City of Tacoma v. City of Bonney Lake

¶1 The city of Tacoma has franchise agreements with Pierce County and the cities of Fircrest, University Place, and Federal Way (collectively Municipalities) to provide them with water services.1 The central issue before us is whether the franchise agreements require Tacoma to not only provide and maintain fire hydrants, but to bear the costs as well. As part of that issue, Tacoma also raises questions about the impact of the agreements’ indemnification clauses on this case, as well as whether Tacoma must defend Federal Way in this action. We hold that the franchise agreements contractually…