Winter
2026 | Strategies for Writing Administrative Decisions — Tips from the Appellate Bench
Use of Motions to Pretermit Based on Third Country Agreements Case Law Update – - In RE: Petition for Recall of the Commissioner Lisa Olsen — Two recall charges relating to alleged violations of the executive session statutory exemption to Washington Open Public Meetings Act court found insufficient (both legally and factually).
- Horvath v. DBIA Servs. — A non-government entity can be subject to the Public Records Act.
- Noyola v. Dept. of Corrections — Public Records Act issues regarding private electronic message to an incarcerated person screened by the Dept., enjoining records requests based on a finding of harassment and threats to institutional security.
- Rodriguez v. Walla Walla Police Dept. — Issues regarding the Public Records Act's disclosure exemption for investigative records (RCW 42.56.240).
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Fall
2025 | Beyond Interpretation: Rethinking Language Access in Administrative Hearings
Stat Agencies' Indexes of Orders and Statements — Update
Improving Access to Justice for People with Disabilities in Administrative Hearings Through Representational Accommodation.
Legislative Session Report Case Law Update – - John Doe P v. Thurston County (WA Supreme Court, No. 102976-4)(June 12, 2025) — Public Records Act issues regarding releasing unredacted sex offender records and the use of pseudonyms.
- Citizen Action Defense Fund v. Office of Financial Management (WA Supreme Court, No. 103370-2)(June 26, 2025) — Public Records Act issues regarding disclosure of collective bargaining records.
- West v. Walla Walla City Council, 34 Wn. App. 2d 195 (WA Court of Appeals, Div. I, No. 87208-7)(Apr. 21, 2025) — Open Public Meetings Act issues regarding executive sessions, meeting notice contents, laches, injunctive relief and civil penalties.
- McFarland v. Tompkins, 34 Wn. App. 2d 280 (WA Court of Appeals, Div. III, No. 40158-8)(Apr. 24, 2025) — Open Public Meetings Act issues regarding meeting notice contents, plaintiff's standing, proper party defendants, laches, typles of relief.
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Spring
2023 | 2022 Frank Homan Award
2023 Legislative Session Report
Call for Nominations 2023 Frank Homan Award
Volunteer Opportunity Case Law Update – - Bass v. City of Edmonds, 199 Wn. 2d 403, 508 P.3d 172 (2022) — Standing to challenge a local ordinance, state preemption of local laws (firearms).
- Ladyhelm Farm LLC v. Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Bd., ___ Wn. App. 2d ___, 524 P.3d 700 (2023) — Court review of the Board's final order the Administrative Procedure Act. Issues regarding statutory interpretation, implied repeal, validity of an agency's rule, summary judgment.
- Seattle Events v. State of Washington, 22 Wn. App. 2d 640, 512 P.3d 926 (2022) — The Board's marijuana advertising rules and free speech rights for commercial speech.
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Spring
2022 | Legislative Session Report
ETHOS – Examining the Historical Organization and Structure of the Bar
Volunteer Opportunity
Call for Nominations 2022 Frank Homan Award Case Law Update – - Port of Tacoma v. Sacks, 19 Wn. App. 2d, 495 P.3d 866 (2021) — Concerns pay for out-of-town travel per the Minimum Wage Act (49.46 RCW): statutory interpretation, deference to agencies' interpretations.
- Northwest Pulp & Paper Assoc. v. Dep't of Ecology, 20 Wn. App. 2d 533, 500 P.3d 231 (2021) — Concerns a challenge under the Administrative Procedure Act of the Department's Water Quality Program Permit Writer's Manual provision regarding the release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into Washington's surface waters. Held: the Manual's provision guidance for agency staff, not a "rule" subject to the APA's rule-making requirments.
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Winter
2022 | 2021 Frank Homan Award
Legislative News
OAH Style Manual
Mentorship Program Case Law Update – - Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. v. State of Washington, Health Care Authority, et. al, 497 P.3d 545 (2021) — Per the Administrative Procedure Act Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (Sarepta) lacked standing to challenge HCA's medical necessity and hierarchy of evidence rules for the Medicaid program.
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Summer/Fall
2021 | 2021 Frank Homan Award
Mark Your Calendar
Recap of 2021 Legislative Session Case Law Update – - Washington Association of Municipal Attorneys v. Washington Coalition for Open Government, Court of Appeals Div. I, 2020 WL 7342171 (Dec. 14, 2020, unpublished) — Clarified which entities are subject to the Public Records Act, RCW Ch. 42.56 (PRA), finding that the Washington Association of Municipal Attorneys (WSAMA) is not subject to the Act.
- WRight's Crossing, LLC. et. al. v. Island County, et. al, Court of Appeals Div. I, 2021 WL 1346122 (Apr. 12, 2021, unpublished) — An appeal per the Administrative Procedure Act of a Growth Management Hearings Board dismissal of an appeal of the County's decision to not docket Mr. Wright's proposal for an expansion of the Oak Harbor urban Growth Area: issues regarding standards of review (de novo) and statutory interpretation.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. County Labor Council of Washington v. City of Seattle, Court of Appeals, Div. I, 2021 WL 11755303 (March 29, 2021, unpublished op.) — A challenge to the City's environmental impact statement for an extension of the Burke-GBilman Trail through Ballard's maritime and industrial district: "appearance of fairness" issues with regard to the hearing examiner.
- Blue Spirits Distilling, LLC v. Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Bd., 15 Wn. App. 2d 779, 478 P.3d 153 (2020) — Concerns refund claims for invalidated fees for distillery licenses: issues included whether Blue Spirit must proceed under the Administrative Procedure Act because the sole issue is a claim for money damages or compensation and, Blue Spirit contended, the Board does not have statutory authority to determine the claim. Court held the Board has such authority and rejected the claim that exhaustion of administrative remedies was not required because it would futile in light of the Board's failure to respond to refund claim.
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