Evans v. Luster

Jeffrey Evans (Evans) and his wife Mary contracted with Architectural Cabinets, Inc. (ACI) through Rodney Mayo, their friend and the president of ACI, for land clearing and grading. The parties timed performance of their contract so as to avoid statutory permit requirements. Because we hold that the contract was illegal and the parties were in pari delicto, we reverse the trial court and remand for dismissal of ACI’s claim with prejudice.

FACTS

The following unchallenged findings are verities. ACI is a licensed, registered, and bonded general contractor in Washington. Evans and Mayo have been…