Brian Rundquist v. Micheal E. Fox ( 2017 )

Filed
Washington State
Court of Appeals
Division Two
August 29, 2017
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION II
BRIAN RUNDQUIST, No. 49993-2-II
Appellant,
v.
MICHAEL E. FOX and JANE DOE FOX, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
husband and wife, and the marital community
composed thereof,
Respondents,
FISCHER TRUCKING, LLC, a Washington
State limited liability corporation; FISCHER
TRUCKING, INC., a State of Georgia
Corporation,
Defendants.
JOHANSON, J. — Brian Rundquist appeals the summary dismissal on statute of limitations
grounds of his personal injury lawsuit against Michael Fox. Rundquist filed a lawsuit against Fox
and his alleged employer, Fischer Trucking Inc., shortly before expiration of the statute of
limitations. Rundquist served a Washington entity called Fischer Trucking within 90 days after
filing as required, but did not serve Fox within that period. The superior court dismissed
Rundquist’s claims as to Fox, concluding that the Fischer Trucking entity served was not a proper
defendant and therefore that service on that entity did not toll the statute of limitations as to Fox.
No. 49993-2-II
We reverse the superior court’s order summarily dismissing Rundquist’s claims against
Fox because Fox failed to show the absence of a genuine dispute as to whether the Fischer
Trucking entity served was a proper defendant.
FACTS
On September 4, 2012, Rundquist and Fox were involved in a motor vehicle collision. Just
under three years later, on September 2, 2015, Rundquist filed a lawsuit seeking damages
stemming from the accident. The lawsuit named as defendants Fox and “Fischer Trucking, Inc., a
Washington State limited liability company,” (Washington Fischer Trucking) that Rundquist
alleged to be Fox’s employer. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 1. On October 19, Rundquist served
Washington Fischer Trucking at its place of business in Snohomish County.
On December 3, Rundquist amended his complaint to add Fischer Trucking Inc., a Georgia
corporation, (Georgia Fischer Trucking) as a defendant. The amended complaint alleged that
Georgia Fischer Trucking was Fox’s employer.1
On February 22, 2016, Rundquist attempted to serve Fox by mail and by serving the
Washington Secretary of State in accordance with the nonresident motorist statute, RCW
46.64.040. On May 10, Fox filed an answer to the amended complaint wherein he denied the
paragraph alleging that the Fischer Trucking named by Rundquist was Fox’s employer.
1
This amended complaint kept the Washington Fischer Trucking entity in the caption but removed
the reference to it in the “parties” subsection of the complaint and replaced it with the Georgia
Fischer Trucking corporation. However, this was allegedly the result of a mistake, which
Rundquist corrected by filing a second amended complaint on June 10, 2016, clearly naming both
Washington Fischer Trucking and Georgia Fischer Trucking as co-defendants. The superior court
ruled that the second amended complaint related back to the date of the original complaint.
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No. 49993-2-II
On May 19, Fox filed a motion to dismiss under CR 12(b)(6) arguing, in relevant part, that
Rundquist’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations. Fox alleged that Rundquist had failed
to serve any proper defendant prior to the three-year statute of limitations expiring or within the
90-day tolling period after filing his complaint because Fox’s employer was Fischer Trucking Inc.,
an Indiana corporation, (Indiana Fischer Trucking), which had never been named in the lawsuit or
served. Notably, Fox’s argument that Indiana Fischer Trucking is Fox’s employer is unsupported
by any evidence in the record.
In response, Rundquist argued that because Washington Fischer Trucking was properly
served within the tolling period, the motion to dismiss should be denied. Rundquist attached a
declaration of Jonathan Lee—Rundquist’s attorney—and four exhibits to his response to the
motion to dismiss. Lee’s declaration explained that after the motor vehicle accident, he learned
that Fox’s employer was “Fischer Trucking Inc.” and assumed that Fischer Trucking must be the
Fischer Trucking LLC doing business in Snohomish County because the accident occurred in
Washington. The attached exhibits included the police traffic collision report, Rundquist’s original
complaint, a copy of the declaration of personal service on Washington Fischer Trucking, and a
copy of the receipt of service with the Secretary of State on Fox. Fox did not file a responding
declaration.
The superior court granted Fox’s motion to dismiss Rundquist’s claims against Fox, stating
in relevant part that “the Court does not agree that serving the wrong defendant makes the case
viable.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 18. Rundquist appeals.
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No. 49993-2-II
ANALYSIS
Rundquist argues that the superior court erred by dismissing his claims against Fox on the
basis that he had failed to serve a proper defendant before the statute of limitations had run. Fox
contends that because Washington Fischer Trucking was not Fox’s employer it was an improper
party, and thus service on it did not toll the statute of limitations. We hold that Fox failed to prove
the absence of a genuine dispute that Washington Fischer Trucking was not Fox’s employer and
therefore was an improper party. Accordingly, we reverse the superior court’s order dismissing
Rundquist’s claims against Fox.
I. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS AND TOLLING
The three-year statute of limitations for Rundquist’s personal injury claims would have
expired on September 4, 2015. However, under RCW 4.16.170, the statute of limitations was
tolled for 90 days to allow service on one or more of the properly named defendants once
Rundquist filed his complaint. When service of process is achieved against one properly named
defendant, the statute of limitations is tolled as to all unserved defendants. Sidis v.
Brodie/Dohrmann, Inc., 117 Wn.2d 325, 327, 815 P.2d 781 (1991). Although the tolling statute
provides some protection to plaintiffs in multi-defendant actions from the harsh effects of the
statute of limitations, the tolling statute does not allow plaintiffs to circumvent the statute of
limitations by naming and serving an improper defendant. Teller v. APM Terminals Pacific, Ltd.,
134 Wn. App. 696, 715, 142 P.3d 179 (2006) (holding that APM did not effectively toll the statute
of limitations by serving five defendants who were not Teller’s employer and thus not proper
parties to the lawsuit).
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No. 49993-2-II
If a proper defendant is not served during the 90-day tolling period, the action shall be
deemed to not have been commenced. RCW 4.16.170; see also O’Neill v. Farmers Ins. Co. of
Wash., 124 Wn. App. 516, 523, 125 P.3d 134 (2004).
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
As an initial matter, the parties disagree as to the proper standard of review in this case.
Rundquist contends that we should apply de novo review of the dismissal under CR 12(b)(6) and
must presume that all the allegations in his complaint are true. Fox argues that the motion to
dismiss was actually a converted summary judgment motion and should be disposed of as provided
in CR 56. Because the superior court considered matters outside the pleadings in ruling on the
motion, we agree with Fox and review the superior court’s decision as a decision on a motion for
summary judgment.
If a party brings a motion to dismiss under CR 12(b)(6), but “matters outside the pleading
are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary
judgment and disposed of as provided in [CR] 56.” CR 12(b)(7). Summary judgment is
appropriate if there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(c). We review a superior court’s decision on summary
judgment de novo. Didlake v. State, 186 Wn. App. 417, 422, 345 P.3d 43, review denied, 184
Wn.2d 1009 (2015).
Here, the superior court considered facts beyond those stated in the pleadings. Specifically,
the superior court considered the declaration of Lee that included exhibits of (1) the accident police
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No. 49993-2-II
report, (2) Rundquist’s original complaint, (3) a declaration of service on Fischer Trucking LLC,
and (4) a receipt of service with the Washington Secretary of State. Therefore, because a motion
to dismiss for failure to state a claim is treated as a motion for summary judgment when matters
outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the court, we treat the superior court’s
dismissal of Rundquist’s lawsuit against Fox as a decision on a motion for summary judgment.
Sea-Pac Co. v. United Food & Commercial Workers Local Union 44, 103 Wn.2d 800, 802, 699
P.2d 217 (1985).
When reviewing an order granting summary judgment, we engage in the same inquiry as
the superior court. Teller, 134 Wn. App. at 704. We will affirm an order granting summary
judgment if there are no genuine issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment
as a matter of law. CR 56(c). On summary judgment, the moving party has the initial burden to
show that there is no genuine issue of material fact. Lee v. Metro Parks Tacoma, 183 Wn. App.
961, 964, 335 P.3d 1014 (2014). A moving defendant can meet this burden by showing that there
is an absence of evidence to support the plaintiff’s case. Lee, 183 Wn. App. at 964. Once the
moving party has made such a showing, the burden shifts to the nonmoving party to set forth
specific facts that rebut the moving party’s contentions and show a genuine issue of material fact
exists. Elcon Constr., Inc. v. E. Wash. Univ., 174 Wn.2d 157, 169, 273 P.3d 965 (2012).
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No. 49993-2-II
III. MATERIAL ISSUE OF FACT
Fox contends that the superior court’s order was appropriate because “there was obviously
no admissible evidence . . . that Fox was employed by the limited liability company Rundquist
mistakenly identified in his complaint.”2 Br. of Resp’t at 12. Fox’s contention fails.
As the moving defendant, Fox carried the initial burden to prove the absence of a genuine
issue of material fact. Fox claimed that the Indiana Trucking Company was the correct entity to
be served and because there is no evidence that the entity was served, Fox was entitled to judgment
as a matter of law. See CR 56(c); Michael v. Mosquera-Lacy, 165 Wn.2d 595, 601, 200 P.3d 695(2009).
The burden of proof then shifted to Rundquist, the nonmoving party. Rundquist’s
complaint alleged that the Washington entity was Fox’s employer. And Rundquist supported his
claim with Lee’s declaration explaining that after the accident, Lee learned from Fox’s insurer that
Fox’s employer was Fisher Trucking Inc. and that he assumed that Fischer Trucking must be
Fischer Trucking LLC doing business in Snohomish County because the accident occurred in
Washington. This constitutes some evidence to support Rundquist’s claim that he properly served
the Washington entity as Fox’s employer. Thus, Rundquist created a genuine dispute of material
fact.
2
Fox also contends that Rundquist’s service on Washington Fischer Trucking was invalid because
the original complaint improperly named the entity as “Fischer Trucking, Inc., a Washington State
limited liability company,” in the caption rather than Fischer Trucking LLC. Br. of Resp’t at 13.
However, this issue is moot because Rundquist’s second amended complaint, which related back
to the date of the original complaint, rectified the error and properly noted Washington Fischer
Trucking as “Fischer Trucking LLC.” Fox does not cross appeal the order granting Rundquist’s
motion to file the second amended complaint.
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No. 49993-2-II
Fox presented no admissible evidence that Washington Fischer Trucking was not his
employer and thus not a proper party to the lawsuit. Fox’s counsel merely argued during the
hearing on his motion to dismiss that both parties knew and agreed that the Washington entity was
not Fox’s employer. But facts presented only in counsel’s statements must be disregarded. See
Bravo v. Dolsen Cos., 71 Wn. App. 769, 777, 862 P.2d 623 (1993), rev’d on other grounds, 125
Wn.2d 745, 888 P.2d 147 (1995).
Because Fox failed to show an absence of a genuine dispute as to a material fact, Fox was
not entitled to summary judgment. Consequently, we reverse the trial court’s dismissal and
remand for further proceedings.
IV. IMPROPER SERVICE ISSUE
Rundquist also argues that the superior court erroneously based its decision to dismiss on
a conclusion that Fox was served via mail when Rundquist actually served Fox via the Washington
Secretary of State. However, the record shows that neither Fox’s motion to dismiss nor the
superior court’s decision to dismiss were based on the manner in which Fox was served. Rather,
the focus of both Fox’s motion and the superior court’s decision was the timing of that service and
the allegation that no proper defendant was served within the 90-day tolling period.
Moreover, the record shows that Rundquist complied with the nonresident motorist statute,
RCW 46.64.040,3 when he served Fox. Thus, the manner of service on Fox would not be an
appropriate ground for dismissal.
3
RCW 46.64.040 requires service of two copies of the summons on the secretary of state and
mailing of notice of such service, together with other statutorily required documents, to the
defendant’s last known address.
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No. 49993-2-II
We reverse the superior court’s order summarily dismissing Rundquist’s claims against
Fox.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,
it is so ordered.
JOHANSON, J.
We concur:
MAXA, A.C.J.
LEE, J.
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