International Tracers of America v. Estate of Hard

The principal issue here is the constitutionality of RCW 63.28.330, which places a 5 percent limit on fees a person can recover for locating property that he knows has already been reported or delivered to the Department of Revenue.1

Plaintiff-appellant International Tracers of America (Tracers) is a Florida corporation engaged in the business of locating heirs of decedents whose property would otherwise escheat to the state in which the property is located. On December 8, 1971, four heirs of Eric Hard (who died in Alaska) and Tracers entered into a contingent fee contract, signed in…