IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
JESSICA MAE GOODEILL, ) No. 32442-7-III
)
Petitioner, )
)
v. ) PUBLISHED OPINION
)
MADISON REAL ESTATE, )
)
Respondent. )
LA WRENCE-BERREY, J. This court granted Jessica Goodeill's request for
discretionary review to detennine whether RCW 59.18.280 precludes her landlord from
retaining a portion of her security deposit because it failed to timely provide her a full and
specific statement of the basis for retaining her deposit. Her landlord argues that an
exception to RCW 59.18.280 applies: "[C]ircumstances beyond [its] control prevented [it]
from providing the statement within ... fourteen days." We hold that a landlord may not
avail itself of RCW 59.18.280' s exception unless it accounts for any active or passive
delays sufficient to show that it made a conscientious attempt to comply with the 14 day
statutory notice. Because the landlord's evidence shows it has not met this standard, it
may not avail itself of the statutory exception. We, therefore, reverse and remand.
No. 32442-7-III
Goodeill v. Madison Real Estate
FACTS
In November 2011, Jessica and Dave Goodeill entered into a seven-month lease
agreement for a home at 1502 West Cora Court in Spokane, a property managed and
ostensibly owned by Baker & Associates, LLC. The Goodeills paid $750.00 per month
for rent, a $750.00 damage security deposit, and a $50.00 pet deposit.
Ms. Goodeill completed a standard move-in condition report and returned it to
Baker within the requisite time. She noted a number of nicks, scrapes, stains, dirt marks,
nail holes, and paint spots on the walls and wood trim throughout the house. She also