Sunshine Heifers, LLC v. Department of Agriculture

¶1 Sunshine Heifers LLC sued the Washington State Department of Agriculture, claiming damages arising from negligent cattle inspections. Sunshine appeals the superior court’s order granting summary judgment to the Department and denying partial summary judgment to Sunshine. Sunshine argues that because the cattle inspections constitute a proprietary function, the superior court erred by ruling that the public duty doctrine precluded the Department’s liability for negligent cattle inspections. We hold that the Department’s cattle inspections constitute a governmental function, rather than a…