreement for the LLC, I
think that would address something like this. If there is a cause of action, I think it would be based on a breach of loyalty theory.
<u></u><u></u></p>
<p><u></u><span>1.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><u></u>Is there a Washington case (or cases) that would discuss this, which someone might provide the cites for?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p><u></u><span>2.<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span><u></u>I am uncertain whether I could take this case, for other reasons. Any referrals / self-referrals for a business dispute between partners?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in">Thanks in advance.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><a name="m_-4604705190533958844__Hlk52442782">Best Regards,<u></u><u></u></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span>Dave Culbertson<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span><b>The Law Office of Davisson Culbertson</b></span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span>PO 20403<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span>Seattle, WA 98102<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span><i><u></u> <u></u></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span><i>Phone:
</i></span><span>(206) 478-8134<i><u></u><u></u></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span><i>FAX:
</i></span><span>(866) 867-7796<i><u></u><u></u></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><span></span><a href="mailto:dculbertson@culbertsonlawoffice.com" target="_blank"><span><i>dculbertson@culbertsonlawoffice.com</i></span><span></span></a><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<span></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
</div>
</div>
***Disclaimer: Please note that RPPT listserv participation is not restricted to practicing attorneys and may include non-practicing attorneys, law students, professionals working in related fields, and others.***<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
WSBAPT mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com" target="_blank">WSBAPT@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mailman.fsr.com/mailman/listinfo/wsbapt</a></blockquote></div>