2021). In total, the Ridgways received $27,732.42 in attorney fees and costs. The
Lewises were awarded $1,695.00, the principal sum of their security deposit in
addition to $200.00 in statutory attorney fees and $509.95 in costs.
7
For the current opinion, go to https://www.lexisnexis.com/clients/wareports/.
Crossroads Management, LLC v. Ridgway et al., No. 101329-9
Both parties appealed. The Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s order
denying the motion to strike the trial de novo request and affirmed the amended
arbitration award. Crossroads Mgmt., LLC v. Ridgway et al., No. 55641-3-II, slip
op. at 3 (Wash. Ct. App. Sept. 7, 2022) (unpublished), https://www.courts.wa
.gov/opinions/pdf/D2%2055641-3-II%20Unpublished%20Opinion.pdf. The court
first determined the trial de novo request was ineffective because it failed to comply
with “the plain mandate of the applicable statute and court rule” requiring an
aggrieved party to personally sign the request. Id. at 12. Because “there is no other
path to appellate review of an adverse decision under chapter 7.06 RCW” other than
a trial de novo, the court declined to reach the merits of the Lewises’ appeal. Id. at
13.
The Court of Appeals also affirmed the trial court’s decision to award attorney
fees to the Ridgways because by failing to comply with the procedural requirements
of SCCAR 7.1, the Lewises did not improve their position. Id. at 14-15 (citing Wiley
v. Rehak, 143 Wn.2d 339, 348, 20 P.3d 404 (2001)). The court additionally awarded
the Ridgways attorney fees on appeal under RCW 4.84.270 and
RCW 7.06.060/SCCAR 7.3. Id. at 17. It declined to address whether the Lewises
were entitled to attorney fees under RCW 59.18.280(2) because it did not reach the