State ex rel. Long v. McLeod

Relator Long and intervenor Nitz appeal from the denial of a writ of prohibition by which they sought to prevent justice court Judge Murray McLeod from allowing corporations to sue in small claims court, a practice which appellants contend violates the Small Claims Act, specifically RCW 12.40.080.

Appellants’ argument is premised on the contention that the legislature never intended to allow corporations to bring suit in small claims court. To otherwise interpret the legislative intent, appellants argue, is to violate the spirit and purpose of the Small Claims Act which was to provide a simple…