Ranger Insurance v. Pierce County

¶1 Pierce County applied money from Ranger Insurance Company, at the request of Ranger’s agent, to forfeited bonds underwritten by another surety. When the bonds were exonerated, Ranger’s funds were not returned. Ranger sued Pierce County for negligence. The trial court granted Pierce County summary judgment of dismissal, holding it met its duty to Ranger as a matter of law. Analyzing the issue as an agency problem the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court. We affirm the Court of Appeals reversal of summary judgment as material issues of fact exist under both duty and agency theories.

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