Valley Environmental Laboratory, LLC v. Yakima County

*241¶1 — Yakima County refused to pay Valley Environmental Laboratory, LLC, for lab services because the county employee involved with the referral was related to or had a close relationship with the owners of the lab. The trial judge concluded that the employee was not a “municipal officer” under the provisions of Washington’s code of ethics for municipal officers (chapter 42.23 RCW) and ordered the county to pay for the work. We conclude that questions of fact remain, and we reverse and remand for trial.

Sweeney, C. J.

FACTS

Parties

¶2 Bennett K. Osborne was a natural resource specialist in the…