Housing Authority of City of Seattle v. Bin

¶1 An unlawful detainer action is within the subject matter jurisdiction granted to the superior court by the state constitution. When a superior court dismisses an unlawful detainer action, the reason must always be something other than lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Dismissal of an unlawful detainer action does not deprive the court of the power to make an award of attorney fees. Here, the lease authorized an award of fees to the prevailing party. Because the tenant prevailed by getting the case dismissed, the trial court properly awarded fees to the tenant.

FACTS

¶2 The Seattle Housing…