Department of Ecology v. Acquavella

This case involves a procedural due process issue that arises at an interlocutory phase of a complex statutory water rights adjudication of the surface waters in the Yakima River Basin. The issue is whether due process requires personal service of process on all individual water users who get their water under contract from water distributing entities, or whether service on those entities is sufficient. The trial court held that due process requirements were satisfied by service on the entities. We affirm.

This action was filed by the State of Washington Department of Ecology (DOE), seeking a…