Browse recent court opinions from the Washington Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
Successor Airline Liable for Lease Breaches
Alterna Aircraft V B Ltd. v. SpiceJet Ltd., decided by Washington Supreme Court on April 9, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute involved whether SpiceJet, as a successor in int...
Attorney Ruzumna Suspended for Professional Misconduct
In re Disciplinary Proc. Against Ruzumna, decided by Washington Supreme Court on April 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Washington Supreme Court reviewed a disciplinary proceeding aga...
Washington Supreme Court: Sentence challenge barred by procedural default
In re Pers. Restraint of Bin-Bellah, decided by Washington Supreme Court on April 9, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Washington Supreme Court considered whether a petitioner, who had be...
Child Molestation Convictions Upheld, Case Remanded for Resentencing Due to Offender Score Error
This case involves Mr. Krause, who was convicted of multiple counts of first-degree child molestation and indecent liberties with a child. He appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial court made...
Appellate Court Affirms Stearns's Convictions for Assault and Unlawful Firearm Possession
This case involves Mr. Stearns, who was convicted of several crimes, including assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. He appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial court made several error...
Medical Assistant's Discrimination and Retaliation Lawsuit Against Everett Clinic Reinstated by Appeals Court
This case involves Ms. Beard, a medical assistant, who sued Everett Clinic after she was fired. She claimed that her termination was discriminatory because she had previously filed a complaint about a...
Appellate Court Reverses Dismissal of Wrongful Termination Suit, Remands for Further Proceedings
This case involves a dispute between Grant County and its former employee, Mr. Anderson, who worked as a building official. Mr. Anderson sued the County, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated and...
Washington Supreme Court Disbars Attorney David Monro for Multiple Professional Misconduct Violations
This case involves a disciplinary proceeding against attorney David Monro. The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) sought to disbar Monro for multiple instances of professional misconduct, includi...
Washington Supreme Court Certifies Some, But Not All, Recall Charges Against Connell Mayor Clouse
This case involves a petition to recall Mayor Clouse of the City of Connell. The petitioners, residents of Connell, alleged several grounds for recall, including that Mayor Clouse failed to adequately...
Recall Petition Against Councilmember Lauser Proceeds on Open Public Meetings Act Violation, Other Charges Dismissed
This case involves a petition to recall Councilmember Lauser from his position on the City of Connell City Council. The petitioners alleged three grounds for recall: (1) Lauser's vote against a resolu...
Court rules Amazon did not discriminate against or retaliate against disabled employee
This case involves a former Amazon employee, Scott, who sued Amazon alleging that the company discriminated against him based on his disability and retaliated against him for requesting accommodations...
Appellate Court Allows Wrongful Termination and Discrimination Claims to Proceed Against City of Sammamish
This case involves a former employee, Mr. Chandrruangphen, who sued the City of Sammamish alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. He claimed that his termination was a result of retaliation ...
Court rules on breach of contract dispute between A Better Richland and Chilton
This case involves a dispute over a contract for services between A Better Richland (a company) and Chilton (an individual). A Better Richland sued Chilton for breach of contract, alleging that Chilto...
State law on firearm possession upheld against federal preemption challenge
This case involves a dispute over whether the state of Washington could prosecute an individual, Lee, for violating a state law that prohibited the possession of certain types of firearms. Lee argued ...
Prior DUI convictions admissible in vehicular homicide trial
This case involves a defendant, Magana-Arevalo, who was convicted of vehicular homicide. The core issue on appeal was whether the trial court properly admitted evidence of the defendant's prior convic...
Washington State Fails to Follow Proper Procedure in Property Forfeiture Case
This case involves a dispute over whether the State of Washington could seize property from an individual named Wasuge. The core issue was whether the State had followed the correct legal procedures w...
Court upholds seizure of property linked to drug activity
This case involves a dispute over whether the state could seize property from a man named Bennett. The state argued that Bennett's property was connected to illegal drug activity and therefore subject...
Court rules in favor of employer in wrongful termination and age discrimination lawsuit
This case involves a dispute between a former employee, Mr. Horvath, and his former employer, DBIA Services. Mr. Horvath alleged that his employer wrongfully terminated his employment and discriminate...
State can seize vehicle used in drug crime; forfeiture not excessive fine.
This case involves a dispute over whether the state could seize a vehicle used in a drug-related crime. The owner, Danielson, argued that the forfeiture of his vehicle was an excessive fine under the ...
Washington Supreme Court Upholds Attorney Discipline for Misconduct
This case involves an attorney, Mr. Flood, who was disciplined for professional misconduct. The disciplinary board found that Mr. Flood violated several rules of professional conduct, including failin...
Washington Supreme Court Blocks Recall Election for Senator Olsen Due to Insufficient Grounds
This case involves a dispute over the recall of a Washington State Senator, Mark Olsen. The recall effort was initiated by a group of citizens who alleged that Senator Olsen had engaged in misconduct....
Intoxication Doesn't Invalidate Confession If Rights Understood
State v. Ellis, decided by Washington Supreme Court on November 13, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Washington Supreme Court considered whether a defendant's confession, made after bein...
Late appeal denied: Claimant's duty to update address upheld
Azorit-Wortham v. Dep't of Lab. & Indus., decided by Washington Supreme Court on November 6, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Washington Supreme Court considered whether a claimant's fai...
Washington Supreme Court Upholds Governor's COVID-19 Restrictions
Eyman v. Hobbs, decided by Washington Supreme Court on November 6, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Washington Supreme Court considered whether Governor Jay Inslee's "Stay Home, Stay Hea...
Court Affirms Dismissal of Disability Discrimination and Contract Claims
Erickson v. Pharmacia LLC, decided by Washington Supreme Court on October 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Erickson, sued Pharmacia LLC for wrongful termination, alleging ...
Washington Supreme Court: Confession Admissible After Miranda Warning
State v. Luna, decided by Washington Supreme Court on October 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Washington Supreme Court considered whether a defendant's confession, obtained after he...
Tribe's dam construction on its land upheld against landowner's claims
Flying T Ranch, Inc. v. Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, decided by Washington Supreme Court on October 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Flying T Ranch sued the Stillaguamish Tribe, al...