Bartel v. Zucktriegel

Creditors in Washington can garnish a debtor’s future earnings to satisfy a judgment. RCW 6.27.330. The earnings subject to garnishment include “compensation paid or payable ... for personal services.” RCW 6.27.010(1). Here, the Café Mozart paid Richard Zucktriegel $1,600 per month. But the Café reduced his salary about the time his creditors tried to garnish his wages. The creditor challenged the reduction. And the trial court found that the Café still owed Mr. Zucktriegel $1,600 per month for his work. The court then entered judgment against the Café for the amount the Café should have…