Legal Opinion
Eugster v. City of Spokane
Court of Appeals of Washington
Decided February 20, 2003No. 21473-7-IIIPublishedCited by 6 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
Sweeney, J. —
State law requires municipalities to provide counsel at public expense to defend officials in suits arising from the performance of their official duties. RCW *7434.96.041(1). Spokane City Council member Stephen K. Eugster is a lawyer. He contends that because RCW 4.96.041 does not say otherwise, it requires the city of Spokane to hire him to defend himself and his wife in a suit filed by a developer. We disagree. Moreover, the Spokane City Charter prohibits any city officer from benefiting from a city contract. And the charter does not conflict with RCW 4.96.041. We also reject Mr.…
2Cases cited12 opinions
- State v. KellerWashington Supreme Court · 2001
- Orwick v. City of SeattleWashington Supreme Court · 1984
- Westerman v. CaryWashington Supreme Court · 1995
- City of Seattle v. FontanillaWashington Supreme Court · 1996
- Medina v. Public Utility Dist. No. 1Washington Supreme Court · 2002
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3Cited by6 opinions
- Washington Public Trust Advocates v. City of SpokaneCourt of Appeals of Washington · 2004
- Colby v. Yakima CountyCourt of Appeals of Washington · 2006
- Colby v. Yakima CountyCourt of Appeals of Washington · 2006
- Eugster v. City of SpokaneCourt of Appeals of Washington · 2003
- WPTA v. City of SpokaneCourt of Appeals of Washington · 2004
1 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.