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DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Josephinium Associates v. Kahli, 45 P.3d 627 (2002)

Citation
Josephinium Associates v. Kahli, 45 P.3d 627 (2002)
Parent Document
Josephinium Associates v. Kahli, 45 P.3d 627 (2002)
Jurisdiction
Washington (state)
Effective Date
2002-05-06

Other Sections in This Document (57)

Full Text

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The unlawful detainer statute permits a tenant to assert "any legal or equitable defense or set-off arising out of the tenancy."[20] An equitable defense arises when "there is `a substantive legal right, that is, a right that comes within the scope of judicial action, as distinguished from a mere moral right'" and the usual legal remedies are unavailing.[21] To protect the summary nature of the unlawful detainer action, defenses "arise out of the tenancy" only when they affect the tenant's right of possession or are "`based on facts which excuse a tenant's breach.'"[22] Where a defense exists that arises out of the tenancy, the court must consider it.[23] Conversely, where a defense or counterclaim is not necessary to determining the right to possession, the court has no jurisdiction to consider it in an unlawful detainer action.[24] When the tenant's breach is failure to pay rent, the inquiry is "whether there is any legal justification for nonpayment."[25]