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<p class="MsoNormal">Erbeck v. Springer (Wash. App., 2015)(unpublished) stated:<a name="fn57"><o:p></o:p></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:fn57"><u><sup><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0099CC">57</span></sup></u></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif">ATTORNEY FEES</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif"> The Erbecks request attorney fees on appeal under RCW 7.28.083(3). We conclude they are entitled to such an award, subject to compliance with RAP 18.1.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif"> "The general rule in Washington is that attorney fees will not be awarded for costs of litigation unless authorized by contract, statute, or recognized ground of equity."</span><a href="#fr57"><sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#0000EE">57</span></sup></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif">
RCW 7.28.083(3) provides:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:30.0pt;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:30.0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif">The prevailing party in an action asserting title to real property by adverse possession may request the court to award costs and reasonable attorneys' fees. The court may award all
or a portion of costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the prevailing party if, after considering all the facts, the court determines such an award is equitable and just.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif"> The Erbecks are the prevailing parties with respect to the contest over prescriptive rights to the roadway crossing their property. Springer does not contend otherwise.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:12.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;line-height:115%">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif"> RCW 7.28.083(3) uses the term "adverse possession." The present case involves prescriptive easements. But these doctrines "are often treated as equivalent[s]," and the elements
required to establish adverse possession and prescriptive easements are the same.</span><a href="#fr58"><span style="mso-bookmark:fn58"><sup><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#0000EE">58</span></sup></span><span style="mso-bookmark:fn58"></span></a><a name="fn58"></a><span style="mso-bookmark:fn58"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif">
Thus, we conclude that this statute applies in this case and exercise our discretion to award the Erbecks reasonable</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif">Page 20</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Georgia",serif">attorney fees. We award attorney fees only for issues concerning prescriptive easement rights.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif"> </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#3F3F3F"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#002060">Mark J. Phelps<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#002060">Attorney, Litigation Practice Group Leader<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#002060">Desh International & Business Law ·
<a href="http://www.deshlaw.com/"><span style="color:#002060">www.deshlaw.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#002060">Direct: (425) 242-3398 <b>·</b> Fax: (425) 968-7571<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbarp-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Carl L. Gay<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 27, 2017 7:55 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> listserve real property <wsbarp@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [WSBARP] prescriptive easement and award of attorney fees<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Has anyone successfully extended the new (2012?) adverse possession statute (which awards fees and costs to prevailing party) to a prescriptive easement case?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for your thoughts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:15.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;page-break-after:avoid;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";letter-spacing:-.1pt">CARL LLOYD GAY</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palace Script MT";letter-spacing:-.1pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:15.0pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;page-break-after:avoid;text-autospace:none">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Palace Script MT";letter-spacing:-.1pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Bradley Hand ITC";color:#8064A2">what counts in life is what we do for others<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Bell MT",serif;letter-spacing:-.1pt">GREENAWAY, GAY & TULLOCH<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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