Hudson v. Hapner

¶23 (dissenting) — I respectfully dissent. The majority holds that Hapner had a right to unilaterally withdraw his request for a trial de novo at any time and suggests that Hudson’s only recourse to avoid this result was to move for trial de novo within 20 days of the arbitrator’s decision. Majority at 286.

*291¶24 Once again, a rule that is supposed to reduce court congestion of civil cases, Malted Mousse, Inc. v. Steinmetz, 150 Wn.2d 518, 526, 79 P.3d 1154 (2003), and intended to encourage parties to accept an arbitrator’s decision by-penalizing unsuccessful appeals, Walji v. Candyco, Inc., 57…