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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>I think the answer to your question is in the Summons itself:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>“You may demand that the plaintiff file this lawsuit with the court. If you do so, the demand must be in writing and must be served upon the person signing the summons. Within fourteen days after you serve the demand, the plaintiff must file this lawsuit with the court, or the service on you of this summons and complaint will be void.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>This will force the plaintiff to file the summons and complaint if he is serious.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>You didn’t mention a 3 day notice to pay rent or vacate. This is “a jurisdictional condition precedent” to commencing an unlawful detainer action. (Christensen v Ellsworth, Supreme Court, enbanc 2007) Landlords are often sloppy in the service of a 3 day notice which makes for an easy dismissal. RCW 59.12.040 states that any notice in an unlawful detainer action is to be served in the same manner and with the like effect as service of a summons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.25in;line-height:15.6pt;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>If the summons does not contain the above quoted language, it is defective and the court is precluded from exercising its jurisdiction. (In the old days we said the “Court lacked jurisdiction”. In 2007 in Christensen v Ellsworth the Court said the court has jurisdiction by statute and constitution, but it is “precluded from exercising” it if a notice of process is defective in any way.) You might also check the summons and if it does not state the defendant can answer by facsimile, it is again defective with the same effect.<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-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>I would serve a NOA along with the demand to file and a copy of an affidavit of service. If the plaintiff takes a default for failure to appear, you can easily get that set aside along with Rule 11 sanctions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Howard Herman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Herman Herman & Jolley, PS<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>509-220-5820<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><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"'> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Marcus Fry<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 30, 2016 3:48 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Unfiled eviction<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_GoBack"></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Sorry, I meant “his/her record” not file. This can be extremely important, especially for low income tenants to preserve a clean rental history, because when background checks are done, the reporting company or landlord, rarely check to see who prevailed in the UD action (nor do they care). <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><div><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Marcus J. Fry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Lyon, Weigand & Gustafson, P.S. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><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"'> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Marcus Fry<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 30, 2016 3:36 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBARP] Unfiled eviction<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I would prepare and send via fax and original via mail NOA and an answer with a letter stating there are some issues with Plaintiff’s complaint, but if the attorney wishes to file, please file the NOA and answer on your behalf. I would then indicate that to save money your client is amendable to an out of court settlement and request the attorney contact you to discuss. <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'>The benefit is that your client may be able to avoid having an UD action on his/her file. If the attorney ignores the NOA and Answer and goes secretly via ex parte to obtain a default, you have proof of providing your response. You could even do personal service of the NOA and Answer if the attorney is nearby. The court will not look kindly on Plaintiff’s counsel if the attorney sought default while being in possession of the NOA and answer.<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 style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Marcus J. Fry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Lyon, Weigand & Gustafson, P.S. <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><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"'> <a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Anthony Gibbs<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 30, 2016 3:17 PM<br><b>To:</b> WSBA Real Property Listserv<br><b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] Unfiled eviction<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'>I have a client facing an eviction (which is probably bunk). He has received the summons and complaint, identifying a response deadline of July 5. However, the complaint was not served properly and has not been filed.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Can we just ignore it and force the Landlord to do things by the book? I have phoned opposing counsel and no response. <br><br>I am contemplating responding to opposing counsel with a letter (but no formal answer to keep costs down) along the lines of "L's eviction of my client T is obviously retaliatory, my client is already looking for a new place to live, so save your client and mine the trouble since you're going to lose anyway."<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Words of wisdom or warning most appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks!<br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br>-- <o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Northwest Civil Law Group, a Washington Non-profit Legal Services Corporation.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>15600 Redmond Way, Suite 101<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Redmond, WA 98052<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>(206) 851-4403 [phone]<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Please Contact for FAX.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Disclaimer:<br>This e-mail is intended to constitute an electronic communication within the meaning of the Electronic Communications Act, 18 U.S.C. §2510. This communication may contain confidential, proprietary, or legally privileged information and is transmitted for the sole viewing and use of the intended recipient. Any review or distribution to other recipients is not permitted and does not waive the confidential or privileged nature of the communication. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and notify the sender.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>