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143 Wash. App. 288

Fitzpatrick v. Okanogan County

Court of Appeals of Washington

Decided January 22, 2008

Court of Appeals of Washington · decided 2008-01-22

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently September 2010

1 state decisions

Applies WA 86 § 86.12.037 · WA 86 § 86.16.071

Relies on Halvorson v. Skagit County

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 2008-01-22

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¶1*304¶43 I would affirm the summary judgment grant for Okanogan County and the State on two grounds. First, the common enemy rule applies as a defense to this flooding claim. Halverson v. Skagit County, 139 Wn.2d 1, 13-15, 983 P.2d 643 (1999). Moreover, the State lacks the necessary proprietary interest in the Sloan-Witchert Slough Dike to attach liability under Halverson. Even considering their inverse condemnation theory, the Fitzpatricks’ proposed watercourse exception to the general rule of non-liability would effectively eliminate the common enemy rule as developed in Washington for over 100 years. Second, even if the common enemy rule did not apply, I would hold that statutory immunity applies to the County under RCW 86.12.037 and to the State under RCW 86.16.071. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.

Brown, J.

¶2Review granted at 164 Wn.2d 1008 (2008).

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