Zoutendyk v. Washington State Patrol

Petrie, A.C.J.

The common issue in these consolidated appeals is whether or not a state employee who seeks court review of an adverse decision of the Washington State Personnel Board is required to pay the cost of transcribing a record of the Board proceedings as a prerequisite to court review. We hold that the appealing employee is not required to pay for that record either initially as a prerequisite in order to perfect his appeal or ultimately even if he does not prevail in court.

The facts in the case presented by Leonard J. Zoutendyk are typical of the other employees who also raise this…