Johnstun v. Department of Social & Health Services

The State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) appeals an order awarding Christopher Doug Johnstun attorney's fees and costs. Johnstun incurred the fees in his appeal of the Department's denial of his eligibility for developmental disability services. We reverse the order.

Doug Johnstun was 10 years old in 1979, when he fell about 20 feet from a tree and suffered a severe head injury. Since then, he has experienced significant learning, behavioral, social, and emotional disabilities. The youth was placed at the DSHS Division of Developmental Disabilities (Division), Rainier School,…