State Ex Rel. Pierce County v. King County

This is an equitable action seeking the reformation of a contract on the ground of mutual mistake. From a judgment granting the relief sought, the defendants appeal.

Prior to the year 1913, floods in the White river had caused great damage in the valley between Seattle and Tacoma in both King and Pierce counties. The problem being one that concerned both counties, and it being difficult for one county to act except in conjunction with the other, the legislature in 1913 (chapter 54, p. 156) passed an act permitting counties with such problems to enter into contracts with each other which would…