Gerald Richert v. City Of Tacoma ( 2014 )

FILED
COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
20Ihi MAY 13 All 9 : 13'
DIVISION II
GERALD G. RICHERT, on behalf of No. 43825 -9 -II Pt
SKOKOMISH FARMS INC., a Washington
corporation; GERALD F. RICHERT and
SHIRLEY RICHERT, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; THE ESTATE
OF JOSEPH W. BOURGAULT; NORMA
BOURGAULT, a single woman; ARVID
HALDANE JOHNSON, on behalf of
OLYMPIC EVERGREEN, LLC, a
Washington limited liability company; ARVID
HALDANE JOHNSON and PATRICIA
JOHNSON, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; SHAWN JOHNSON and
SHELLOY JOHNSON, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; JAMES M.
HUNTER, on behalf of the HUNTER
FAMILY FARMS LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, a Washington partnership;
JAMES M. HUNTER and JOAN HUNTER,
husband and wife, and the marital community
thereof; JAMES C. HUNTER and SANDRA
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; GREGORY HUNTER and
TAMARA HUNTER, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; DAVID
KAMIN and JAYNI KAMIN, husband and
wife, and the marital community thereof;
WILLIAM O. HUNTER, on behalf of
HUNTER BROTHERS STORE, a
Washington partnership; PAUL B. HUNTER,
on behalf of HUNTER BROTHERS, LLC, a
Washington limited liability company;
WILLIAM O. HUNTER and CAROL
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; PAUL B. HUNTER
and LESLIE HUNTER, husband and wife,
and the marital community thereof;
WILLIAM O. HUNTER, JR. and LUAYNE
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the
marital community thereof; DOUGLAS
RICHERT, a single man; EVAN TOZIER, on
behalf of RIVERSIDE FARM, a Washington
No. 43825 -9 -II
partnership; ARTHUR TOZIER, a single man;
MAXINE TOZIER, in her individual capacity;
and EVAN TOZIER, a single man,
Respondents,
v.
ORDER GRANTING
TACOMA POWER UTILITY, a Washington MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION
Utility, and the CITY OF TACOMA, a
Washington municipality,
Appellants.
APPELLANT, City of Tacoma, has moved for reconsideration of the published
opinion filed in this case. After due consideration, the court grants the motion and
amends the March 4, 2014 opinion with the attached Order Amending Opinion.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
2 "
2014.
Dated this day of
PANEL: Jj. Worswick, Hunt, Penoyar
FOR THE COURT:
2
FILED
COUPi i OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
2014 MAY 13 AN 9: 13
Sir Ar 6, SF ` 4GTQN
IN TIIE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHIN T
DIVISION II
GERALD G. RICHERT, on behalf of No. 43825 -9 -II
SKOKOMISH FARMS INC., a Washington
corporation; GERALD F. RICHERT and
SHIRLEY RICHERT, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; THE ESTATE
OF JOSEPH W. BOURGAULT; NORMA
BOURGAULT, a single woman; ARVID
HALDANE JOHNSON, on behalf of
OLYMPIC EVERGREEN, LLC, a
Washington limited liability company; ARVID
HALDANE JOHNSON and PATRICIA
JOHNSON, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; SHAWN JOHNSON and
SHELLOY JOHNSON, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; JAMES M.
HUNTER, on behalf of the HUNTER
FAMILY FARMS LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, a Washington partnership;
JAMES M. HUNTER and JOAN HUNTER,
husband and wife, and the marital community
thereof; JAMES C. HUNTER and SANDRA
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; GREGORY HUNTER and
TAMARA HUNTER, husband, and wife, and
the marital community thereof; DAVID
KAMIN and JAYNI KAMIN, husband and
wife, and the marital community thereof;
WILLIAM O. HUNTER, on behalf of
HUNTER BROTHERS STORE, a
Washington partnership; PAUL B. HUNTER,
on behalf of HUNTER BROTHERS, LLC, a
Washington limited liability company;
WILLIAM O. HUNTER and CAROL
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; PAUL B. HUNTER
and LESLIE HUNTER, husband and wife,
and the marital community thereof;
No. 43825 -9 -II
WILLIAM O. HUNTER, JR. and LUAYNE
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the
marital community thereof; DOUGLAS
RICHERT, a single man; EVAN TOZIER, on
behalf of RIVERSIDE FARM, a Washington
partnership; ARTHUR TOZIER, a single man;
MAXINE TOZIER, in her individual capacity;
and EVAN TOZIER, a single man,
Respondents,
v.
TACOMA POWER UTILITY, a Washington
Utility, and the CITY OF TACOMA, a
Washington municipality, ORDER AMENDING OPINION
Appellants.
It is hereby ORDERED that this court' s opinion filed on March 4, 2014 is
amended as follows:
On page 2, paragraph 1, the following text shall be deleted:
In this class action lawsuit for property damage caused by
increased water flow, the City of Tacoma makes an interlocutory appeal of
the superior court' s two rulings on cross summary judgment motions. The
first ruling granted a motion for partial summary judgment that served to
strike one of Tacoma' s affirmative defenses against the claims of Gerald
Richert and the members of his class involved in this appeal ( the
Richerts).
The following language shall be inserted in its place:
In this lawsuit for property damage caused by increased water
flow, the City of Tacoma makes an interlocutory appeal of the superior
court' s two rulings on cross summary judgment The first ruling
motions.
granted a motion for partial summary judgment that served to strike one of
Tacoma' s affirmative defenses against the claims of Gerald Richert and
the other plaintiffs involved in this appeal ( the Richerts).
No. 43825 -9 -II
And on page 3, immediately following the " S" in the heading " FACTS," the following
text shall be added in a footnote:
Because both of the superior court orders on review concerned whether
the Richerts' claims were precluded as a matter of law, we write the facts
in the light most favorable to the Richerts. See Witt v. Young, 168 Wn.
App. 211, 213, 275 P. 3d 1218, review denied, 175 Wn.2d 1026, 291 P. 3d
254 ( 2012).
And on page 7, paragraph 1, the following text shall be deleted:
Gerald Richert and the members of his class involved in this
appeal are owners of 88 of the Type Two parcels, whose riparian and
water rights, but not land rights, were condemned by Tacoma in Funk.
The following language shall be inserted in its place:
Gerald Richert and the other plaintiffs in this appeal are owners of
88 of the Type Two parcels, whose riparian and water rights, but not land
rights, were condemned by Tacoma in Funk.
The footnote that follows the sentence ending in " condemned by Tacoma in Funk" shall
remain.
DATED this day of 2014.
Rely
I concur:
FILED
COU T: OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
201 yMAR - 4 AM 9: 17
STATE •QF WASHINGTON
Y.
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
GERALD G. RICHERT, on behalf of No. 43825- 9- 11
SKOKOMISH FARMS INC., a Washington
corporation; GERALD F. RICHERT and
SHIRLEY RICHERT, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; THE ESTATE
OF JOSEPH W. BOURGAULT; NORMA
BOURGAULT, a single woman; ARVID
HALDANE JOHNSON, on behalf of
OLYMPIC EVERGREEN, LLC, a
Washington limited liability company; ARVID
HALDANE JOHNSON and PATRICIA
JOHNSON, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; SHAWN JOHNSON and
SHELLOY JOHNSON, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; JAMES M.
HUNTER, on behalf of the HUNTER
FAMILY FARMS LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, a Washington partnership;•'
JAMES M. HUNTER and JOAN HUNTER,
husband and wife, and the marital community
thereof; JAMES C. HUNTER and SANDRA
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; GREGORY HUNTER and
TAMARA HUNTER, husband and wife, and
the marital community thereof; DAVID
KAMIN and JAYNI KAMIN, husband and
wife, and the marital community thereof;
WILLIAM 0. HUNTER, on behalf of
HUNTER BROTHERS STORE, a
Washington partnership; PAUL B. HUNTER,
on behalf of HUNTER BROTHERS, LLC, a
Washington limited liability company;
No. 43825- 9- 11
WILLIAM O. HUNTER and CAROL
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the marital
community thereof; PAUL B. HUNTER
and LESLIE HUNTER, husband and wife,
and the marital community thereof;
WILLIAM O. HUNTER, JR. and LUAYNE
HUNTER, husband and wife, and the
marital community thereof; DOUGLAS
RICHERT, a single man; EVAN TOZIER, on
behalf of RIVERSIDE FARM, a Washington
partnership; ARTHUR TOZIER, a single man;
MAXINE TOZIER, in her individual capacity;
and EVAN TOZIER, a single man,
Respondents,
v.
TACOMA POWER UTILITY, a Washington
Utility, and the CITY OF TACOMA, a
Washington municipality, PUBLISHED OPINION
A. pellants.
WoRSwICK, C. J. — In this class action lawsuit for property damage caused by increased
water flow, the City of Tacoma makes an interlocutory appeal of the superior court' s two rulings
on cross summary judgment motions. The first ruling granted a motion for partial summary
judgment that served to strike one of Tacoma' s affirmative defenses against the claims of Gerald
Richert and the members of his class involved in this appeal ( the Richerts). The second ruling
denied Tacoma' s motion for summary judgment for dismissal of the Richerts' claims. The
superior court' s two rulings summarily determined one limited legal issue in favor of the
Richerts: of Tacoma Funk, No. 1651 ( Mason County Super. Ct., Sept. 11, 1920) — a 1920
City v.
condemnation action in which Tacoma condemned the Richerts' riparian and water rights so as
No. 43825 -9 -II
to allow Tacoma to build two dams on the Skokomish River —did not preclude the Richerts'
claims for flood and groundwater damage as a matter of law. In this interlocutory appeal,
Tacoma argues that Funk precludes the Richerts' claims as res judicata. We affirm the superior
court, because Tacoma has failed to meet its burden of proving that the Richerts' claims have a
concurrence of identity with Funk' s final judgment.
FACTS
A. Background
The Skokomish River' s main stem is fed by three tributaries: the North Fork, the South
Fork, and Vance Creek. Water flows through the main stem and into the Hood Canal.
Tacoma has operated two dams on the North Fork of the Skokomish River since 1926.
These dams today operate under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licenses.
Tacoma' s dams prevent most of the North Fork' s water from flowing to the main stem. Prior to
the existence of Tacoma' s dams, the,North Fork contributed 800 cubic feet per second ( cfs) of
water to.the main stem, which wass_one third of the main stem' s_water.
B. Funk Condemnation
In 1923, Tacoma condemned the property rights•that the dams' construction and
operation would damage in Funk. The Funk condemnation action condemned the property rights
of over 80 parcels of real property. In Funk, Tacoma condemned the property rights of two
different how damage the dams would cause the parcels.
parcel types, depending on much
No. 43825- 9- 11
First, Tacoma condemned in their entirety those parcels on the North Fork that the dams'
construction and operation would either occupy or overflow with water ( Type One parcels). The
Type One parcels constituted a combined total of 730 acres.
Second, Tacoma condemned the riparian and water rights, but not the land rights, of
those parcels located below the dam, primarily on the main stem ( Type Two parcels). Tacoma
condemned only the riparian and water rights of the Type Two parcels because the dams'
construction and operation took water away from these parcels but did not occupy or overflow
them. In its condemnation petition, Tacoma stated the following as to its reason for condemning
the Type Two parcels' water rights:
That with the construction of [the dams] ... a portion of the waters of [the North
Fork] will be diverted from the present channel thereof and used by [ Tacoma] .. .
and the volume of water in said river below said dam will be diminished and by
reason thereof it is and will be necessary and convenient for said City of Tacoma
to take and acquire ... the water rights, riparian rights, easements, privileges and
other facilities upon said river below said dam, necessary and adequate for the
proper development, construction, operation and maintenance of said power plant.
Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 1382.( emphasis added)...
In Funk, Tacoma paid compensation for the entire Type One parcels and the riparian and
water rights of the Type Two parcels. The Funk court determined these compensation awards
individually for each owner. Many parcel owners received their individualized compensation
awards by jury verdict; while other parcel owners received their compensation awards under
stipulation agreements.
The Type One parcel owners received a combined total of $90,200, in approximately 7
individual compensation awards, for their 730 acres of parcels, averaging $ 123. 56 per acre. The
4
No. 43825 -9 -II
Type Two parcel owners received a combined total of $50, 670. 30, in approximately 40
individual compensation awards, for their riparian and water rights ( which were attached to
6, 360. 6 acres), averaging $7. 95 per acre. After Tacoma paid these compensation awards, the
Funk superior court entered two separate decrees condemning the land rights of the parcels.
The decree condemning the land rights of the Type One parcels for Tacoma' s use stated:
I]t is hereby ORDERED AND DECREED that there is hereby appropriated and
granted to and vested in fee simple in [ Tacoma] ... for the construction, operation
and maintenance of an hydro -electric power plant on and along the North Fork of
the Skokomish River and on and along Lake Cushman in Mason County,
Washington, as set forth in the petition herein on file, the lands, real estate,
premises, water rights, easements, privileges and property, including the right to
divert the North Fork of the Skokomish River located in Mason County,
Washington, hereinafter described, of the [ Type One parcels].
CP at 3660.
On the same day, the Funk superior court entered a decree condemning the riparian and
water rights of the Type Two parcels stating:
I]t is hereby ORDERED AND DECREED that there is hereby appropriated and
granted to and vested in fee simple in [ Tacoma] ... for the construction, operation
and maintenance of an hydro electric power plant on and along the North Fork of
the Skokomish river and on and along Lake Cushman in Mason County,
Washington, as set forth in the petition herein on file, the waters, water rights,
riparian rights, easements and privileges, including the right to divert the waters
of the North Fork of the Skokomish River located in Mason County, Washington,
appertaining and appurtenant to the [ Type Two parcels].
I] t is further ORDERED AND DECREED that [ Tacoma] ... is hereby granted
the right, at any time hereafter, to take possession of, appropriate and use all of
the waters, water rights, riparian rights, easements and privileges appertaining and
appurtenant to the lands, real estate and premises hereinabove described, together
with the right to divert the waters of the North Fork of the Skokomish River, and
the same is hereby appropriated and granted unto, and the title shall vest in fee
5
No. 43825- 9- 11
simple in [ Tacoma] as of the 1 lth day of September, 1920, and its successors
forever; the same being for a public use.[ 13
CP at 3650, 3656.
C. Tacoma' s Increase in Water Flow
From 1926 until 1988, Tacoma' s dams diverted most of the North Fork' s water flow out
of the river, resulting in an average of only 10 cfs released from the North Fork and into the main
stem.
In 1988, FERC required Tacoma to increase the flows to 30 cfs as part of its water quality
certification for the project. In 1998 FERC began requiring Tacoma to release even more water
through the dams, for the purpose of preserving fish and the environment. Litigation with FERC
regarding minimum water flow required Tacoma to increase the flow to 60 cfs in 1999 and to
240 cfs in 2008. In 2010, an amendment to Tacoma' s 1998 FERC license created a schedule for
releasing different amounts of water at different times throughout the year. However, the 2010
amendments to the license required Tacoma to maintain an average flow that was significantly
higher than the 10 cfs released by the dams through - ost of their history.
m
Since 1988, Tacoma increased water flow to and through the main stem, increasing the
amount of water that flowed alongside the Richerts' parcels. This increase of water is the subject
of the Richerts' lawsuit against. Tacoma.
1 Tacoma limits its appeal to the riparian and water rights granted by Funk, and explicitly states.
that it makes no claims on appeal related to the easements that Tacoma condemned in Funk.
6
No. 43825- 9- 11
D. The Richerts' Lawsuit
Gerald Richert and the members of his class involved in this appeal are owners of 88 of
the Type Two parcels, whose riparian and water rights, but not land rights, were condemned by
Tacoma in Funk.2 The Richerts' parcels are located below the dams and primarily on the main
stem.
The Richerts sued Tacoma, alleging that the increased amount of water that Tacoma' s
dams released overflowed the main stem, causing the water to invade and damage the Richerts'
parcels.
The dams' diversion of water away from the main stem, from 1926 until 2008, prevented
the water from naturally washing accumulating gravel out of the main stem. The Richerts
claimed that over the decades this failure to wash out the gravel caused aggradation: the slow
building up of gravel in a river bed that greatly reduces the amount of water that a river can
contain.
The Rcherts alleged that by2008, the.main stem had suffered aggradation to the point
that it could not contain Tacoma' s sudden increase of water flow into the main stem, which
caused the main stem to overflow. The Richerts claim that the increased water flow overflowed
the banks of the main stem and additionally has caused a continuing rise in the groundwater
table.
2
Twenty -two additional parcels are included in the superior court case, but are not included in
the eighty -eight Type Two parcels relevant-to this appeal, .because the twenty -two parcels were
not involved in Funk.
7
No. 43825 -9 -II
E. Procedural History
The Richerts sued Tacoma for ( 1) violation of riparian rights, (2) failure to provide a
proper outflow for channeled surface waters, ( 3) violation of RCW 4. 24. 630 ( liability for damage
to land and property), ( 4) trespass and continuing trespass, ( 5) nuisance and continuing nuisance,
6) negligence, ( 7) inverse condemnation by flooding, and ( 8) inverse condemnation by
groundwater. Tacoma asserted as an affirmative defense that Funk' s decrees constitute a final
judgment barring the Richerts' claims as res judicata.
The Richerts filed a motion for partial summary judgment, asking the superior court to
dismiss Tacoma' s affirmative defense related to Funk. Tacoma also filed a motion for summary
judgment, asking the superior court to dismiss the Richerts' claims in their entirety.
The superior court granted the Richerts' motion for partial summary judgment,
dismissing Tacoma' s affirmative defense. The superior court determined that the Richerts'
claims were " not within the contemplation of the Funk litigants or the Funk court." Verbatim
Report of Proceedings. (June 8, 2012) at 8. The superior court denied Tacoma' s motion for
summary judgment.
The superior court entered a very limited final judgment to facilitate our interlocutory
review under CR 54( b), RAP 2.2( d), and RAP 2. 3( b)( 4). The superior court limited its final
judgment to the issue of whether the Funk condemnation action precluded the Richerts' ability to
pursue their claims. The superior court stated that its final judgment " does not apply to any of
the other issues adjudicated on summary judgment." CP at 63. Tacoma appeals the superior
8
No. 43825 -9 -II
court' s partial summary judgment, arguing that Funk' s final judgment precludes the Richerts'
claims as res judicata.
ANALYSIS
Tacoma argues that res judicata bars the Richerts' claims because these claims share a
concurrence of identity with Funk' s final judgment. We disagree.
We review summary judgments de novo. Michak v. Transnation Title Ins. Co., 148.
Wn.2d 788, 794, 64 P. 3d 22 ( 2003). Summary judgment is appropriate if there is no genuine
issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. CR 56( c).
In this case, the parties agree that no genuine issue of material fact exists on the limited issue of
the effect of the Funk judgment on the Richerts' ability to pursue their claims.
I. RIPARIAN RIGHTS
The ownership of a parcel adjacent to a watercourse gave that parcel owner riparian
rights in the watercourse. Dep' t ofEcology v. Abbott, 103 Wn.2d 686, 689, 694 P. 2d 10711985).. Washington State .abolished riparian rights in . 917, but maintained those riparian rights
1
existing prior to 1917. Abbott, 103 Wn.2d at 692. These rights existing before 1917 can still be
condemned under eminent domain. See Former RCW 90. 03. 040 ( 1917); Lummi Indian Nation v.
State, 170 Wa.2d 247, 253, 241 P. 3d 1220 ( 2010). The State abolished all preexisting but
unused riparian rights in 1932. Abbott, 103 Wn.2d at 695 -96.
Where riparian rights still exist, the riparian owner has the right "( 1) to have the stream
flow past his property in its natural condition ... ( generally speaking, the owner above cannot
divert or pollute the stream and the owner below cannot raise the level of the water by dams or
9
No. 43825- 9- 11
other obstructions); ( 2) to such use of the water as it flows past his land as he can make without
the common right of other riparian owners; ( 3) to whatever the water
materially interfering with
produces, such as ice." DeRuwe v. Morrison, 28 Wn.2d 797, 805, 184 P. 2d 273 ( 1947). A
riparian owner may not divert water in a natural watercourse without facing liability for damages
caused to other riparian owners. See Fitzpatrick v. Okanogan County, 169 Wn.2d 598, 608, 238
P. 3d 1129 ( 2010). Riparian owners have a right to not have their water levels raised or lowered.
DeRuwe, 28 Wn.2d at 808.
Rights to water use can be condemned by eminent domain. Former RCW 90.03. 040;
Lummi Indian Nation, 170 Wn.2d at 253. However, where one has a right to use water, one still
may not overflow the river and flood parcels without compensation. See RCW 90. 03. 030
person with right to use river water may not increase water in river above ordinary high - ater
w
mark); see also Thompson v. Dep' t ofEcology, 136 Wn. App. 580, 586, 150 P. 3d 1144 (2007)
mark "` represent[ s] the point at which the water prevents the growth of
ordinary high -
water
3).. •
terrestrial vegetation.. "'
II. RES JUDICATA
Whether res judicata bars a party from pursuing an action is a matter of law reviewed de
novo. Martin v. Wilbert, 162 Wn. App. 90, 94, 253 P. 3d 108 ( 2011). Res judicata' s purpose is
to prevent parties from relitigating claims. Loveridge v. Fred Meyer, Inc., 125 Wn.2d 759, 763,
887 P. 2d 898 ( 1995). Res judicata bars the relitigation of claims that were litigated to a final
3
Quoting Frank E. Maloney, The Ordinary High Water Mark: Attempts at Settling an Unsettled
Boundary Line, 13 LAND & WATER L. REV. 465, 470 ( 1978).
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No. 43825- 9- 11
judgment or could have been litigated to a final judgment in a prior action. Loveridge, 125
Wn.2d at 763; Hisle v. Todd Pac. Shipyards Corp., 151 Wn.2d 853, 865, 93 P. 3d 108 ( 2004).
However, when considering whether res judicata precludes a party from litigating a claim, we are
careful to not "' deny the litigant his or her day in court.'" Hisle, 151 Wn.2d at 865 ( quoting
Schoeman v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 106 Wn.2d 855, 860, 726 P. 2d 1 ( 1986)). Res judicata applies
not just to those claims that a prior case' s final judgment actually resolved, but also to claims that
were not resolved but that reasonably diligent parties should have raised in that prior litigation.
Hisle, 151 Wn.2d at 865.
For res judicata to preclude a party from litigating a claim, a prior final judgment must
have a concurrence of identity with that claim in (1) subject matter, (2) cause of action, (3)
persons and parties, and (4) quality of the persons for or against whom the claim is made.
Spokane Research & Def.Fund v. City ofSpokane, 155 Wn.2d 89, 99, 117 P. 3d 1117 ( 2005);
Loveridge, 125 Wn.2d at 763. The party asserting res judicata, in this case Tacoma, bears the
burden of proof. Hisle, 151. Wn.2d at 865...
Regarding the second element of this four -part res judicata test, to determine whether two
causes of action are the same, we consider whether "( 1) prosecution of the later action would
impair the rights established in the earlier action, (2) the evidence in both actions is substantially
the same, ( 3) infringement of the same right is alleged in both actions, and ( 4) the actions arise
out of the same nucleus of facts." Civil Service Comm' n v. City ofKelso, 137 Wn.2d 166, 171,
969 P. 2d 474 ( 1999).
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No. 43825 -9 -11
M. APPLICATION OF RES JUDICATA IN THE CONTEXT OF RIPARIAN RIGHTS
Tacoma argues that Funk' s final judgment bars the Richerts' claims as res judicata. We
disagree, because Tacoma has failed to prove that Funk' s final judgment shares a concurrence of
identity with the Richerts' claims or that reasonably diligent parties should have thought to
petition the Funk court to resolve the Richerts' claims in Funk' s final judgment.4
A. Funk' s Final Judgment and the Richerts' Claims
Tacoma argues that the Richerts' claims are precluded by res judicata, because these
claims share a concurrence of identity with Funk' s final judgment. We disagree.
In Funk, Tacoma condemned the right to take away the use of the Type Two parcels'
water, but it did not condemn the right to invade the Richerts' parcels with water. This is
evidenced by Tacoma' s petition for condemnation in Funk.
Although the decrees constitute Funk' s final judgment, Tacoma' s petition reveals the
scope of Funk' s subject matter (i.e., the scope of what rights Tacoma was condemning) and its
cause of action (i.e., the scope of what Tacoma was asking the court to decide). Thus, Tacoma' s
petition helps explain the scope of the action below, which allows this court to compare Funk
with the Richerts' claims to determine if they share a concurrence of identity of subject matter or
cause of action.
4 Tacoma argues on policy grounds that if we do not hold that res judicata precludes the
Richerts' claims, every dam will, in the future, face potential lawsuits from plaintiffs whose
property rights were previously condemned. But Tacoma' s policy argument does not overcome.
long standing res judicata law.
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No. 43825- 9- 11
Tacoma' s petition in Funk requested condemnation of the Type Two parcels because " the
volume of water in said river below said dam will be diminished." CP at 1382. This shows that
Tacoma sought only the right to deprive the Type Two parcels below the dam of their use of the
main stem' s water, not the right to overwhelm the Type Two parcels with the main stem' s water.
Thus,. Funk' s decrees condemned only the right to the Richerts' parcels' use of the main stem' s
water that Tacoma actually requested in Funk.
The Richerts make claims for ( 1) violation of riparian rights; ( 2) failure to provide a
proper outflow for channeled surface waters, ( 3) violation of RCW 4.24. 630 ( liability for damage
to land and property), ( 4) trespass, ( 5) nuisance, ( 6) negligence, ( 7) inverse condemnation by
flooding,, and ( 8) inverse condemnation by groundwater. More important than the names of the
Richerts' claims is what they concern. All of the Richerts' claims concern the recent flooding
and a rise in the groundwater table on the Richerts' parcels, allegedly caused by Tacoma' s
release of too much water into the main stem.5
1. Concurrence. ofIdentity with Subject Matter
Regarding the first element of res judicata' s test, concurrence of identity of subject
matter, the Richerts' alleged invasion of water onto their parcels does not have the same subject
matter with the claims litigated to a final judgment in Funk. This is because Funk' s final
judgment dealt with only deprivation of the parcels' water use, rather than flood or groundwater
5 Tacoma argues that Funk precludes the Richerts' claims as res judicata because some, but not
all, of the Richerts' predecessors in interest filed various individual motions in Funk stating
broad requests for any and all damages that Tacoma' s darns would cause. But the final judgment
controls, and random filings from various predecessors in interest cannot illuminate the scope of
those decrees.
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No. 43825 -9 -II
damage to the parcels themselves. 6 See RCW 90. 03. 030; see. also Austin v. City ofBellingham,
69 Wash. 677, 679, 126 P. 59 ( 1912).
2. Concurrence ofIdentity with Cause ofAction
Regarding the second element, concurrence of identity with cause of action, Tacoma has
failed to meet its burden of proving that the Richerts' claims constitute the same cause of action
as Funk. This is because in Funk, Tacoma condemned only the right to deprive the parcel
owners of their ability to use water, as revealed by Tacoma' s petition. The Richerts now claim
that their parcels are being damaged by floods and high water tables, with some land taken in its
entirety. Thus Funk' s final judgment and this case do not ( 1) impair the same rights (right to
water use vs. right to land use), ( 2) deal with the same evidence. (loss of water use vs. flooding,
groundwater tables, and aggradation), ( 3) allege an infringement of the same rights ( right to use
water vs. right to use land), or (4) arise out of the same nucleus of facts as the prior action
deprivation of water use vs. deprivation of land use). 7
6 Tacoma argues that the Richerts concede that they limited their claims to riparian rights
violations, citing CP at 4018 -19, 4023; Br. of Appellant at 20. However the cited pages in the
record contain no such concession.
7 Even beyond this, Funk' s final judgment was limited to condemnation, and the Richerts make a
series of claims that have nothing to do with condemnation: ( 1) failure to provide a proper
outflow for channeled surface waters, ( 2) violation of RCW 4.24. 630 ( liability for damage to
land and property), ( 3) trespass, ( 4) nuisance, and ( 5) negligence. Thus, these five claims, on
their face, do not constitute the same " cause of action" as litigated in Funk. This is because none
of these causes of action were considered by the Funk court, as Funk was limited to the cause of
action of condemnation.
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No. 43825 -9 -11
Tacoma has failed to prove that the Richerts' claims for invasion of water share a
concurrence of identity with Funk' s final judgment in terms of subject matter or cause of action.
See Loveridge, 125 Wn.2d at 763. For res judicata to preclude the Richerts' claims, Tacoma
must prove that the Richerts' claims meet all four elements of res judicata: Because Tacoma
cannot prove that the Richerts' claims for invasion of water share a concurrence of identity with
Funk' s final judgment in terms of subject matter or cause of action, Tacoma cannot prove either
of the first two elements of res judicata. See Loveridge, 125 Wn.2d at 763. Thus, we need not
consider elements three and four of res judicata.8
B. The Claims that Reasonably Diligent Parties Should Have Raised in Funk.
Tacoma argues that the Richerts' claims are precluded by res judicata, even if they were
not raised in Funk, because reasonable parties should have raised them in Funk. We disagree.
Res judicata applies to claims that were not resolved in a prior litigation' s final judgment,
where reasonably diligent parties should have raised those unresolved claims in the prior
litigation. Hisle, 151 Wn.2d at 865- 66.. However, in this case, the Funk litigants could not have
reasonably brought the Richerts' claims at the time of Funk for three reasons.
First, the Richerts based their claims on alleged aggradation that occurred. over the past
eight decades, which reduced the amount of water that the main stem could handle. The Funk
litigants could not have reasonably predicted such aggradation over eight decades and, thus,
8 As a part of its res judicata argument, Tacoma argues that because it acquired the Richerts'
riparian rights in Funk, that this gave Tacoma the right to raise the water level up to its natural
flow, even if it flows over the Richerts' parcels. We disagree, because as discussed above,
Tacoma condemned only the Richerts' parcels' use of water, not the right to cause flood or
groundwater damage to their land. See RCW 90. 03. 030; see also Austin, 69 Wash. at 679.
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No. 43825 -9 -II
reasonable litigants could not have predicted such a phenomenon would combine with the dams
to cause water to overflow and damage the Richerts' parcels.
Second, the dams' increased water flow resulted from requirements imposed on Tacoma
by FERC litigation for the purpose of water quality and environmental protection, starting in
1988. No reasonable litigant in the 1920' s could have predicted the rise of modern
environmental protection, nor could a reasonable party have predicted that starting in 1988, a
federal agency would require Tacoma to increase the water flow through its dams for water
quality and preservation of fish and the environment.
Third, Tacoma explicitly stated in its Funk petition that it needed to condemn the Funk
litigant' s riparian rights because " the volume of water in said river below said dam will be
diminished." . CP at 1382. Thus, Tacoma' s petition put the parties on notice only that their
parcels would lose the ability to use the river' s water, not that their parcels would suffer flood
and groundwater damage from an overabundance of water. For these reasons, the Funk litigants
could not have reasonably .
predicted that Tacoma would overwhelm the main stem with water
and cause water damage to their parcels eight decades after Funk. We hold that Tacoma has
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No. 43825- 9- 11
failed to prove that Funk bars the Richerts' claims as res judicata.9 See Loveridge, 125 Wn.2d at
763.
Affirmed.
9 The Richerts argue that Tacoma should be estopped from arguing that the Funk litigants could
have predicted aggradation because Tacoma argued the opposite in an unpublished case. See
Indemnity Ins. Co. of N. Am. v. City ofTacoma, noted at158 Wn. App. 1022, 2010 WL 4290648,
at * 3 - * 4 ( 2010). We do not address this issue because the superior court did not resolve this
issue in its final judgment and, thus, the issue is outside the scope of this appeal of that final
judgment. -
Tacoma argues alternatively that even if res judicata did not preclude the Richerts'
claims, Tacoma has no duty to maintain its dams' artificial diversion of water away from the
main stem and, thus, it cannot face liability for merely decreasing the amount of water that its
dams divert away from the main stem. We do not address this issue because it concerns
Tacoma' s general duty,to maintain its artificial diversion of water from the main stem. This does
not relate to the effect of Funk on the Richerts' claims, and is thus outside this appeal' s limited
scope.
Finally, we do not decide all " issues with regard to Tacoma v. Funk" as requested by the
superior court' s final judgment, because that would constitute an impermissible advisory
opinion. CP at 63- 64; see To -Ro Trade Shows v. Collins, 144 Wn.2d 403, 416 -17, 27 P. 3d 11492001).
17