HOUSE BILL REPORT

2SHB 1048

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed Legislature

Title: An act relating to modifying the process for prevailing parties to recover judgments in small claims court.

Brief Description: Modifying the process for prevailing parties to recover judgments in small claims court.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Goodman, Stokesbary, Jinkins, Macri, Appleton, Wylie and Chambers).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Civil Rights & Judiciary: 1/15/19, 1/18/19 [DPS];

Appropriations: 2/4/19, 2/18/19 [DP2S(w/o sub CRJ)].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 3/11/19, 98-0.

Passed Senate: 4/16/19, 29-19.

Passed Legislature.

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

  • Changes certain fees associated with small claims court, raising the filing fee from $14 to $35 and removing another fee by requiring that a small claims judgment be certified and entered on the district court judgment docket, and a copy provided to the prevailing party, without any additional fee.

  • Provides that 50 cents of every filing fee shall be used to fund indigent defense and 50 cents of every filing fee shall be used to assist crime victims.

  • Modifies other provisions relating to small claims actions, and associated collection efforts predicated on a small claims judgment.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS & JUDICIARY

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 15 members: Representatives Jinkins, Chair; Thai, Vice Chair; Irwin, Ranking Minority Member; Dufault, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Goodman, Graham, Hansen, Kilduff, Kirby, Klippert, Orwall, Shea, Valdez, Walen and Ybarra.

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary. Signed by 32 members: Representatives Ormsby, Chair; Bergquist, 2nd Vice Chair; Robinson, 1st Vice Chair; Stokesbary, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Rude, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Caldier, Chandler, Cody, Dye, Fitzgibbon, Hansen, Hoff, Hudgins, Jinkins, Kraft, Macri, Mosbrucker, Pettigrew, Pollet, Ryu, Schmick, Senn, Springer, Stanford, Steele, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton, Tharinger, Volz and Ybarra.

Staff: Meghan Morris (786-7119).

Background:

In every district court, there is a small claims department with jurisdiction in cases for the recovery of money only if the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000. Attorneys and paralegals are excluded from appearing or participating in a small claims suit unless the judge grants permission. When the claim is filed, a filing fee of $14 must be paid. Any party filing a counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party claim in the action must also pay a $14 filing fee. If the county legislative authority has imposed a surcharge for Dispute Resolution Centers, there may be an additional surcharge of up to $15 on each filing fee.

A claim filed in small claims court must contain:

Upon filing of the claim, the court sets a time for hearing and issues a notice of claim. A notice of claim must be served promptly and at least 10 days prior to the first hearing. Service may be either as provided for the service of summons or complaint and notice in civil actions or by registered or certified mail if a return receipt with the signature of the party being served is filed with the court.

A trial need not be held on the first appearance of the defendant if dispute resolution services are offered instead of trial, or local practice rules provide that trials will be held on different days.

If a money judgment is entered, and the judgment is not paid within 30 days or the time set by the court on any payment plan, the prevailing party must take certain steps before commencing collection efforts. The prevailing party must first request the clerk to certify the judgment and have a transcript of the judgment entered onto the district court civil docket. The fee for this is $20, and the certification form is specified in statute. The judgment is increased by an amount sufficient to cover the costs of certification, and any other costs incurred by the prevailing party to enforce the judgment, without regard to the jurisdictional limits on the small claims court.

Once entered on the district court docket, the prevailing party may proceed with a method of collection including garnishment of wages and bank accounts, or execution on cars, boats, or other personal property of the judgment debtor. The prevailing party could also take and file the judgment transcript in the superior court. This would allow collection efforts against real property that the judgment debtor might own, in addition to his or her personal property. In that case, the judgment would be increased by the cost of this filing.

Summary of Second Substitute Bill:

The filing fee for claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party claims is raised from $14 to $35. There is no longer an additional fee to obtain a certified copy of a judgment; a certified copy of the judgment must be provided to the prevailing party at no additional cost. Fifty cents of every filing fee shall be deposited into the judicial stabilization account and used to fund indigent defense through the Office of Public Defense and 50 cents shall be deposited into the crime victims' compensation account and used to assist crime victims.

Upon entry of a judgment in a small claims action, the judgment is automatically certified as a district court civil judgment and entered on the district court judgment docket. The filing of a duly certified district court judgment or a duly certified transcript of the docket of the district court in superior court, commences the lien on real estate of the judgment debtor. The judgment is increased by any post judgment interest, as well as any filing fee associated with filing in superior court.

If the prevailing party receives payment of the judgment, that party must file a satisfaction of judgment with all courts in which the judgment was filed. If the prevailing party fails to file proof of satisfaction of judgment, the party paying the judgment may do so.

The section which specified the exact form of the certification is repealed. Other provisions of that repealed statute are moved elsewhere.

Amendments are made to other sections regarding the first hearing, method of service, and what the claim must include, as follows:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Civil Rights & Judiciary):

(In support) This has been brought to the Legislature several times, and last year it passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously.  The small claims process is supposed to be user friendly, and this will accomplish that.  Litigants will have an easier time if this passes.  The fees will be consolidated, and this will let successful litigants recover upon their judgments more easily and quickly.  The bill will require that the statements that are filed in support of a claim are sworn.  Often these statements are very cursory.

(Opposed) None.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Appropriations):

(In support) This is the third year that this bill has been before the Legislature.  Last year, the bill passed off the House floor unanimously, but ran out of time in the Senate.  The bill smooths out the small claims process and makes it easier for people.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying (Civil Rights & Judiciary): Representative Goodman, prime sponsor; and Sam Meyer, District and Municipal Court Judges Association.

Persons Testifying (Appropriations): Melanie Stewart, District and Municipal Court Judges Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Civil Rights & Judiciary): None.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Appropriations): None.