BNSF Ry. Co. v. Clark , 192 Wash. 2d 832 ( 2019 )


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  •             TITE
    IN CLERK* OFFICE
    This opinion was filed for record
    COURT,StKIE OF WASHmerON
    I    DATE JAN 3 I 2019
    DATE                                        at_     .VW..     on^AiA.3(, Biyi ^
    (UA kMAA ir > &Q ,
    GMIEFJUSTKe
    SUSAN L. CARLSON
    SUPREME QOURT CLERK
    IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
    BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY,
    Respondent,               No. 95015-6
    V.
    EN BANC
    THOMAS B. CLARK,MD,Pierce County
    Chief Medical Examiner, and PIERCE
    COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER,
    Appellants.               Filed     JAN 3 1 2019
    FAIRHURST, C.J.—This case involves a practice that dates back to our
    earliest days as a territory—^the coroner's inquest. Although we now typically use
    experts to determine the cause of an unnatural death, historically we relied on the
    verdict of a coroner's inquest jury. The parties before us ask how a coroner today
    may invoke the statutory authority that accompanies an inquest.
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    This case arose after Thomas B. Clark, MD, the Pierce County medical
    examiner (ME),' attempted to subpoena a video held by BNSF Railway Company
    of a fatal train-pedestrian collision. The parties dispute both whether Dr. Clark
    properly began a coroner's inquest and the extent ofthe subpoena power granted by
    the applicable statute. We are asked to determine whether Dr. Clark exceeded his
    authority in issuing the subpoena. We hold that because Dr. Clark never began an
    inquest, he did not have authority to issue the subpoena. We affirm the issuance of
    a writ of prohibition by the trial court. We also provide guidance as to the scope of
    the subpoena power, as this issue is likely to recur.
    I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    On February 5, 2017, a BNSF train was traveling through Puyallup,
    Washington, during heavy snow. R.S.^ was standing on the tracks. According to
    witnesses at the scene, the train blew its whistle, but R.S. was struck and killed.
    Witnesses disagree about whether R.S. intentionally stayed on the tracks.
    The train was equipped with a video camera that recorded the incident. The
    video was secured by the BNSF evidence preservation team and remains in the
    'In populous counties, the county legislative authority may decide to appoint a medical
    examiner in lieu of electing a coroner. RCW 36.24.190. The medical examiner assumes the
    statutory duties performed by the county coroner. Id. Pierce County has chosen to appoint Dr.
    Clark as the medical examiner. See PIERCE COUNTY Code 2.06.010(A)(5),(F).
    ^ The name of the man who was killed is not material to the case. In the interests of
    protecting the privacy of his family, we refer to him by his initials only.
    2
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    possession of BNSF today. After the death, Puyallup Police Department officers
    reviewed the video at the BNSF offices.
    Dr. Clark then contacted BNSF to request a copy of the video to conduct a
    death investigation. Dr. Clark believes that if he views the video, he must maintain
    a copy ofthe video to comply with his obligations under the public record laws. MEs
    are obligated to keep death investigation records confidential. RCW 68.50.105(1).
    BNSF informed Dr. Clark that it will retain the video for 40 years but will not
    release physical copies of the video because of concerns about the video being
    leaked. Instead, BNSF offered to show the video to Dr. Clark at any time, as many
    times as he would like to view it, and brought the video to the ME's office. No one
    at the ME's office viewed the video.
    On March 14, 2017, Dr. Clark sent a memorandum to the Pierce County
    Superior Court administrator. The memorandum read as follows:
    Pursuant to RCW 36.24.020, please be advised that I am opening an
    inquest concerning the February 5, 2017 death of [R.S.] in Puyallup,
    Washington.
    Until further notice, however, Superior Court is not requested to
    provide persons to serve as a jury of inquest, nor to schedule a
    courtroom or related services, because my office is still gathering
    evidence concerning this matter. You will be advised when the status
    changes.
    Clerk's Papers(CP) at 143. Dr. Clark has stated that it is now and always has been
    his intention to hold an inquest in this matter.
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    Dr. Clark then issued an inquest subpoena to BNSF, demanding the
    production of "[a]ll photographs, film or video" depicting the "events 5 minutes
    before, during and 5 minutes after" the collision. CP at 145. The subpoena bore cause
    number 2017-0326 and ordered BNSF to produce the evidence to the ME on or
    before March 31, 2017. BNSF was unable to find a case with this number on the
    Pierce County Superior Court's website and refused to comply with the subpoena.
    BNSF sought a writ of mandamus to command Dr. Clark to withdraw the
    subpoena and a writ of prohibition to prevent him from enforcing the subpoena.
    BNSF argued that the memorandum to the court administrator was insufficient to
    convene an inquest and that, even if it was sufficient, the subpoena power granted
    by the statute allows subpoenas only for testimony and not for documents. The
    Pierce County Superior Court denied the writ of mandamus but entered a writ of
    prohibition requiring Dr. Clark to withdraw or not enforce the subpoena. Dr. Clark
    petitioned for direct review, which we granted.
    II. ANALYSIS
    Coroners' inquests are governed by chapter 36.24 RCW. RCW 36.24.020
    states that if a coroner decides to conduct an inquest, he or she "shall notify the
    superior court to provide persons to serve as a jury of inquest." We hold that this
    statute requires a coroner to request a jury before an inquest can begin. We also hold
    that a coroner has the power to issue a subpoena only once he or she has requested
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, Flo. 95015-6
    a jury. Because Dr. Clark did not request a jury from superior court, he never
    convened an inquest and did not have authority to issue a subpoena. The trial court
    did not abuse its discretion by issuing a writ of prohibition, and we affirm.
    Dr. Clark has made it clear that he intends to call an inquest jury and issue a
    new subpoena in this matter ifthis court affirms. In the interests ofjudicial economy,
    we explain that RCW 36.24.050 grants the power to subpoena this video but that the
    subpoena is returnable only to the inquest jury, not the coroner's office.
    A.    Inquests and a coroner's subpoena power
    1.     Standard ofreview
    Statutory interpretation "is a question of law reviewed de novo." State v.
    James-Buhl, 
    190 Wn.2d 470
    , 474, 
    415 P.3d 234
     (2018). "Statutory interpretation
    begins with the statute's plain meaning." 
    Id.
     "Plain meaning is 'discerned from the
    ordinary meaning of the language at issue, the context of the statute in which that
    provision is found, related provisions, and the statutory scheme as a whole.'" 
    Id.
    (quoting State v. Engel, 
    166 Wn.2d 572
    , 578, 
    210 P.3d 1007
     (2009)). If the statute
    is ambiguous, we apply "principles of statutory construction, legislative history, and
    relevant case law to assist us in discerning legislative intent." Cockle v. Dep't of
    Labor & Indus., 
    142 Wn.2d 801
    , 808, 
    16 P.3d 583
     (2001).
    BNSFRy. Co. v. CW,No.95015-6
    2.     Coroners must request ajury to begin an inquest
    We first hold that a coroner's inquest begins under the statute when the
    coroner requests a jury from superior court. Because Dr. Clark specifically told the
    superior court not to provide a jury, he did not begin an inquest.
    A coroner's inquest is a proceeding in which a jury, instead of the coroner,
    determines the cause of death ofan individual."[T]he purpose ofa coroner's inquest
    is to determine who died, what was the cause of death, and what were the
    circumstances surrounding the death, including the identification of any actors who
    may be criminally liable for the death." Carrickv. Locke, 
    125 Wn.2d 129
    , 133, 
    882 P.2d 173
     (1994). If the coroner holds an inquest, then it is "the jury that decides the
    matter," not the coroner. Thompson v. Wilson, 
    142 Wn. App. 803
    , 818, 
    175 P.3d 1149
    (2008).
    Coroners' inquests are governed by chapter 36.24 RCW. Under RCW
    36.24.020, a coroner may generally hold an inquest if a death appears to be
    unnatural. The statute is clear as to how a coroner may invoke the inquest authority:
    "[t]he coroner in the county where an inquest is to be convened pursuant to this
    chapter shall notify the superior court to provide persons to serve as a jury ofinquest
    to hear all the evidence concerning the death and to inquire into and render a true
    verdict on the cause of death." RCW 36.24.020. This sentence discusses the county
    "where an inquest is to be convened." 
    Id.
     By using the future tense, the statute
    BNSFRy. Co. v. CM,No. 95015-6
    indicates that it is discussing what must occur before an inquest begins. The statute
    explicitly states that the coroner "shall notify the superior court to provide persons
    to serve as ajury ofinquestC 
    Id.
     Therefore, the coroner must request a jury in order
    to begin an inquest. See State v. Krall, 
    125 Wn.2d 146
    , 149, 
    881 P.2d 1040
    (1994)
    (stating "the general rule that 'shall' is presumptively mandatory").
    Even if the language were not clear, the legislative history suggests the same
    result. Chapter 36.24 RCW "dates back virtually unchanged to the 1854 territorial
    laws of Washington." Carrick, 
    125 Wn.2d at 137-38
    . When it was originally adopted
    by the first legislative assembly of the Territory of Washington, it stated that when
    the coroner learns of an unnatural death,"he shall go to the place where the body is,
    and forthwith summon six good and lawful persons, qualified by law to serve as
    Jurors, to appear before him forthwith, at the place where the body of the deceased
    is, to inquire into the cause of the death." Laws OF 1854, § 3, at 436. In 1953, the
    chapter was amended to make inquests permissive rather than mandatory. At that
    time, this statute was changed to read, "The eoroner shall summon six good and
    lawful persons to serve as jurors and to hear all the evidence concerning the death
    and to inquire into and render a true verdict on the cause of death." Laws OF 1953,
    ch. 188, § 3. In 1988, the legislature amended the statute again to create uniformity
    in the way all kinds ofjurors are selected, summoned, and compensated. Laws of
    1988, ch. 188, § 1. The legislature amended the statute by replacing the "summon
    7
    BNSFRy. Co. v. CM,No. 95015-6
    six good and lawful persons" language with the current "notify the superior court to
    provide persons to serve as a jury of inquest." Id. § 18. The original language was
    clear that the coroner holding the inquest must summon the jury immediately. The
    1953 amendment removed the word "forthwith" but maintained the mandatory
    "shall summon" language for a coroner's inquest. These amendments make the
    inquest process optional but do not authorize the coroner to start the inquest without
    requesting or summoning a jury.
    This reading also comports with the understanding in prior cases. For
    example, m In re Inquest into Death ofBoston, 
    112 Wn. App. 114
    , 117,
    47 P.3d 956
    (2002), the Court of Appeals summarized chapter 36.24 RCW as authorizing
    inquests that allow "the county coroner to summon and empanel jurors, to subpoena
    witnesses, and to issue arrest warrants." See also Lee v. Jasman, 
    183 Wn. App. 27
    ,
    57, 
    332 P.3d 1106
     (2014)("When determining the cause of death, a coroner may
    summon an inquest jury."), aff'd, 
    183 Wn.2d 633
    , 
    354 P.3d 846
    (2015); Thompson,
    142 Wn. App. at 818("[T]he coroner may call an inquest and seat a jury and, in that
    case, it is the jury that decides the matter."). None of these cases contemplated an
    inquest beginning without a jury being summoned.
    In this case. Dr. Clark wrote a memorandum to the Pierce County Superior
    Court administrator stating that he was "opening an inquest," but that the "Superior
    Court is not requested to provide persons to serve as a jury of inquest" at this time.
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    CP at 143. Contrary to the statute, Dr. Clark did not "notify the superior court to
    provide persons to serve as a jury of inquest." RCW 36.24.020. In fact, Dr. Clark
    specifically told the superior court not to provide persons to serve as a jury of
    inquest. Because Dr. Clark did not request a jury, an inquest never began.
    3.     A coroner's subpoena power is tied to inquests
    A coroner does not have general subpoena power. The subpoena power arises
    only once an inquest begins. Because Dr. Clark did not request a jury, he did not
    commence an inquest and he did not have authority to issue the subpoena.
    RCW 36.24.050 provides the coroner with limited power to issue subpoenas.
    Under this section, "[t]he coroner must summon and examine as witnesses, on oath
    administered by the coroner, every person, who, in his or her opinion or that of any
    of the jury, has any knowledge of the facts." RCW 36.24.050. Under Washington
    law,"[sjtatutes on the same subject matter must be read together to give each effect
    and to harmonize each with the other." US W. Comma 'ns, Inc. v. Utils. & Transp.
    Comm'n, 
    134 Wn.2d 74
    , 118, 
    949 P.2d 1337
     (1997). Because RCW 36.24.050
    appears alongside several other sections governing inquests and explicitly mentions
    "the jury," the most natural reading is that the subpoena power is contingent on there
    being an inquest.
    This interpretation also comports with the general understanding that the
    subpoena power does not arise until there is a matter pending before a tribunal. For
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    example,the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals held that despite the absence
    of a limitation in the statute, a court has no power to issue a subpoena duces tecum
    unless a case is pending before it. State v. McGill, 
    230 W. Va. 569
    , 573, 
    741 S.E.2d 127
     (2013); see also Rogers v. Superior Court, 
    145 Cal. 88
    , 91, 
    78 P. 344
     (1904)
    ("A witness can be compelled to answer only such questions as are legal and
    pertinent to a matter in issue before a tribunal.'" (emphasis added)); Chambers v.
    Oehler, 
    107 Iowa 155
    , 158, 
    77 N.W. 853
     (1899) ("[T]he pendency of some
    proceeding in court is necessary in order to warrant the issuance of process for
    witnesses. There being no case pending in this instance, the justice had no authority
    to issue a subpoena for a witness.").
    However, once the coroner has properly begun the inquest process by
    requesting jurors, he or she is authorized to issue subpoenas returnable to the inquest
    jury. The coroner "conduct[s]" the inquest, RCW 36.24.020, and "examine[s]" the
    witnesses, RCW 36.24.050. The coroner must be allowed to issue subpoenas before
    the jury is actually empaneled to ensure that the coroner will have witnesses to
    examine once the jury is empaneled to hear the evidence.
    4.     This video is subject to a properly issued inquest subpoena
    The subpoena power granted by RCW 36.24.050 includes the power to
    subpoena the video in this case.
    10
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    Because the word "subpoena" might mean either subpoena ad testificandum
    or subpoena duces tecum, or both, we look to the way "subpoena" was understood
    when this statute was enacted. As mentioned above, "RCW 36.24 dates back
    virtually unchanged to the 1854 territorial laws ofWashington." Carrick, 125 Wn.2d
    at 137-38.^ In the same legislative session that adopted this statute, the legislature
    passed a law discussing subpoenas in civil practice. This statute explains that a
    "subpoena may require not only the personal attendance of the person to whom it is
    directed, at a particular time and place to testify as a witness, but may also require
    him to bring with him any books, documents, or things under this control." Laws of
    1854, ch. 32, § 296. In 1854, therefore, a "subpoena" included both the power to
    bring a witness in to testify and the power to require that witness to bring physical
    items with him or her.
    ^ Indeed, the original version ofthe statute as adopted by the first legislative session in the
    Territory of Washington read as follows:
    The coroner may issue subpoenas for witnesses, to the sheriff or any constable of
    the county,returnable forthwith, or at such time and place as he may appoint, which
    may be served by any competent person.—He must summon, and examine as
    witnesses, on oath, by him administered, every person, who,in his opinion, or that
    of any of the jury, has any knowledge of the facts, and he may summon a surgeon
    or physician to inspect the body, and give, under oath, a professional opinion as to
    the cause of death.
    Laws of 1854, § 6, at 436. The only changes between then and now are removing the language
    requiring the subpoenas to go to the sheriff or constable and making the language gender neutral.
    The next section included the language now at the end ofRCW 36.24.050,"A witness served with
    a subpoena maybe compelled to attend and testify, or be punished by the coroner for disobedience,
    in like manner as upon a subpoena issued by a justice of the peace." Id. § 7, at 437. The only
    amendment in this section was changing "justice ofthe peace" to "district judge."
    11
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    Notably, another section of the original laws of this state did reference both
    "subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum, as in ordinary cases at law," Laws OF 1854,
    ch. 1, § 40 (emphasis omitted)(regarding elections). However, later, in chapter 32,
    § 296,the legislature explained that in ordinary cases at law, a "subpoena" alone can
    require a witness to testify and to bring documents. The legislature did not suggest
    that the word "subpoena" in the coroner's inquest statute had a narrower meaning
    than the definition adopted elsewhere in the same legislative session.
    The way the 1854 legislature defined "subpoena" is in line with the definition
    of "subpoena" at the time. A legal dictionary from the mid-1800s defined a
    "subpoena" as a "writ by which persons are commanded to appear at a certain place,
    at a certain time, under a penalty." Henry James Holthouse, A New Law
    Dictionary, Containing Explanations of Such Technical Terms and
    Phrases as Occur in the Works of Legal Authors, in the Practice of the
    Courts,and in the Parliamentary Proceedings of the Houses of Lords and
    Commons 390(2d ed. 1846)(emphasis omitted). The dictionary explains that there
    are several different kinds of subpoenas, including subpoenas ad testificandum and
    subpoenas duces tecum. Id. Both kinds of subpoenas involve compelling witnesses
    to attend in court. The subpoena duces tecum additionally requires the witnesses "to
    bring with them books or documents which may be in their possession, and which
    may tend to elucidate the subject-matter of the trial." Id. (emphasis omitted).
    12
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    Because both forms of subpoenas can thus be fairly described as "subpoenas for
    witnesses," the phrasing of RCW 36.24.050 does not limit subpoenas to only
    subpoenas ad testificandum.
    This is also a more logical reading of the statute. If the coroner lacked the
    power to require witnesses to bring physical evidence with them, then the inquest
    jury would not be able to see and evaluate one ofthe most crucial pieces of evidence
    in this case, an actual video of the death. The jury would have to make a
    determination based only on what other people told them that the video showed.
    Given the statute's requirement that the jury "hear all the evidence concerning the
    death," RCW 36.24.020, allowing the coroner to subpoena the video in this case
    would further legislative intent."^         Timberline Air Serv., Inc. v. Bell Helicopter-
    Textron, Inc., 
    125 Wn.2d 305
    , 312, 
    884 P.2d 920
    (1994)("The purpose of statutory
    construction is to effectuate legislative intent.").
    This court has also previously assumed that subpoena power includes the
    power to demand physical items. In State ex rel. Sowers v. Olwell, 
    64 Wn.2d 828
    ,
    829, 
    394 P.2d 681
     (1964), an attorney was served with a subpoena duces tecum.
    In this case, the coroner issued a subpoena to a business for a video that he knows exists
    and contains evidence concerning the death. Cf. State v. Miles, 
    160 Wn.2d 236
    , 244, 
    156 P.3d 864
    (2007) (explaining that article I, seetion 7 of the Washington Constitution bars administrative
    subpoenas that go beyond business records to intrude on private affairs and are issued without
    judicial oversight). This is not a fishing expedition. Cf. State v. Reeder, 
    184 Wn.2d 805
    , 820-21,
    
    365 P.3d 1243
     (2015)("Grand juries are not entitled 'to engage in arbitrary fishing expeditions.'"
    (quoting United States v. R. Enters., Inc., 
    498 U.S. 292
    , 299, 
    111 S. Ct. 722
    , 
    112 L. Ed. 2d 795
    (1991))).
    13
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark,l1977 WL 199094
    , at *1 (Ohio Ct. App.Dec. 7, 1977)
    (unpublished)(reviewing a coroner's subpoena duces tecum without any mention of
    a lack of power to issue it despite Ohio Revised Code Annotated § 313.17 granting
    authority to "issue subpoenas for such witnesses as are necessary").
    Finally, our decision today aligns with the only other court that appears to
    have confronted this issue. In New York, the statute governing coroners' inquests
    grants coroners the "power to subpoena and examine witnesses under oath." 
    N.Y. County Law § 674
    (4). Interpreting that statute, a New York court found that such
    a subpoena "is not restricted to merely asking questions of witnesses." Brunner v.
    Registrar of Med. Records ofDe Graff Mem 7 Hosp., 
    119 Misc. 2d 952
    , 953, 
    464 N.Y.S.2d 928
     (Sup. Ct. 1983). Instead, "the reference generally, to the power to
    subpoena in [the statute], includes the power ofsubpoena duces tecum."Id.; see also
    18 C.J.S. Coroners and Medical Examiners § 17 (2007)("The coroner's statutory
    subpoena power is not restricted to the examination of witnesses but includes the
    power of subpoena duces tecum."(citing Brunner, 119 Misc. 2d at 953)).
    14
    BNSFRy. Co. v. CM,No. 95015-6
    5.   Covoners may demand only that the subpoena be returned to the inquestjury
    Although the coroner may subpoena the video in this case, he or she may
    demand only that the witness bring the evidence to the inquest jury. The coroner is
    not entitled to summon the witness or the evidence to his or her office.
    The statute allows the coroner to "issue subpoenas for witnesses returnable
    forthwith or at such time and place as the coroner may appoint." RCW 36.24.050.
    This language is unchanged from the original 1854 law. Under the original law,
    whenever a suspicious death occurred, the coroner was to "go to the place where the
    body is, and forthwith summon six good and lawful persons, qualified by law to
    serve as jurors, to appear before him forthwith, at the place where the body of the
    deceased is, to inquire into the cause of the death." LAWS OF 1854, § 3, at 436. The
    statute at that time clearly did not contemplate the coroner reviewing the evidence
    prior to summoning the jury. The legislature intended to allow subpoenas requiring
    the witness or evidence to appear before the jury immediately or to appear before
    the jury at a later place and time. This section does not allow a coroner to demand to
    see the subpoenaed evidence prior to the inquest.
    This reading of the statute aligns it with how some other subpoenas operate.
    See United States v. Wadlington, 
    233 F.3d 1067
    , 1075 (8th Cir. 2000)(explaining
    that a subpoena that required a witness to come to the prosecutor's office the day
    before the grand jury proceeding indicated "improper use of grand jury subpoenas"
    15
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    because the language allowing a subpoena to command a witness to '"attend and
    give testimony at the time and place specified therein'" applied only to "formal
    proceedings" and "does not authorize the Government to use grand jury subpoenas
    to compel prospective grand jury witnesses to attend private interviews with
    government agents"); United States v. LaFuente, 
    991 F.2d 1406
    , 1411 (8th Cir.
    1993)("The government may not use trial subpoenas to compel prospective trial
    witnesses to attend pretrial interviews with government attorneys."); United States
    V. Keen,
    509 F.2d 1273
    , 1275,1274(6th Cir. 1975)(a subpoena may "be issued only
    for the purpose of compelling the attendance of witnesses or the production of
    evidence at a formal proceeding," and it was "highly improper" to use a subpoena
    to attend a pretrial interview with the government).
    Moreover, ROW 36.24.020 does not allow preinquest inspection of the
    evidence, and for good reason. The inquest jury must "hear all the evidence
    concerning the death." RCW 36.24.020. "The coroner must summon and examine
    as witnesses . . . every person, who, in his or her opinion or that of any of the jury,
    has any knowledge of the facts." RCW 36.24.050 (emphasis added). This strong
    language shows that the coroner who convenes an inquest has no need to see the
    evidence in advance because he or she does not have the discretion to view a piece
    of evidence or hear a particular witness statement and decide not to present it to the
    jury.
    16
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, l<\o. 95015-6
    B.    Writ of prohibition
    1.    Standard ofreview
    A writ of prohibition "arrests the proceedings of any tribunal, corporation,
    board or person, when such proceedings are without or in excess ofthe jurisdiction
    ofsuch tribunal, corporation, board or person." RCW 7.16.290. A writ ofprohibition
    may be issued only when (1) a government body is about to act in excess of its
    jurisdiction and(2)the opposing party does not have a'"plain, speedy, and adequate
    remedy in the course of legal procedure. The absence of either one precludes the
    issuance of the writ.'" Skagit County Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 304 v. Skagit County
    Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 1, 
    111 Wn.2d 718
    , 722-23, 
    305 P.3d 1079
     (2013)(quoting
    Kreidler v. Eikenberry, 
    111 Wn.2d 828
    , 838, 
    766 P.2d 438
     (1989)).
    The trial court's grant of a writ of prohibition is reviewed for abuse of
    discretion. Id. at 730."A trial court abuses its discretion if a decision is manifestly
    unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or untenable reasons. 'A court's
    decision is manifestly unreasonable if it is outside the range of acceptable choices,
    given the facts and the applicable legal standard.'" Id. (citation omitted)(quoting In
    re Marriage ofLittlefield, 
    133 Wn.2d 39
    , 47, 
    940 P.2d 1362
    (1997)).
    2.     The writ was correctly issued because Dr. Clark was exceeding his
    authority and BNSF did not have an alternative remedy at law
    The trial court did not abuse its discretion in issuing the writ in this case. Dr.
    Clark had not yet begun an inquest and did not have the power to issue a subpoena.
    17
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, Flo. 95015-6
    Because he nevertheless issued a subpoena, he was acting in excess of his
    jurisdiction, satisfying the first prong of the test. Because decisions surrounding
    coroners' inquests may not be directly appealed or set aside by the court, BNSF did
    not have an adequate remedy in the course of legal procedure, satisfying the second
    prong. See Boston, 112 Wn. App. at 119 ("Although some jurisdictions have
    recognized a limited right to petition for a writ of mandamus or prohibition against
    the coroner where the coroner has acted arbitrarily, direct appeal is uniformly
    disallowed."). The trial court's decision was well within its discretion.
    III. CONCLUSION
    We affirm the trial court's order issuing a writ of prohibition requiring Dr.
    Clark to withdraw or not enforce the subpoena. The power to issue a coroner's
    inquest subpoena arises only when the coroner has actually asked the superior court
    to provide a jury. We also address the scope of the subpoena power, as a dispute
    over its extent is likely to arise as a result ofthis decision. RCW 36.24.050 authorizes
    a subpoena for the video in this case, returnable to the inquest jury.
    18
    BNSFRy. Co. v. Clark, No. 95015-6
    ^GU a   t C-
    WE CONCUR:
    k
    /
    19