Matthews v. Wenatchee Heights Water Co.

B.J. Matthews raises a number of thorny issues, most of which turn on the legal status of an irrigation district—Is it subject to all of the constitutional and statutory strictures of municipal corporations? Specifically, Mr. Matthews’ case turns on whether a public irrigation district is a municipal corporation for purposes of Washington State Constitution article VIII, section 7. That section prohibits a municipal corporation from owning stock in a private company. We conclude a public irrigation district does not fall within the definition of municipal corporation for the purposes of…