Cindy Alexander, Appellants/cross-resp. v. Gary Sanford, Respondents/cross-app.

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
CINDY ALEXANDER; BLOCKER
VENTURES, LLC; CHRIS CLARK; DIVISION ONE
R. BRUCE EDGINGTON; KIPP
JOHNSON and JENNIFER JOHNSON, No. 69637-8-
husband and wife; GOPIKRISHNA
KANURI and HIMABINDU KANURI,
husband and wife; CHRIS KASPRZAK
and ELIZABETH KASPRZAK, husband
and wife; PAUL LARKINS and JOYCE
HYOJUNG LARKINS, husband and PUBLISHED OPINION
wife; KRISTINE MAGNUSSEN; SCOTT
McKILLOP; CAINE OTT and DANA
OTT, husband and wife; MARA
PATTON; PETER RICHARDS; DANTE
SCHULTZ; WINIFRED D. SMITH;
ROBERT STODDARD and COLETTE
STODDARD, husband and wife; NEIL
WEST; LIANG XU and JIA LU DUAN,
. o
husband and wife,
ro
Appellants/Cross Respondents, CO ,T
V?
ro
GARY SANFORD and JANE DOE
SANFORD, and their marital
community; PAUL BURCKHARD and
MURIEL BURCKHARD, and their
marital community; JAMES SANSBURN
and JANE DOE SANSBURN, and their
marital community; LOZIER HOMES
CORPORATION, a Washington
corporation;
Respondents/Cross Appellants,
RICHARD PETER and JANE DOE
PETER, and their marital community;
SHANA HOLLEY and RICHARD
HOLLEY, and their marital community;
BRETT BACKUES and JANE DOE
BACKUES, and their marital community;
JOSEPH CUSIMANO and JANE DOE
No. 69637-8-1/2
CUSIMANO, and their marital
community; PATRICIA HOVDA and
JOHN DOE HOVDA, and their marital
community; ALEXANDER W. PHILIP
and NATALIA T. PHILIP, and their
marital community,
Respondents,
JASON FARNSWORTH and JANE
DOE FARNSWORTH, and their marital
community; HUCKLEBERRY CIRCLE,
LLC, a Washington limited liability
company; DIANE GLENN and JOHN
DOE GLENN, and their marital
community; CONSTRUCTION
CONSULTANTS OF WASHINGTON,
LLC, a Washington limited liability
company,
Defendants. FILED: May 12, 2014
Dwyer, J. — Eighteen condominium owners (collectively Homeowners)
filed suit against Gary Sanford, Paul Burckhard, James Sansburn, Richard Peter,
Shana Holley, Brett Backues, Joseph Cusimano, Jason Farnsworth, Patricia
Hovda, Alexander Philip, Huckleberry Circle, LLC, Lozier Homes Corporation,
Diane Glenn, and Construction Consultants of Washington, LLC1 for breach of
the board member duty of care, negligence, violation of the Consumer Protection
Act2 (CPA), negligent misrepresentation, fraud by omission and
misrepresentation, and civil conspiracy. Pursuant to Civil Rule (CR) 12(b)(6), the
trial court dismissed Homeowners' claims against Respondents as untimely
1Huckleberry Circle, LLC, Farnsworth, Glenn, and Constructions Consultants of
Washington, LLC are not party to this appeal. All ofthe defendants who are party to this appeal
are hereinafter referred to collectively as "Respondents."
2Ch. 19.86 RCW.
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No. 69637-8-1/3
filed.3 Homeowners appealed. Sanford, Burckhard, Sansburn, and Lozier
Homes cross appealed, asserting that the trial court erred by declining to award
attorney fees against Homeowners for filing a frivolous lawsuit.
Contrary to the trial court's ruling, we hold that Washington law does not
provide that a cause of action necessarily accrues against a corporate board
member no later than upon the board member's resignation. We hold, instead,
that the doctrine of adverse domination applies in Washington. The application
of that doctrine to the pleadings in this case demonstrates that several of
Homeowners' claims should not have been dismissed on the face of the
complaint as untimely filed. However, given that we also hold both that directors
of a homeowners' association do not owe fiduciary-like duties to future
purchasers and that Homeowners failed to plead all of the elements of a CPA
claim, various of Homeowners claims were properly dismissed. Accordingly, we
affirm in part and reverse in part.
I
A trial court's ruling on a motion to dismiss under CR 12(b)(6) presents a
question of law, which we review de novo. Cutlery. Phillips Petroleum Co., 124
Wn.2d 749, 755, 881 P.2d 216 (1994). A CR 12(b)(6) motion questions only the
legal sufficiency of the allegations in a pleading, asking whether there is an
insuperable bar to relief. Contreras v. Crown Zellerbach Corp., 88 Wn.2d 735,
3Glenn and Construction Consultants filed similar motions, butthe trial court declined to
dismiss the claims against them. Homeowners' claims against Glenn and Construction
Consultants were dismissed without prejudice upon stipulation ofthe parties on November 26,
2012.
No. 69637-8-1/4
742, 565 P.2d 1173 (1977). The purpose of CR 12(b)(6) is to weed out
complaints where, even if that which the plaintiff alleges is true, the law does not
provide a remedy. McCurrv v. Chew Chase Bank. FSB. 169 Wn.2d 96, 101, 233
P.3d861 (2010).
Under CR 12(b)(6), dismissal is appropriate only if "it appears
beyond doubt that the plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts which
would justify recovery." fTenore v. AT&T Wireless Servs.. 136
Wn.2d 322, 330, 962 P.2d 104 (1998)]. In undertaking such an
analysis, "a plaintiff's allegations are presumed to be true and a
court may consider hypothetical facts not included in the record." Id.Burton v. Lehman. 153 Wn.2d 416, 422, 103P.3d 1230(2005).
II
Homeowners all own residential units at Huckleberry Circle condominium
complex in Issaquah.4 The declarant of the complex is Huckleberry Circle, LLC
(Declarant). The Declarant's sole member is Lozier Homes Corporation (Lozier
Homes). All unit owners in the complex are members of the Huckleberry Circle
Condominium Owners Association (Association), which is governed by a three
voting-member board of directors. The Association was created on June 29,
2000.
The Association's first board consisted of Sanford, Burckhard, and
Sansburn. In their complaint, Homeowners allege that at the time of
development, Declarant, Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn were
aware, or should have been aware, that the complex "was not being designed or
4 The substantive facts set forth herein are as presented in Homeowners' complaint,
consistent with the CR 12(b)(6) standard of review. Burton, 153 Wn.2d at 422.
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No. 69637-8-1/5
constructed in a manner consistent with minimum requirements of building code
[sic] with respect to weatherproofing." Homeowners further allege that
insufficient weatherproofing was a pervasive problem throughout this region, and
that Declarant, Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn were aware of
this fact at that time.
Declarant, Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn prepared a
limited warranty, developed a "maintenance program," and hired a "licensed
inspector" for the complex. Homeowners allege that the purpose of these actions
"was to give the appearance of due diligent inspection of the construction quality
of the building envelope, while not in fact undertaking an intrusive investigation of
building components which would have revealed water intrusion." Declarant,
Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn retained Glenn, d/b/a The
Construction Consultants, as the complex's inspector. Glenn was not a licensed
inspector but, rather, was a political activist for the building industry.
Homeowners further allege that, in order to protect themselves from
liability, Declarant, Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn included
provisions in the project declaration that allowed Declarant to appoint a fourth
nonvoting member to the board and that limited "the power ofthe Association's
Board and the Association to engage in litigation against the Declarant for
violation of the implied warranties of quality under the Washington Condominium
Act."
Burckhard resigned from the board on May 15, 2001, at which time he
was replaced by Holley. Between May and November 2001, Glenn performed
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No. 69637-8-1/6
multiple nonintrusive inspections of the complex, which revealed only minor
repair issues. On May 9, 2002, Sansburn and Holley resigned from the board,
and the Association elected Backues, Cusimano, and Peter in their place. On
that same date, Declarant exercised its right to add a nonvoting member to the
board. Declarant appointed Sanford to this position.5 Homeowners allege that
"Sanford's role on the Board was to monitor its efforts to evaluate the
construction quality of the Project, and dissuade the Board from prosecuting the
Association's warranty rights."
On August 13, 2002, the board hired Glenn to perform another inspection
of the complex. Homeowners allege that "Sanford did not advise the Board that
Glenn had no experience in helping condominium associations identify
concealed defects and damage." Glenn's inspection again did not find any
serious issues or defects.
In March 2003, Ken Harer, a construction defect attorney and architect,
contacted the board in order to inform it that the complex showed signs of
potentially serious hidden construction defects and that the statutory limitation
period on any warranty claims would soon expire. Peter met with Harer, who
explained his concerns. Shortly thereafter, Peter e-mailed Backues and
Cusimano regarding the meeting and expressed concern that he might have a
conflict of interest because he was employed by an affiliate of Lozier Homes. The
board took no action based on Harer's advice.
5The complaint lists only Sansburn as resigning from the board on May 9. However, it
asserts that Backues, Cusimano, and Peter were elected at this time as the new three-member
board, with Sanford assuming the fourth, nonvoting, position.
-6-
No. 69637-8-1/7
Peter notified the board in April 2003 that he intended to resign, but the
board instead had him switch terms with another member so that someone could
be elected to replace him in May. Also that April, the board received its first
complaint of water leaking through a window in one of the units. None of this
information appeared in any of the board's minutes. Homeowners allege that
"the decision to omit these facts from the minutes was part of a deliberate effort
on the part of Defendant Peter and/or the other Board members to conceal
material information from unit owners."
Peter resigned from the board on May 29, 2003, and Farnsworth was
elected to replace him. On August 20, 2003, the property manager contacted
contractor Mark Jobe regarding bids for deck maintenance and deck drainage
issues. Jobe stated:
Yes, that is a project I am familiar with. There appears to be a
serious problem with deck slope. Ponded water is present under
the sleeper. Also while I was there I noted the flashing above the
brick veneer has been caulked closed. Closed flashing is a serious
problem that generally leads to big issues. Also it is often used to
mask other problems. This should be looked into. Would be glad to
assist.
The board took no action upon receiving Jobe's warnings.
On September 22, 2003, the board received its second complaint of water
leaking into a unit. On October 17, 2003, the board met to consider hiring a
structural engineer to inspect the decks at the complex; however, no further
action to hire an engineer was taken. The board thereafter received a third
complaint about water leaking into a unit. Following the receipt of this complaint,
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No. 69637-8-1/8
"Sanford volunteered Lozier and the Declarant" to perform deck inspections. On
January 18, 2004, Backues resigned from the board.
In March 2004, a unit owner complained directly to Lozier Homes of a leak
in the owner's unit. Sanford, who was still the board's nonvoting member, wrote
a letter to the property manager, blaming the leak on "gaps in caulking in the
siding and wood trim around the decks . . . and clogged weepholes in window
frames." Sanford wrote a second letter to the property manager in April, alleging
that the same conditions had caused a leak in another unit. Homeowners allege
that Sanford wrote these letters in order to discourage prosecution of a warranty
claim.
In June 2004, Glenn performed another exterior visual inspection at the
complex. Homeowners allege that this inspection "was not reasonably calculated
to determine the actual source of water leaks." Glenn recommended
maintenance in the form of caulking and painting, but again found no major
problems. Glenn performed another similar inspection in November 2004, and
again recommended caulking and painting.
On November 6, 2004, the statutory limitation period applicable to a claim
for breach of implied warranties on common elements under the Washington
Condominium Act6 (WCA) expired.
By March 21, 2005, Farnsworth had resigned from the board. The new
board at that time consisted of Cusimano, Philip, and Hovda, with Sanford
remaining as the nonvoting member. In August 2005, the board again hired
6 Ch. 64.34 RCW.
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No. 69637-8-1/9
Glenn to perform an inspection of the property and again she found no serious
defects at the complex. Meanwhile, the board continued to receive multiple
complaints from unit owners about leaks through windows, decks, and doors.
Nonetheless, Homeowners allege, the board "did not reveal the scope of the
problem to the ownership at large, and consistently failed to take systematic
action to address the defects." Efforts to reseal and caulk windows and doors
were represented as "preventative measures," instead of responses to the
complained-of leaks. Philip and "[t]he other Board members cooperated or
agreed that the scope of the problem should be concealed, so as to retain
property values" and, thereafter, the board "continued to actively conceal the
scope of the complaints and the level of their concerns about the potential water
intrusion problem."
By March 24, 2006, Sanford resigned from the board. On June 27, 2006,
Cusimano announced his resignation from the board. On July 20, 2006, Philip
resigned from the board.
In July 2008, the board finally approved an intrusive inspection of the
building envelope. However, the board told the unit owners that the purpose of
the inspection was "to provide your association with a preliminary assessment
and a list of priorities pertaining to future building maintenance and repair
issues." In October 2008, Peter7 sent an e-mail to the board requesting that the
7While it is unclear from the complaint when Peter rejoined the board, Homeowners
stipulated that "no conduct during his later term as member ofthe Association's Board of
Directors was a cause of any additional injury to Plaintiffs for which Plaintiffs seek to recover in
this matter."
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No. 69637-8-1/10
board decline to be informed of the results of the inspection until a later time,
because "findings would impair the marketability of units." The board agreed.
The board did not receive the results of the inspection until March 2009.
The inspection performed by Improcon and Grace Architects revealed that
"every major component of the building envelope is suffering from
poor or deficient construction and waterproofing detailing
throughout, resulting in varying degrees of failure around the
property ... the pace of this intrusion and related damage will
continue to accelerate until comprehensive and proper repairs are
made to the building envelope."
(Alteration in original.) The board did not share the results of the inspection with
the unit owners.
Homeowners allege that "[a]t an October 27, 2009 HOA meeting,
homeowners presented questions about the details of water intrusion repairs.
The Board replied that the answers were not known, and individuals with specific
complaints were directed to the Project property manager." In January 2010, the
board hired J2 Engineers to create a repair plan for the defects revealed by the
inspection. On March 3, 2011, the board received a partial estimate for the cost
of repair which totaled approximately $2.4 million. At a homeowners meeting on
April 24, 2011, the board declared a budget that included a special assessment
for the cost of repair. That May, the Association imposed a special assessment
on the unit owners in excess of $2.5 million to fund the repairs.
10-
No. 69637-8-1/11
In September 2011, Homeowners filed suit against all of the prior board
members,8 Declarant, Lozier Homes, Glenn, and Construction Consultants. In
response, Cusimano, Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn filed CR
12(b)(6) motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim, asserting that
Homeowners' complaint had been filed long after the statutory limitation period
had run on all claims.
The trial court ruled that the statutory limitation period applicable to
Homeowners' claims was three years and that "the statute of limitation for actions
against the named defendants began to run at the time he or she resigned from
the Board." Additionally, the trial court stated that it "need not reach the issue of
whether the plaintiffs knew or should have known of the construction issues as to
these defendants," because the defendants, once they left the board, "were not
and could not have been engaged ... in any continuing fraud or omission." The
trial court therefore granted Cusimano's, Lozier Homes's, Sanford's, Burckhard's,
and Sansburn's motions to dismiss.
Lozier Homes, Sanford, Sansburn, and Burckhard thereafter moved for an
award of attorney fees, asserting that Homeowners' claim against them was
frivolous. In response, counsel for Homeowners submitted extensive
documentation of the research he had conducted prior to drafting the complaint.9
8The complaint also named the spouses ofthe individual board members, alleging that
all acts and omissions committed by the board members had been done on behalf oftheir marital
communities.
9Counsel attached a total of 94 exhibits to his opposition to the request for attorney fees.
-11 -
No. 69637-8-1/12
After considering all of the submitted documentation, the trial court declined to
award fees to Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn.
Homeowners stipulated that all individually named board members had
resigned at some unidentified time before September 2008.10 Thereafter, Peter,
Holley, Backues, Hovda, and Philip also filed CR 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss for
failure to state a claim.11 The trial court granted these motions for the same
reason it had granted the prior motions.
Homeowners appeal the trial court's rulings on the motions to dismiss.
Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn cross appeal the trial court's
order denying their claim for an award of attorney fees.
Ill
Respondents contend that the trial court's dismissal of Homeowners' claim
was proper because Homeowners lacked standing to file suit. This is so,
Respondents assert, because the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act12 does
not permit derivative actions. Because the claims asserted herein were not
derivative claims, this contention fails.
10 As alleged in the complaint, the terms served bythe board members are as follows:
Sanford - June 29, 2000 to March 24, 2006
Burckhard - June 29, 2000 to May 15, 2001
Sansburn - June 29, 2000 to May 9, 2002
Holley - May 15, 2001 to May 9, 2002
Backues - May 9, 2002 to January 18, 2004
Cusimano - May 9, 2002 to June 27, 2006
Peter - May 9, 2002 to May 29, 2003
Philip - March 21, 2005 to July 20, 2006
Hovda - March 21, 2005 to unknown date before September 2008
11 Huckleberry Circle, LLC and Richard Holley (spouse of Shana Holley) failed to answer
Homeowners' complaint, and the trial courtgranted default judgments against them. Farnsworth
was never served with a copy of the complaint.
12 Ch. 24.03 RCW.
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No. 69637-8-1/13
"Standing is a threshold issue, which we review de novo." In re Estate of
Becker. 177 Wn.2d 242, 246, 298 P.3d 720 (2013). "To have standing, one must
have some protectable interest that has been invaded or is about to be invaded."
Orion Corp. v. State, 103 Wn.2d 441, 455, 693 P.2d 1369 (1985).
Homeowners asserted that they sustained damages to their individual
property.13 In cases alleging property damage, homeowners' associations may
file suit on behalf of unit owners. RCW 64.34.304(1 )(d). However, absent
allegations of damage to the association itself, the homeowners' association
lacks independent standing to sue for physical damage to a unit owner's
property.14 Satomi Owners Ass'n. v. Satomi, LLC, 167 Wn.2d 781, 812, 225
P.3d 213 (2009). In such an instance, it is not the unit owners but the
association whose claims are derivative. Satomi Owners Ass'n. v. Satomi. LLC.
139Wn. App. 175, 180, 159 P.3d 460 (2007V rev'd on other grounds, 167Wn.2d
781, 225 P.3d 213 (2009). Because Homeowners allege damage to their own
13 Homeowners' complaint seeks the following remedies: "Such damages include, but are
not limited to: plaintiffs' proportional responsibility to payfor the cost to correct defective
conditions and repair resulting property damage at the Project (including investigative costs,
scope of repair development costs, design costs, inspection costs, contractor costs, project
management costs, repair financing costs, and all other costs associated with such repairs);
increased costs to correct defective conditions and repair resulting property damage as a
consequence of inaction; loss ofmarketability, use and value ofplaintiffs' property; increased
reserve expenses; relocation costs; and attorney fees and other costs incurred in prosecuting this
action."
14 This is the case even when the alleged damages include the cost of repairs throughout
the condominium complex. In Satomi, the association alleged damages including "'the cost of
repairing the project... and resulting monetary and material harm.'" 167 Wn.2d at 811-12. The
court held that these damages were sustained by the homeowners and not the association itself.
"The only property identified in Blakeley Association's complaint, however, is the condominium
project's units, common elements, and limited common elements, which are owned by the unit
owners, not Blakeley Association. Thus, Blakeley Association has not alleged damage to any
property in which it has a protectable interest." Satomi, 167 Wn.2d at 812 (footnote omitted).
Here, the Association levied an assessment upon the unit owners for the repairs to the building
envelopes. The "cost of repairing the project" is a damage sustained by the unit owners, not the
association itself. Satomi, 167 Wn.2d at 812. Thus, the claims here belong to Homeowners.
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No. 69637-8-1/14
property, they have standing to assert their claims.15
IV
A
Homeowners contend that the discovery rule delayed the accrual of the
causes of action as to all defendants on all claims, regardless of when various
board members resigned from the board.16 We agree, insofar as the issue
should not have been decided adversely to Homeowners as a matter of law on a
CR 12(b)(6) motion.
The discovery rule is an exception to the normal rules governing when a
cause of action accrues. In re Estates of Hibbard. 118 Wn.2d 737, 744-45, 826
P.2d 690 (1992).
Application of the rule is limited to claims in which the plaintiffs
could not have immediately known of their injuries due to
professional malpractice, occupational diseases, self-reporting or
concealment of information by the defendant. Application of the rule
is extended to claims in which plaintiffs could not immediately know
of the cause of their injuries.
Hibbard. 118 Wn.2d at 749-50. "Under the discovery rule, a cause of action
accrues when the plaintiff knew or should have known the essential elements of
15 As Homeowners' claims are not derivative, we need not decide whether unit owners
may bring a derivative suit on behalf of a homeowners' association.
16 Respondents contend that because Homeowners' claims are essentially for loss ofa
chance to sue Declarant under the WCA for defective construction, their claims are time-barred
by the WCA's statute of limitations. This isa mischaracterization of Homeowners' claims, which
are based on alleged occurrences taking place after construction was completed. No claim for
defective construction is asserted.
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No. 69637-8-1/15
the cause of action."17 Allen v. State. 118 Wn.2d 753, 757-58, 826 P.2d 200(1992) (footnote omitted).
Here, the trial court ruled that the relevant statutory limitation period is
three years.18 The trial court did not apply the discovery rule, ruling instead that
Homeowners' causes of action accrued no later than when each individual
defendant resigned from the board. The trial court did not cite any authority for
its conclusion. Respondents, however, in their CR 12(b)(6) motions and again
on appeal, rely on Gillespie v. Seattle-First National Bank, 70 Wn. App. 150, 855
P.2d 680 (1993), and Quinn v. Connelly. 63 Wn. App. 733, 821 P.2d 1256(1992), to support their assertion that "it is black-letter law that a claim against a
fiduciary such as a board member accrues as a matter of law, at the latest and
regardless of discovery, at the time that fiduciary resigns his or her position." To
the contrary, neither Gillespie nor Quinn established any such general rule.
In Gillespie, we held that former RCW 11.96.060(1) (1985) mandates that
"an action against the trustee of any express trust for any breach of fiduciary duty
must be brought within 3 years from the earlierof the time the alleged breach
was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered or the termination of
the trust," and that, therefore, the limitation period commences no later than at
the time the trust terminates. 70 Wn. App. at 161. In that case, we answered a
17 Homeowners claim that there exists inconsistency in our case law concerning which
party bears the burden of proving when a plaintiff knew or should have known of the essential
elements of a cause of action. This case was decided on a CR 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, which
does not impose a proof burden on either party. To the contrary, any fact alleged by plaintiffs is
taken as true. Thus, we need not herein resolve the perceived lack of clarity, if any.
18 Neither party disputes this ruling. However, the limitation period for a CPA claim is four
years, not three. RCW 19.86.120.
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No. 69637-8-1/16
question of statutory interpretation; we did not purport to establish a rule
applicable to all fiduciary relationships. As former RCW 11.96.060(1) bears no
relevance to the case at hand, Gillespie is inapposite.
In Quinn. we held that any fraudulent concealment by an attorney, which
might serve to toll the commencement of a statutory limitation period, ends when
the attorney-client relationship ends, unless the attorney takes further steps to
extend the concealment. 63 Wn. App. at 741. We articulated two bases for our
holding that the plaintiff had not brought his claim of legal malpractice within the
applicable limitation period. First, we relied upon the rule established in
Richardson v. Denend, 59 Wn. App. 92, 96-97, 795 P.2d 1192 (1990), which
states that "upon entry of the judgment, a client, as a matter of law, possesses
knowledge ofall the facts which may give rise to his or her cause ofaction for
negligent representation." Quinn. 63 Wn. App. at 737. Second, we held that the
plaintiff had not alleged that his attorney took any steps after the entry of
judgment to conceal his negligence. Quinn, 63 Wn. App. at 742. Again, we did
not purport to establish a rule applicable to all fiduciary relationships. Indeed,
Division Two has rejected the argument that a statutory limitation period
automatically begins to toll when a fiduciary relationship ends. Doe v. Finch, 81
Wn. App. 342, 351, 914 P.2d 756 (1996) ("Although a breach of professional duty
generally must occur before the professional relationship ends, the intentional
concealment of a breach can continue after the relationship has ended."
(footnote omitted)), affd, 133 Wn.2d 96, 942 P.2d 359 (1997).
16
No. 69637-8-1/17
B
Contrary to Respondents' assertion, Washington has no current "black-
letter law" directly on point.19 However, a distinct majority of jurisdictions to
consider the issue hold that claims against a corporate board member do not
necessarily accrue when that individual resigns from the board; rather, these
jurisdictions follow what is known as the doctrine of adverse domination. E.g.
Wilson v. Paine. 288 S.W.3d 284, 290-91 (Ky. 2009); Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v.
Smith. 328 Or. 420, 430, 980 P.2d 141 (1999); Demoulas v. Demoulas Super
Mkts.. Inc.. 424 Mass. 501, 523, 677 N.E.2d 159 (1997); Safecard Servs.. Inc. v.
Halmos. 912 P.2d 1132, 1135 (Wyo. 1996V Resolution Trust Corp. v. Grant. 901
P.2d 807, 809, 814 (Okla. 1995); Resolution Trust Corp. v. Scalettv, 257 Kan.
348, 356, 891 P.2d 1110 (1995); Hecht v. Resolution Trust Corp.. 333 Md. 324,
352, 635 A.2d 394 (1994); Clark v. Milam, 192 W.Va. 398, 403, 452 S.E.2d 714(1994); Favila v. Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. 188 Cal.App.4th 189, 225 n.26
115 Cal.Rptr.3d 274 (Cal. App. 2 Dist., 2010); Lease Resolution Corp. v. Larnev,
308 III. App. 3d 80, 86, 719 N.E.2d 165 (III. Ct. App. 1999); Mut. Sec. Life Ins. Co.
bv Bennett v. Fid. & Deposit Co. of Maryland. 659 N.E.2d 1096, 1102 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1995). Contra Chinese Merchs. Ass'n v. Chin. 159 Ohio App.3d 292, 297,
19 The closest Washington has come to deciding the issue presented here was in
Interlake Porsche &Audi. Inc. v. Bucholz. 45 Wn. App. 502, 728 P.2d 597 (1986). In that case,
the corporation was directed by three shareholders, only one of whom was named as a culpable
defendant. Interlake Porsche, 45 Wn. App. at 505. One of the other directors had actual
knowledge of fraud by the culpable board member; that knowledge was thus imputed to the
corporation. Interlake Porsche. 45 Wn. App. at 518. In this case, however, Homeowners allege
that all board members are culpable, raising a factual scenario distinct from that presented in
Interlake Porsche.
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No. 69637-8-1/18
823 N.E.2d 900 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004).20 The doctrine of adverse domination
presumes that a corporate plaintiff cannot have notice of wrongdoing by directors
when those directors are in control of the corporation.21 Hecht, 333 Md. at 346.
This presumption is, of course, rebuttable by a showing that "someone other than
the wrongdoing directors had knowledge of the basis for the cause of action,
combined with the ability and the motivation to bring an action." Smith. 328 Or.
at 427.
The doctrine of adverse domination is a corollary of the discovery rule.
Hecht. 333 Md. at 346; see also Resolution Trust Corp. v. Farmer. 865 F.Supp.
1143, 1154 n.11 (E.D.Pa.1994). Some jurisdictions that have adopted the
doctrine of adverse domination have done so on the basis that it is analogous to
the discovery rule. See, efl., Smith. 328 Or. at 430 ("Oregon recognizes the
adverse domination doctrine, which is analogous to Oregon's discovery rule.");
Larnev. 308 III. App. 3d at 86 ("Logical application of the discovery rule and
agency law principles leads to recognition of the adverse domination doctrine.").
Washington applies the discovery rule to "claims in which the plaintiffs could not
have immediately known oftheir injuries due to .. . concealment of information
by the defendant." Hibbard. 118 Wn.2d at 749-50. We hold that because
20 In addition, some jurisdictions follow the doctrine of adverse domination without
referring to it as such. Eg^, United Park Citv Mines Co. v. Greater Park City Co., 870 P.2d 880,
885 (Utah 1993); Kahn v. Seaboard Corp.. 625 A.2d 269, 275-77 (Del.Ch. 1993); Allen v.
Wilkerson, 396 S.W.2d 493, 502 (Tex.Civ.App. 1965); Bates St. Shirt Co. v. Waite. 130 Me. 352,
156 A 293 297 M931V Ventress v. Wallace, 71 So. 636, 641 (Miss. 1916). Contra Access Point
Med.. LLC v. Mandell. 106 A.D.3d 40, 45, 963 N.Y.S.2d 44 (N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept. 2013) ("[T]he
statute oflimitations on claims against a fiduciary," including corporate officers, "for breach of its
duty is tolled until such time as the fiduciary openly repudiates the role.").
21 The doctrine has also been applied to claims againstthird parties who act as board
members' co-conspirators. Larnev, 308 III. App. 3d at 89-90.
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No. 69637-8-1/19
Washington utilizes the discovery rule, the doctrine of adverse domination is also
applicable in this state.
C
Having concluded that Washington recognizes the doctrine of adverse
domination, we must now decide which version of the doctrine best comports
with Washington law. This inquiry requires us to answer two questions: (1) What
is the level of culpability that the board members must exhibit in order for the
doctrine to apply? and (2) Must the plaintiff implicate all board members, or only
a majority thereof?
There exists disagreement among jurisdictions as to the level of culpability
required in order for the doctrine of adverse domination to apply.
Three theories have emerged. One theory holds that negligent
conduct, without more, is sufficient to toll the statute of limitations.
See Federal Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Carlson, 698 F.Supp. 178, 180
(D.Minn. 1988). More recently, courts have held that negligent
conduct is not enough to warrant the application of adverse
domination. See Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v.l Dawson. 4 F.3d
[1303,] 1313 [(5th Cir. 1993)]; Resolution Trust Corp. v. Acton, 49
F.3d 1086 (5th Cir. 1995); Farmer, 865 F.Supp. at 1157. These
courts, however, have not defined exactly what level of culpability is
required. Lastly, at least one court has held that the degree of
culpability was irrelevant; because the reason for tolling the statute
of limitations is that the plaintiffs cannot discover the cause of
action. Clark, 452 S.E.2d at 719.
Wilson, 288 S.W.3d at 290.
The Kentucky Supreme Court held that the doctrine ofadverse domination
may be invoked only where intentional wrongdoing is alleged. Its reason for so
holding, the court stated, was that
19
No. 69637-8-1/20
[t]he doctrine is founded on the presumption that those who engage
in fraudulent activity likely will make it difficult for others to discover
their misconduct. "[T]he danger of fraudulent concealment by a
culpable majority of a corporation's board seems small indeed
when the culpable directors' behavior consists only of negligence
. . .." [Dawson, 4 F.3d] at 1312-13 (emphasis added).
Wilson. 288 S.W. 3d at 290 (alterations in original).
The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, on the other hand, held that
the doctrine of adverse domination could apply regardless of the directors'
degree of culpability. That court determined that "regardless of whether the
alleged wrongdoing was intentional or merely negligent, the knowledge of
officers' and directors' wrongdoing cannot be imputed to the corporation because
those officers' and directors' control over the corporation prevents it from learning
of the misconduct that is injuring it." Clark. 192 W.Va. at 403. This was so, the
court stated, because "a corporation . .. [can be] prevented from discovering its
claims against those in control... by the sheer fact of their control." Clark. 192
W.Va. at 403. One such example, the court offered, was when "'the directors
and officers may be so disengaged from their responsibilities that they
themselves are unaware of the breach of their duty to the corporation.'" Clark.
192 W.Va. at 403 (quoting Hecht, 333 Md. at 348).
In our view, a standard similar to that applied by Kentucky courts better
accounts for the reality of the modern corporate structure. In order for the
discovery rule to apply, the situation must be one "in which plaintiffs could not
immediately know ofthe cause oftheir injuries." Hibbard. 118 Wn.2d at 750.
This type of situation is unlikely to exist where the directors are merely
-20-
No. 69637-8-1/21
"disengaged" and not concealing information from the shareholders. Although
shareholders might not immediately know the cause of their injuries ifthey are
inattentive to the corporation's mismanagement, the discovery rule does not
apply where "the plaintiff [was] sleeping on his rights." Crisman v. Crisman. 85
Wn. App. 15, 20, 931 P.2d 163 (1997). In light of Washington's discovery rule,
we hold that the doctrine of adverse domination applies only where the plaintiff
alleges concealment by board members.22
D
This leads us to our second question: Must the plaintiff implicate all board
members in the concealment, or only a majority? Among other courts, two
different approaches have emerged:
The more difficult test is the "complete domination" test, under
which a plaintiff who seeks to toll the statute under adverse
domination must show "full, complete and exclusive control in the
directors or officers charged." Mosesian v. Peat. Marwick. Mitchell
&Co.. 727 F.2d 873, 879 (9th Cir. [1984]) (quoting International
Rvs. of Cent. Am. v. United Fruit Co., 373 F.2d 408, 414 (2d Cir.),
cert, denied. 387 U.S. 921, 87 S. Ct. 2031, 18 L Ed. 2d 975
(1967)), cert, denied. 469 U.S. 932, 105 S. Ct. 329, 83 L Ed. 2d
265 (1984). Once the facts giving rise to possible liability are
known, the plaintiff must effectively negate the possibility that an
informed stockholder or director could have induced the corporation
to sue. Id.Other courts have taken a more prophylactic approach known as
the "majority test." Under this approach, the plaintiff need not show
that the wrongdoers completely dominated the corporation, but
rather must show only that a majority of the board members were
wrongdoers during period the plaintiff seeks to toll the statute.
22 This is not necessarily to say that the plaintiffs must plead a separate claim of
concealment. Nor mustthe alleged concealment necessarily be fraudulent. Washington law
does not require that concealment be fraudulent in order for the discovery rule to apply. See
Doe, 133 Wn.2d at 101. The same principle holds truefor the doctrine ofadverse domination.
-21 -
No. 69637-8-1/22
Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. IHowse. 736 F.Supp. [1437,] 1441-42
[(S.D.Tex. 1990)]; Federal Sav. and Loan Ass'n v. Williams. 599
F.Supp. 1184, 1193-94 (D.Md.1984). These cases reason that the
mere existence of a culpable majority on the board is so likely to
preclude the corporation from filing suit against the wrongdoers that
tolling is thereby justified. See, e^ Williams, 599 F.Supp. at 1194.
Dawson. 4 F.3d at 1309-10.
Many states adopt the "majority test" for policy reasons. In Smith, the
Oregon Supreme Court held that, "Because a board composed ofa majority of
culpable directors will rarely, if ever, facilitate the assertion of claims against its
members, it is appropriate that those directors bear the burden of proving
otherwise." 328 Or. at 432. The court noted that, "'While [culpable board
members] retain control they can dominate the non-culpable directors and control
the most likely sources of information.'" Smith, 328 Or. at 432 (quoting Fed. Sav.
& Loan Ins. Corp. v. Williams, 599 F.Supp. 1184, 1193-94 n.12 (D.Md. 1984)).
This approach comported with Oregon's discovery rule, the court held, because
the plaintiff "would be required to plead and prove facts showing that [the
corporate board] was adversely dominated." Smith, 328 Or. at 433.
On the other hand, states that adopt the "complete domination" test, also
typically do so for policy reasons. In Aiello v. Aiello, 447 Mass. 388, 404, 852
N.E.2d 68 (2006), the Massachusetts Supreme Court determined that the
"complete domination" test more closely comported with modern corporate law.
Specifically, the court focused on the role of corporate shareholders. The court
stated that "a corporate shareholder who discovers that directors or officers have
injured a corporation may, in many cases, bring a derivative suit on that
22
No. 69637-8-1/23
corporation's behalf." Aiello, 447 Mass. at 403. As such, the court held, "[t]he
mere existence of a majority of culpable directors should not lead to a
presumption that a corporate plaintiff is unable to discover or redress the wrongs
perpetrated by such directors, thereby tolling a statute of limitations." Aiello, 447
Mass. at 403.
We deem the "majority test" more consonant with Washington law. We
agree with the Oregon Supreme Court that, "'While [culpable board members]
retain control they can dominate the non-culpable directors and control the most
likely sources of information.'" Smith. 328 Or. at 432 (quoting Williams. 599
F.Supp. at 1193-94 n.12). We can easily envision a scenario in which non-
culpable minority board members are "kept out of the loop" or even intimidated
into submission by culpable board members determined to conceal their
wrongdoing. In instances such as these, the culpable majority can effectively
prevent the shareholders from learning of their wrongdoing. In such a situation,
"'it is appropriate for the directors to bear the burden of rebutting a presumption
of control, because they have greater access to the relevant information.'"
Wilson. 288 S.W.3d at 289 (quoting Grant, 901 P.2d at 818). Thus, we will apply
the "majority test" for adverse domination.23
23 Respondents contend that concealment by a board member tolls the statute of
limitation against that particular board member only and not as to any other board member.
Respondents rely on United States v. Read, 658 F.2d 1225 (7th Cir. 1981), and Barker v.
American Mobil Power Corp., 64 F.3d 1397 (9th Cir. 1995), for this assertion. Neither case
supports such a conclusion. Read is a criminal case regarding withdrawal from a conspiracy, a
completely different issue than that asserted here. In Barker, the Ninth Circuit held that
concealment by subsequent trustees did not toll the statute of limitation against prior trustees,
where the plaintiff failed to allege any fraud or concealment by the prior trustees. Barker, 64 F.3d
-23-
No. 69637-8-1/24
Typically the doctrine of adverse domination applies to derivative actions
brought by shareholders on behalf of the corporation. In this case, however, the
claims were brought by the unit owners in their individual capacity, not on behalf
of the Association. Thus, the question is whether the doctrine of adverse
domination can apply to claims brought by individuals. We hold that it can, at
least in lawsuits premised upon duties or obligations stemming from the WCA.
The doctrine of adverse domination stems from the same or similar
principles that underlie other equitable tolling doctrines. The West Virginia
Supreme Court ofAppeals has recognized that the doctrine of adverse
domination is similar to the doctrine of continuous representation. Smith v.
Stacy, 198 W.Va. 498, 505, 482 S.E.2d 115 (1996) (citing Clark, 192 W.Va. 398).
As the Stacy court noted, Clark applied the doctrine of adverse domination to
claims against a corporation's attorneys, in addition to its board members,
because the attorneys, "'owing fiduciary duties to the company, . . . took action
contributing to the adverse domination ofthe company.'" Stacy. 198 W.Va. at
505 (quoting Clark. 192 W.Va. at 399). The Stacy court cited Clark among its
bases for adopting the continuous representation doctrine in West Virginia.
Stacy. 198 W.Va. at 505.
We, likewise, find these two doctrines similar. Washington law recognizes
the doctrine of continuous representation in legal malpractice litigation. Janicki
at 1401-02. Here, Homeowners allege concealment by all board members, rendering Barker
inapposite.
-24-
No. 69637-8-1/25
Logging & Constr. Co. v. Schwabe. Williamson & Wvatt. PC. 109 Wn. App. 655,
663, 37 P.3d 309 (2001). We have suggested that the doctrine may also apply in
cases of accounting malpractice. Burns v. McClinton. 135 Wn. App. 285, 299,
143 P.3d 630 (2006) (declining to apply continuous representation where
plaintiff's claim was notfor failure to "provide adequate accounting services"). As
we have held previously, the continuous representation doctrine "prevents an
attorney from defeating a malpractice claim by continuing representation until the
statute of limitations has expired." Janicki. 109 Wn. App. at 662. The continuing
representation doctrine prevents the limitation period from commencing so long
as the attorney continues to represent the client on that particular matter.
Janicki, 109 Wn. App. at 663-64.
The doctrine of adverse domination functions in a similar manner. The
doctrine prevents corporate board members from defeating claims by continuing
to dominate the board. See Hecht. 333 Md. at 351 ("This prevents the culpable
directors from benefiting from their lack of action on behalf of the corporation.");
In re Blackburn. 209 B.R. 4, 10 (Bankr. M.D.FIa. 1997) (adverse domination is
"grounded in the equitable notion that the receiver should not be time barred from
pursuing the management of an insurer in liquidation to recover for alleged
wrongdoing that management committed while in control of the insurer").
Additionally, when a board is controlled by directors who continue the
wrongdoing initiated by their predecessors, the board continues to "represent"
the interests of the shareholders (or here, the unit owners) on the particular
matter associated with that wrongdoing.
-25-
No. 69637-8-1/26
The two doctrines are based on similar rationales. One of the policy
reasons underlying Washington's adoption of the continuing representation
doctrine was that "'[t]he attorney has the opportunity to remedy, avoid or
establish that there was no error or attempt to mitigate the damages.'" Janicki,
109 Wn. App. at 663 (quoting 3 Ronald E. Mallen &Jeffrey M. Smith, Legal
Malpractice § 22.13, at 431 (5th ed.2000)). This rationale also rings true for
corporate directors who, while they are in control of the board, have "the
opportunity to remedy ... or attempt to mitigate the damages" caused by prior
board members. Shareholders (or unit owners), on the other hand, are generally
limited to their ability to file suit or replace the board with new directors whom
they hope will be more honest than their predecessors.
As one federal court noted, decisions adopting the doctrine of adverse
domination "reflect an implicit appreciation of the realities of the shareholders'
position, that, without knowledge ofwrongful activities committed by directors,
shareholders have no meaningful opportunity to bring suit." F.D.I.C. v. Bird, 516
F. Supp. 647, 651 (D.P.R. 1981). This reality is the same for the unit owners of a
homeowners' association. The WCA defines the duties of board members in
their governance ofthe association.24 It is reasonable for unit owners to expect
that the board members will properly discharge those duties. Where board
members are concealing their wrongdoing, the unit owners are unlikely to know
or to suspect that those duties are being breached, rather than properly
24 As discussed in section V, infra, the board members' duties extend to the unit owners
as well as to the Association.
-26-
No. 69637-8-1/27
discharged. Without knowledge of the wrongdoing, the unit owners have no
meaningful opportunity to evaluate whether to bring suit against the directors.
This is true regardless of whether the unit owners ultimately bring their claims
individually or on behalf of the association.
In this case, some of the board member defendants owed a duty of "care
required of fiduciaries," while others owed a duty of "ordinary and reasonable
care." Regardless of the degree of care owed, the role of the board members is
the same—to govern the homeowners' association. See RCW 64.34.300. It
would make little sense to apply the doctrine of adverse domination to claims
against some of the complicit board members but not to others where the
allegations are that a series of directors acted in concert to the detriment of the
unit owners. The doctrine of adverse domination concerns itself with directors'
concealment of information from the corporation and its constituents. The
degree of care owed to a corporate shareholder or association unit owner is
unrelated to the danger of concealing their wrongdoing to the detriment of those
to whom the duties are owed.
The doctrine of adverse domination applies to claims brought by the
individual plaintiffs herein.
F
We must next determine whether the doctrine of adverse domination
applies to all of Homeowners' claims or to only some of those claims. There is a
split of authority as to whether there is a limit to the types of claims to which the
doctrine of adverse domination can apply. For instance, Oklahoma limits the
-27-
No. 69637-8-1/28
doctrine of adverse domination to fraud claims. Grant. 901 P.2d at 815-16;
Resolution Trust Corp. v. Greer. 911 P.2d 257, 265 (Okla. 1995). In Grant, the
Oklahoma Supreme Court reasoned that the doctrine of adverse domination was
designed to be narrow, and thus should not apply to all types of claims. 901 P.2d
at 815. The court held,
We find persuasive the reasoning of those courts which hold that to
extend the doctrine to cases involving conduct less culpable than
fraud would be to eliminate the statute of limitations in director-
liability actions. Furthermore, this reasoning is supported by recent
legislative enactments allowing the insertion of liability-limiting
clauses in bylaws and certificates of incorporation. Therefore, we
find that application of the doctrine of adverse domination to delay
accrual or toll the statute of limitations is limited to situations
involving fraudulent conduct.
Grant. 901 P.2d at 815-16.
For its holding, the Oklahoma Supreme Court relied heavily on a federal
court decision explaining that, in Texas, the doctrine of adverse domination "must
be limited to those cases in which the culpable directors have been active
participants in wrongdoing orfraud, rather than simply negligent." Dawson, 4
F.3d at 1312. Applying that rule to the case at hand, the Dawson court
explained,
The facts of the instant case demonstrate that the adverse
domination theory is inappropriate when the majority of the board is
merely negligent. The FDIC's own evidence tended to show that
most of TIB's directors may have been negligent in failing to
supervise the lending functions. Yet, at the same time, the board
never concealed its "serious deficiencies" from examination by the
OCC or anyone else. Even after the OCC notified TIB's board of its
shortcomings in supervising TIB's lending function, there is no
evidence to suggest that an organized majority coalesced to
prevent any other parties from discovering the problems. Thus, the
danger offraudulent concealment by a culpable majority ofa
-28-
No. 69637-8-1/29
corporation's board seems small indeed when the culpable
directors' behavior consists only of negligence, and the
presumption of such concealment that underlies the adverse
domination theory is unwarranted.
4 F.3d at 1312-13. The court's primary concern was with concealment, more so
than the nature of the underlying claim itself.25
In contrast, in Oregon and Kansas, the doctrine of adverse domination can
apply to all types of claims. The Oregon Supreme Court determined that
because the doctrine of adverse domination is a corollary to the discovery rule,
the doctrine of adverse domination applies to the same claims that the discovery
rule applies to. Smith, 328 Or. at 431. Similarly, the Kansas Supreme Court held
that in "determining when ... the injury to a corporation by its directors is readily
ascertainable to the corporation!,]. . . there is no legal basis for us to pick and
choose among negligence, gross negligence, or breach of fiduciary duty claims.
The same rule must apply to all three types of claims unless the rule is
legislatively modified." Scaletty, 257 Kan. at 359.
The view espoused by the Oregon and Kansas courts best comports with
Washington law. Washington's discovery rule is not limited to fraud claims. See,
e.g. Cox v. Oasis Physical Therapy. PLLC. 153 Wn. App. 176, 190, 222 P.3d 119(2009) (negligence). "[Withholding the reach of adverse domination to cases
involving negligence and breach of fiduciary duty would carve out unjustified
25 Moreover, Texas did not have a general discovery rule at that time. Rather, the
general rule was "that the tort statute of limitations begins to run when the tort is committed,
absent a statute to the contrary orfraudulent concealment." Dawson, 4 F.3d at 1312 (citing
Atkins v Crosland 417 S.W.2d 150, 153 (Tex. 1967)). The rule has since been expanded, but is
still limited to "exceptional cases." Via Net v. TIG Ins. Co., 211 S.W.3d 310, 313 (Tex. 2006).
29
No. 69637-8-1/30
special exceptions from the .. . discovery rule for corporate officers and
directors." Scaletty. 257 Kan. at 358 (citation omitted). The concern of courts
such as Grant and Dawson that the doctrine of adverse domination would
"overthrow the statute of limitations completely in the corporate context" if applied
to negligence claims, Dawson, 4 F.3d at 1312, is adequately allayed by a
requirement that the plaintiff must allege concealment in addition to the elements
of the claim. Therefore, the doctrine of adverse domination should apply to all
claims to which the discovery rule applies.
G
This general rule being established, we turn now to the specific claims
asserted in Homeowners' complaint. Homeowners assert the following claims:
breach of board member duty of care, negligence, violation ofthe CPA, negligent
misrepresentation, fraud by omission and misrepresentation, and civil
conspiracy. As pleaded, the doctrine of adverse domination applies to four of
those types of claims.
The doctrine of adverse domination most clearly applies to the claims for
breach of board member duty of care. The doctrine of adverse domination is
frequently applied to claims for breach of corporate duties. Wilson. 288 S.W.3d
at 286; Aiello. 447 Mass. at 389; Smith, 328 Or. at 431: Demoulas. 424 Mass. at
503; Scaletty. 257 Kan. at 359; Clark. 192 W.Va. at 401; Hecht. 333 Md. at 328;
United Park Citv Mines Co. v. Greater Park City Co.. 870 P.2d 880, 885 (Utah
1993); Kahnv. Seaboard Corp., 625 A.2d 269, 271 (Del.Ch. 1993). Indeed, the
purpose of the doctrine is to protect the corporation and its constituents. It would
-30-
No. 69637-8-1/31
be inconsistent with this purpose to not apply the doctrine to board member duty
of care claims. Thus, the doctrine applies so long as concealment is sufficiently
alleged.
Homeowners' adequately plead concealment with respect to the board
member duty of care claims. Homeowners allege that the board member
defendants "fail[ed] to advise the plaintiffs and others of consistently reported
construction problems and other material information, [and] misrepresented] the
nature of investigations to plaintiffs." Homeowners allege that the board
remained culpable until April 24, 2011, when they declared a budget that
included the special assessment. Thus, the Homeowners sufficiently allege that
the board continued until that time to conceal the facts that established the basis
for these claims. The doctrine of adverse domination therefore applies to these
claims.26
We next analyze Homeowners' negligence claims against Lozier Homes.
Homeowners allege that Lozier Homes breached its duty of reasonable care "in
undertaking the construction, inspection, condition reporting, and repair of the
26 The doctrine applies not only to claims against the individual board members, but also
to claims against Lozier Homes. Homeowners allege that Lozier Homes isthe sole member of
Declarant. Pursuant to this allegation, we can envision a hypothetical set offacts, consistent with
Homeowners' contention, establishing that Lozier Homes is the alter ego of Declarant.
Homeowners also allege that Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn were appointed by Declarant.
From this allegation, we can envision a hypothetical set offacts, consistent with Homeowners'
contention, establishing that Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn were agents of Declarant and,
thereby, agents of Lozier Homes. If Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn are indeed agents of
Lozier Homes, then Lozier Homes could be vicariously liable for the actions ofthese three board
members. Accordingly, the doctrine ofadverse domination applies to Lozier Homes to the extent
that it is implicated as vicariously liable for theactions ofSanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn.
-31 -
No. 69637-8-1/32
Project."27 None of the board members were implicated by these negligence
claims. Because these claims bear no relation to the governance of the
Association, the doctrine of adverse domination does not apply.
Homeowners' attempt to assert CPA claims against Sanford, Burckhard,
Sansburn, and Lozier Homes. The discovery rule can apply to CPA claims.
Maver v. Sto Indus. Inc.. 123 Wn. App. 443, 463, 98 P.3d 116 (2004), affirmed in
part, reversed in part on other grounds. 156 Wn.2d 677, 132 P.3d 115 (2006).
Thus, the doctrine of adverse domination can also apply to CPA claims.
Homeowners assert negligent misrepresentation claims against Lozier
Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn. Generally, the discovery rule can
apply to negligent misrepresentation claims. First Md. Leasecorp v. Rothstein,
72 Wn. App. 278, 286, 864 P.2d 17 (1993). Therefore, the doctrine of adverse
domination also can apply to negligent misrepresentation claims.
Homeowners sufficiently plead concealment with respect to these claims.
Homeowners allege that the board members continually ignored the advice of
experts, and failed to disclose to the unit owners that they had received such
advice. Homeowners also allege that the board members mischaracterized the
resealing and caulking efforts as "preventative measures," and that the board
members "continued to conceal the severity of the problem from the ownership at
large." In fact, Homeowners specifically allege that Philip and "[t]he other Board
members [in 2006] cooperated or agreed that the scope of the problem should be
27 Specifically, these claims derive from the allegations that Lozier Homes hired Glenn
and instructed her not to perform an intrusive inspection and that Lozier Homes volunteered to
conduct a deck inspection.
-32-
No. 69637-8-1/33
concealed." Further, the Homeowners allege that the board purposely kept
themselves in the dark about the results of an inspection and thereafter withheld
the results of the inspection from the Homeowners. As pleaded, the board
members continued their concealment until April 24, 2011, when they declared a
budget which included the special assessment. Thus, the Homeowners
sufficiently allege that the board continued to conceal the facts that established
the basis for these claims. As such, the doctrine of adverse domination applies
to Homeowners' negligent misrepresentation claims.
Homeowners assert fraud claims against Lozier Homes, Sanford,
Burckhard, Sansburn, and Peter. The discovery rule can apply to fraud claims.
RCW 4.16.080(4). It is also widely accepted that the doctrine of adverse
domination can apply to fraud claims. See, e.g. Grant. 901 P.2d at 815-16.
Homeowners allege that these defendants acted fraudulently in two
respects. Homeowners allege that these defendants "breached their duties to
plaintiffs to disclose" and "made material misrepresentations .. . of existing facts
regarding the presence of defective construction, the cause of water intrusion,
the advice of counsel regarding prosecution ofa Washington Condominium Act
warranty claim, the actual purpose of the 'maintenance' program developed by
Lozier, and Glenn's and CCWs lack of qualifications and conflict of interest."
Homeowners allege that "the decision to omit these facts [regarding the advice of
counsel] from the minutes was part of a deliberate effort on the part of Defendant
Peter and/or the other Board members to conceal material information from unit
owners." It is unclear from the face of the complaint when the concealment of
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No. 69637-8-1/34
this alleged fraudulent act ended. Nonetheless, it is plausible from the face of
the complaint that the concealment continued until April 24, 2011. Thus, the
doctrine of adverse domination applies to Homeowners' fraud claims.
Finally, Homeowners assert civil conspiracy claims against Lozier Homes
and Sanford. As Homeowners implicate only one board member, not a majority,
the doctrine of adverse domination does not apply to these claims.
Therefore, with respect to the breach of board member duty of care
claims, CPA claims, negligent misrepresentation claims, and fraud by omission
and misrepresentation claims, the statute of limitations was presumptively tolled
until April 24, 2011. On the face of the complaint, these claims were timely and
the trial court erred by dismissing them as a matter of law.
H
For those claims to which the doctrine of adverse domination does not
apply, i.e., Homeowners' negligence and civil conspiracy claims, the discovery
rule may still apply.28 However, Homeowners cannot rely on any presumptions
for the application of the rule. As previously noted, "Under the discovery rule, a
cause of action accrues when the plaintiff knew or should have known the
essential elements ofthe cause of action." Allen, 118Wn.2d at 757-58 (footnote
omitted). Whether the discovery rule applies to toll the statute of limitations is a
question of fact, and can only be decided as a matter of law "if reasonable minds
can reach but one conclusion." Allen. 118 Wn.2d at 760.
28 The discovery rule may also apply to claims against Lozier Homes to the extent that it
is separately liable for Homeowners' fraud claims.
-34-
No. 69637-8-1/35
Pursuant to Homeowners' complaint, it is plausible that Homeowners did
not know and could not reasonably have known of the facts underlying their
causes of action until April 24, 2011, the date that the Association's board
declared a budget that included the repair assessment. The trial court erred by
determining that all causes of action accrued against each board member no
later than upon the board member's resignation from the board and thus by
dismissing all of Homeowners' claims. Whether the discovery rule serves to toll
the accrual of Homeowners' negligence and civil conspiracy causes of action
presents a question of fact to be decided on remand.
V
A
In the alternative, Respondents contend that Homeowners' claims fail as a
matter of law because the board members did not owe a duty to Homeowners.
This is so, Respondents assert, because board members owe a duty only to the
Association. Respondents further assert that in the event that the board
members do owe a duty to unit owners, the duty does not apply to future
purchasers.29 We disagree to the extent that the board members' duties do
extend to current unit owners. With respect to future purchasers, however, we
agree that the board members owed no duties to future purchasers with respect
to Homeowners' claims for breach of the board member duty of care and
negligent misrepresentation. Additionally, we hold that Homeowners failed to
29 The trial court properly took judicial notice ofHomeowners' deeds, which establish the
dates on which each plaintiff purchased his or her unit. Rodriguez v. Loudeye Corp., 144 Wn.
App. 709, 725-26, 189 P.3d 168 (2008).
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No. 69637-8-1/36
plead the necessary elements of a CPA claim.
In order to establish liability under a tort theory, the plaintiff must prove
duty, breach, causation, and damages. Xiao Ping Chen v. Citv of Seattle. 153
Wn. App. 890, 899, 223 P.3d 1230 (2009). The existence of a duty is a question
of law, which we review de novo. Parrilla v. King County. 138 Wn. App. 427,
432, 157 P.3d 879 (2007).
The WCA articulates the nature of the duties owed by an association's
board members:
Except as provided in the declaration, the bylaws, subsection (2) of
this section, or other provisions of this chapter, the board of
directors shall act in all instances on behalf of the association. In
the performance oftheir duties, the officers and members ofthe
board of directors are required to exercise: (a) If appointed by the
declarant, the care required of fiduciaries of the unit owners; or (b)
if elected by the unit owners, ordinary and reasonable care.
RCW 64.34.308(1). The statute clearly dictates that the members of the board of
directors owe duties to the unit owners when appointed by the declarant. RCW
fu 34 308(1 VaV see also Kelsev Lane Homeowners Ass'n v. Kelsev Lane Co..
125 Wn. App. 227, 242-43, 103 P.3d 1256 (2005).
The statute further provides that elected board members owe to unit
owners a duty premised upon a lesser standard of care than that applied to those
board members who were appointed by the declarant. The statute does not
indicate, however, that elected board members owe no duties to unit owners. A
homeowners' association "has no life independent of the individual homeowners
who are by statute . . . required to be members of the Association." Stuart v.
Coldwell Banker Commercial Grp.. Inc.. 109 Wn.2d 406, 413-14, 745 P.2d 1284-36-
No. 69637-8-1/37
(1987). Thus, by owing duties to the association, the elected board members
necessarily owe those same duties to the current unit owners.
Indeed, it would make little sense if the board members owed duties to
unit owners if appointed, but no duties to the unit owners if elected. Both sets of
directors are tasked with operating the homeowners' association.30 The directors
owe duties to the unit owners as well as the association, regardless of whether
they were appointed or elected. It is only the applicable standard of care that
differs.
B
Each of the plaintiffs purchased their units on the following dates •31
Cindy Alexander July 19, 2006
Blocker Ventures, LLC February 7, 2003
Chris Clark November 3, 2005
R. Bruce Edgington April 19,2006
Kipp and Jennifer Johnson March 19,2008
Gopikrishna and Himabindu August 8, 2006
Kanuri
Chris and Elizabeth Kasprzak September 19, 2002
Paul and Joyce Hyojung August 1, 2006
Larkins
Kristine Magnussen January 11,2008
Scott McKillop September 1, 2005
30 Moreover, elected board members can, and in this case did, serve on the board with
appointed members. .
31 The dates set forth in the following two tables are garnered from the complaint, the
stipulation, and the uncontested public records submitted to the trial court.
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No. 69637-8-1/38
Caine and Dana Ott July 14, 2006
Mara Patton August 15, 2007
Peter Richards September 2, 2009
Dante Schultz December 14, 2005
Winifred Smith July 24, 2002
Robert and Colette Stoddard August 12, 2005
Neil West May 27, 2004
Liang Xu and Jia Lu Duan February 6, 2007
Each of the defendant-board members left the board on the following
dates:
Gary Sanford March 24, 2006
Paul Burckhard May 15, 2001
James Sansburn May 9, 2002
Richard Peter May 29, 2003
Shana Holley May 9, 2002
Brett Backues January 18, 2004
Joseph Cusimano June 27, 2006
Patricia Hovda Unknown date before
September 2008
Alexander Philip July 20, 2006
As the above tables demonstrate, a significant number of Homeowners'
38
No. 69637-8-1/39
claims are asserted against board members who resigned before certain of the
plaintiffs purchased their respective units. Thus, Homeowners insist that the
board members' duties extend not only to current owners but to future owners as
well. Although board members owe duties to current unit owners, it does not
necessarily follow that those duties extend to future owners. Homeowners'
contention raises two separate questions: (1) Do the appointed board members
owe a fiduciary duty to future owners? (2) Do any of the board members owe a
freestanding duty of care to future owners independent of their WCA-defined
duties to current owners?
Afiduciary relationship can arise either in law or in fact. Lieberqesell v.
Evans. 93 Wn.2d 881, 890, 613 P.2d 1170 (1980). A fiduciary relationship arises
at law when "the nature of the relationship between the parties [is] historically
considered fiduciary in character; e.g., trustee and beneficiary, principal and
agent, partner and partner, husband and wife, physician and patient, attorney
and client." McCutcheon v. Brownfield, 2 Wn. App. 348, 356-57, 467 P.2d 868(1970); accord Micro Enhancement Int'l. Inc. v. Coopers &Lvbrand. LLP. 110
Wn. App. 412, 434, 40 P.3d 1206 (2002). On the other hand, a fiduciary
relationship arises in fact when there is "'something in the particular
circumstances which approximates a business agency, a professional
relationship, or a family tie, something which itself impels or induces the trusting
party to relax the careand vigilance which he otherwise should, and ordinarily
would, exercise.'" Hood v. Cline. 35 Wn.2d 192, 200, 212 P.2d 110 (1949)
(quoting Collins v. Nelson. 193 Wash. 334, 345, 75 P.2d 570 (1938)). "Superior
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No. 69637-8-1/40
knowledge and assumption of the role of adviser may contribute to the
establishment of a fiduciary relationship." Lieberqesell. 93 Wn.2d at 891.
Homeowners contend that the appointed board members owe a fiduciary
duty to future unit owners because it is foreseeable that the units will be sold.
However, while foreseeability might be sufficient to establish a general tort duty,
it is not sufficient to establish a fiduciary duty. Cf. Nguyen v. Doak Homes. Inc.,
140 Wn. App. 726, 732-33, 167 P.3d 1162 (2007) (foreseeablility alone not
enough to establish duty in fraudulent misrepresentation claim by second
purchaser against original seller). The plaintiffs must allege "'something in the
particular circumstances which approximates'" a fiduciary relationship. Hood, 35
Wn.2d at 200 (quoting Collins. 193Wash, at 345). A board member's
relationship to an individual who might purchase a unit sometime in the
indeterminate future does not approximate a fiduciary relationship. Thus, the
appointed board members of a homeowners' association do not owe fiduciary
duties to future purchasers.
Accordingly, Homeowners' claims against board members that resigned
before certain plaintiffs' units were purchased can survive Respondents' CR
12(b)(6) motions to dismiss only if those board members owe a free-standing
duty of care to future owners independent of their WCA-defined duties. On this
question, one California case, Frances T. v. Village Green Owners Ass'n, 42
Cal.3d 490, 229 Cal.Rptr. 456, 723 P.2d 573 (1986), is particularly instructive. In
Frances T.. the plaintiff filed suit againstthe condominium homeowners'
association and the individual members of the board of directors for negligence,
-40-
No. 69637-8-1/41
breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duties after she was raped in her unit.
42 Cal.3d at 495. The Supreme Court of California held that members of the
board of directors could be held jointly liable with the corporation on the
negligence claim. Frances T.. 42 Cal.3d at 503. "Their liability," the court stated,
"stems from their own tortious conduct, not from their status as directors or
officers of the enterprise." Frances T.. 42 Cal.3d at 503. This was so, the court
held, because "like any other employee, directors individually owe a duty of care,
independent of the corporate entity's own duty, to refrain from acting in a manner
that creates an unreasonable risk of personal injury to third parties." Frances T..
42 Cal.3d at 505. The court held, however, that a board member's breach of
statutorily-defined duties does not itself warrant separate liability for that board
member. The court stated:
[Directors are not personally liable to third persons for negligence
amounting merely to a breach of duty the officer owes to the
corporation alone. "[T]he act must also constitute a breach of duty
owed to the third person. . . . More must be shown than breach of
the officer's duty to his corporation to impose personal liability to a
third person upon him." (fUnited States Liab. Ins. Co. v. Haidinger-
Haves. Inc.] 1 Cal.3d [586,] 595[, 83 Cal.Rptr. 418, 463 P.2d 770(1970)], italics in original.) In other words, a distinction must be
made between the director's fiduciary duty to the corporation (and
its beneficiaries) and the director's ordinary duty to take care not to
injure third parties. The former duty is defined by statute, the latter
by common law tort principles.
Frances T. 42 Cal.3d at at 505-06 (footnote omitted).
In Frances T.. the plaintiff alleged in her complaint that the board
members, who possessed knowledge of a recent increase in crime at the
complex, created an unreasonably dangerous condition by failing to repair a
41
No. 69637-8-1/42
hazardous lighting condition within a reasonable period of time and by ordering
her to disconnect her exterior lighting. Frances T.. 42 Cal.3d at 509-10. The
court found that those allegations were sufficient to state a negligence claim
against the board members. Frances T.. 42 Cal.3d at 509. Specifically, the court
held that the board members' duty arose not by statute, but from their knowledge
"that a condition or instrumentality under their control posed an unreasonable risk
of injury to the plaintiff." Frances T.. 42 Cat.3d at 510.
We find the reasoning in Frances T. persuasive. Analyzing Homeowners'
claims in the same manner as the Frances T. court, we hold that Homeowners
have pleaded an independent duty owed to future unit owners with respect to
only some of their claims.
With respect to their claims for breach of board member duty of care,
Homeowners allege that the board members "owed plaintiffs a duty of due care
in the management and governance ofthe Association." As this duty is exactly
the duty the board members owe under the WCA, Homeowners have not
pleaded an independent duty. All board member duty of care claims asserted
against board members who left the board before the date of purchase of a
particular plaintiffs unit32 were thus properly dismissed. Each board member
duty of care claim that was properly dismissed is indicated in the table below.
32 We use the term "future unit owner" to refer to a plaintiff who purchased a unit after a
particular defendant-board member left the board. Thus, certain plaintiffs are "future unit owners"
with respect to certain defendants but not as to others. Other plaintiffs are"future unit owners"
with respect to all defendant-board members.
-42-
No. 69637-8-1/43
Sanford Burckhard Sansburn Peter Holley Backues Cusimano Hovda Phillip
Alexander X X X X X X X
Blocker X X X
Ventures
Clark X X X X X
Edgington X X X X X X
Johnson X X X X X X X X
Kanuri X X X X X X X X
Kasprzak X X X
Larkins X X X X X X X X
Magnussen X X X X X X X X
McKillop X X X X X
Ott X X X X X X X
X X X X X X X X
Patton
X X X X X X X X X
Richards
Schultz X X X X X
Smith X X X
Stoddard X X X X X
West X X X X X
X X X X X X X
Xu X
43
No. 69637-8-1/44
With respect to these claims, Lozier Homes was not a member of the
board and could not have owed an independent duty to the plaintiffs. Thus, the
board member duty of care claims are only cognizable against Lozier Homes
pursuant to a theory of vicarious liability for the actions taken by Sanford,
Burckhard, and Sansburn. Claims against Lozier Homes were thus properly
dismissed where claims against all three of these individuals were properly
dismissed.
With respect to their claims for negligent misrepresentation, Homeowners
allege that Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn breached their
duties to "disclose existing material facts" regarding the construction defects,
Glenn's lack of credentials, and the advice received from Harer and Jobe. In
order to state a claim for negligent misrepresentation, a plaintiff must allege that
"(1) the defendant supplied information for the guidance ofothers in
their business transactions that was false, (2) the defendant knew
or should have known that the information was supplied to guide
the plaintiff in his business transactions, (3) the defendant was
negligent in obtaining or communicating the false information, (4)
the plaintiff relied on the false information, (5) the plaintiff's reliance
was reasonable, and (6) the false information proximately caused
the plaintiff damages."
Austin v. Ettl, 171 Wn. App. 82, 88, 286 P.3d 85 (2012) (quoting Ross v. Kirner,
162 Wn.2d 493, 499, 172 P.3d 701 (2007). Ordinarily, "[a]n omission alone
cannot constitute negligent misrepresentation, since the plaintiff mustjustifiably
rely on a misrepresentation." Ross. 162 Wn.2d at 499. "When a duty to disclose
does exist, however, the suppression of a material fact is tantamount to an
affirmative misrepresentation." Crisman, 85 Wn. App. at 22.
44
No. 69637-8-1/45
"Ordinarily, the duty to disclose a material fact exists only where there is a
fiduciary relationship." Tokarz v. Frontier Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 33 Wn. App.
456, 463-64, 656 P.2d 1089 (1982) (citing Oates v. Taylor. 31 Wn.2d 898, 903,
199 P.2d 924 (1948)). Outside of a fiduciary relationship, the court will only find
a duty to disclose
where the court can conclude there is a quasi-fiduciary relationship,
where a special relationship of trust and confidence has been
developed between the parties, where one party is relying upon the
superior specialized knowledge and experience of the other, where
a seller has knowledge of a material fact not easily discoverable by
the buyer, and where there exists a statutory duty to disclose.
Favors v. Matzke. 53 Wn. App. 789, 796, 770 P.2d 686 (1989) (citations omitted).
Homeowners do not allege any facts establishing that the relationship between
the future unit owners and the board members resembled any one of the
relationships listed in Favors.33 Thus, Homeowners fail to allege that the board
members had any duty to disclose independent of their statutory duties. Here, all
negligent misrepresentation claims asserted by future unit owners were properly
33 Homeowners do not allege that Lozier Homes was ever a member of the board.
Homeowners also do not allege that they purchased their unitsfrom Lozier Homes. In fact,
Homeowners fail to allege any facts establishing that they were in a fiduciary relationship with
Lozier Homes or that their relationship to Lozier Homes resembled any one of the relationships
listed in Favors. This is true with respect to unitowners as well as future unitowners. Thus,
Homeowners fail to plead any negligent misrepresentation claims against Lozier Homes in its
individual capacity.
Homeowners do sufficiently allege facts from which we can envision a hypothetical set of
facts, consistent with the complaint, establishing that Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn were
agents ofLozier Homes. Accordingly, Homeowners state negligent misrepresentation claims with
respect to Lozier Homes only to the extent that it is vicariously liable for the actions ofSanford,
Burckhard, and Sansburn. Negligent misrepresentation claims against Lozier Homes were
properly dismissed where claims against all three ofthese individuals were properly dismissed.
Homeowners also sufficiently allege facts from which we can envision a hypothetical set
offacts, consistent with the complaint, establishing that Lozier Homes is the alter ego of
Declarant. These claims have been reduced to default judgment against Declarant. Whether
Lozier Homes is responsible for liability assigned to Declarant in that judgment is a question
beyond the scope ofthe briefing and argument herein and will need to be addressed upon
remand.
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No. 69637-8-1/46
dismissed. Each negligent misrepresentation claim that was properly dismissed
is marked in the table below.
Sanford Burckhard Sansburn Lozier Homes
Alexander X X X X
Blocker X X
Ventures
Clark X X
Edgington X X X X
Johnson X X X X
Kanuri X X X X
Kasprzak X X
Larkins X X X X
Magnussen X X X X
McKillop X X
Ott X X X X
Patton X X X X
Richards X X X X
Schultz X X
Smith X X
Stoddard X X
West X X
Xu X X X X
J
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No. 69637-8-1/47
In addition to their negligent misrepresentation claims, Homeowners also
plead claims for fraud by omission and misrepresentation. In order to state a
claim for fraud, the plaintiff must establish "(1) representation of an existing fact;
(2) materiality; (3) falsity; (4) the speaker's knowledge of its falsity; (5) intent of
the speaker that it should be acted upon by the plaintiff; (6) plaintiff's ignorance of
its falsity; (7) plaintiff's reliance on the truth of the representation; (8) plaintiff's
right to rely upon it; and (9) damages." Stilev v. Block. 130 Wn.2d 486, 505, 925
P.2d 194 (1996). Unlike for negligent misrepresentation claims, for claims of
fraud a duty to disclose may exist independent of the board members' statutory
duties. In Haberman v. Washington Public Power Supply System. 109 Wn.2d
107, 168, 744 P.2d 1032, 750 P.2d 254 (1987), our Supreme Court stated that
"while a duty in a fraud case may be owed by a defendant to plaintiffs in privity, a
fiduciary relationship, or a limited class of persons, a duty may also arise to those
third persons whom the defendant intends or has reason to expect will receive
the information." Haberman, 109 Wn.2d at 168. The court found that this was
sound policy because, "while requiring ... a fiduciary relationship ... is
warranted in negligent misrepresentation cases where a defendant is merely
negligent and should not be held potentially liable to an unlimited number of
plaintiffs, the same reasoning does not apply where a defendant knowingly
makes a misrepresentation." Haberman, 109 Wn.2d at 167. As Homeowners
note, it was foreseeable that condominium units would be bought and sold.
Because condominium unit sellers have a duty to disclose to purchasers
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No. 69637-8-1/48
pursuant to RCW 64.06.020, the board members have reason to expect that the
representations they make to owners will be transmitted to purchasers.
This expectation, however, is informed by our decision in Nguyen, wherein
we held that the original seller of a home has no duty to disclose a concealed
defect to the second purchaser. 140 Wn. App. at 732-33. Whereas the
Haberman plaintiffs asserted a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation, the
Nguyen plaintiffs asserted a claim for fraudulent concealment. Nguyen, 140 Wn.
App. at 729. Viewing Nguyen in light of Haberman, in order for a second
purchaser to state a claim for fraud against the original seller, the subsequent
purchaser must allege that the original seller made an affirmative
misrepresentation; allegations of omissions alone will not suffice. Here,
Homeowners allege both omission and misrepresentation. Homeowners allege
that they relied on Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, Sansburn, and Peter, but
what actions Homeowners undertook as a result of such reliance is unclear.
However, given that Homeowners pleaded that Lozier Homes, Sanford,
Burckhard, Sansburn, and Peter made affirmative misrepresentations, we can
hypothesize a set of facts that will satisfy the duty requirement set out in
Haberman. This is all that is required to survive a CR 12(b)(6) motion. Kinney v.
Cook. 159 Wn.2d 837, 842, 154 P.3d 206 (2007). Hence, all plaintiffs sufficiently
state a claim for fraud against Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, Sansburn, and
Peter.
Finally, Homeowners assert a civil conspiracy claim against Lozier Homes
and Sanford. In order to establish a civil conspiracy, a plaintiff
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No. 69637-8-1/49
must prove by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that (1) two
or more people combined to accomplish an unlawful purpose, or
combined to accomplish a lawful purpose by unlawful means; and
(2) the conspirators entered into an agreement to accomplish the
conspiracy. Wilson v. State. 84 Wn. App. 332, 350-51, 929 P.2d
448 (1996), cert, denied, 522 U.S. 949[, 118 S.Ct. 368, 139 L.Ed.2d
286] (1997).
All Star Gas, Inc. of Wash, v. Bechard. 100 Wn. App. 732, 740, 998 P.2d 367(2000). Homeowners allege that Lozier Homes and Sanford conspired to
breach[ ] their fiduciary duties to unit purchasers, fraudulently
conceal[ ] the existence of defective construction, pretend[ ] to do
comprehensive investigation and repair of conditionswith
knowledge that the investigations and repairs were not adequate,
misrepresent ] the nature and cause of the leaks being
experienced by unit owners, plac[e] Sanford on the Board when he
had no legal right under the Washington Condominium Act to
remain, and other actions.
Homeowners allege, in other words, that Lozier Homes and Sanford conspired to
commit the torts that formed the basis for their other claims. Homeowners' civil
conspiracy claims thus incorporate all of Homeowners' other claims. As
previously noted, a duty can arise to third persons where the defendant
fraudulently misrepresents a material fact. Because the civil conspiracy claims
incorporate Homeowners' fraud claims, Homeowners sufficiently allege a duty on
behalf of Sanford independent of his duties as a board member. Homeowners'
34
civil conspiracy claims therefore survive Respondents' CR 12(b)(6) objections.
34 Lozier Homes and Sanford further contend that Homeowners' civil conspiracy claims
fail because an agent cannot conspire with its principal. However, from Homeowners' complaint,
we can hypothesize a setof facts in which Sanford was not acting as the agent of Lozier Homes
during the conspiracy. Conflicting theories of liability can be resolved on remand by the
application of actual evidentiary facts, as opposed to our application of the CR 12(b)(6) standard
of review.
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No. 69637-8-1/50
Homeowners fail to properly plead their CPA claims. In order to prevail on
a claim for violation of the CPA, the plaintiff must establish "(1) an unfair or
deceptive act or practice (2) occurring in trade or commerce (3) with a public
interest impact (4) that proximately causes [and] (5) injury to a plaintiff in his or
her business or property." Douglas v. Visser. 173 Wn. App. 823, 834, 295 P.3d
800 (2013) (citing Svendsen v. Stock. 143 Wn.2d 546, 553, 23 P.3d 455 (2001);
Indoor Billboard/Wash., Inc. v. Integra Telecom of Wash.. Inc.. 162 Wn.2d 59,
83-84, 170P.3d10(2007)).
Homeowners allege that Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and
Sansburn, took various actions "[i]n order to protect themselves from potential
liability under the implied warranties of quality ofthe Washington Condominium
Act for selling seriously defective construction at the Project." However, none of
the plaintiffs purchased their units from Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, or
Sansburn.35 Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, and Sansburn, were not in the
business of selling condominiums. When Homeowners purchased their units,
they were not engaged in trade or commerce with Lozier Homes, Sanford,
Burckhard, or Sansburn. As they do not allege that Lozier Homes', Sanford's,
Burckhard's, and Sansburn's actions occurred in trade or commerce,
35 Smith and Kasprzak purchased their units from Declarant. Thus, Smith and Kasprzak
stated a CPA claim against Declarant. These claims were reduced to default judgment against
Declarant. These plaintiffs setforth no facts establishing Lozier Homes' individual liability on this
claim. Whether Lozier Homes is the alter ego of Declarant, and thus responsible for the judgment
entered against it, presents a separate question.
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No. 69637-8-1/51
Homeowners fail to state a claim for violation of the CPA. Accordingly, all of
Homeowners' CPA claims were properly dismissed.36
VI
Although not addressed by the trial court, Respondents contend that the
naming of spouses as codefendants is not necessary to create community
liability and, therefore, the spouses of the individual board members are not
proper parties to the suit.37 Respondents cite no authority that prohibits the
naming of spouses as codefendants in a complaint, nor could they, as such a
rule does not exist. It was not improper for Homeowners to name the board
members' spouses as parties in their complaint.
VII
A
In their cross appeal, Sanford, Burckhard, Sansburn, and Lozier Homes
contend that the trial court erred by denying their request for attorney fees
36 Lozier Homes makes two brief contentions as to why Homeowners' negligence claims
fail, neither of which is availing. First, Lozier Homes contends that the allegations that itoffered
to perform deck inspections and that it recoated the decks is not sufficient to establish a duty. "[I]f
someone gratuitously undertakes to perform a duty, they can be held liable for performing it
negligently." Burg v. Shannon &Wilson. Inc.. 110 Wn. App. 798, 808, 43 P.3d 526 (2002). It is
conceivable based on Homeowners' complaint that Lozier Homes voluntarily undertook a deck
project and completed it negligently. Accordingly, Lozier Homes' argument is better suited to a
motion for summary judgment, not a CR 12(b)(6) motion.
Second, Lozier Homes contends that Homeowners' negligence claims fail because there
is no such thing as a claim for negligent construction. This contention fails regardless ofthe
accuracy of Lozier Homes' characterization ofthe law. Homeowners' claims are for negligence
"in undertaking the construction, inspection, condition reporting, and repair ofthe Project."
(Emphasis added.) Homeowners' negligence claims thus are not merely for negligent
construction.
37 The only case cited by Respondents, deElche v. Jacobsen, 95 Wn.2d 237, 622 P.2d
835 (1980), does not stand for this proposition. The court in deElche held that in cases of
separate liability, a plaintiff may recover from the defendant's community property if the
defendant's separate property is insufficient to satisfy the judgment. 95 Wn.2d at 246.
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No. 69637-8-1/52
pursuant to RCW 4.84.185. This is so, they assert, because Homeowners'
complaint was clearly frivolous, as Homeowners knew that the statutory limitation
periods on their claims had long since expired. Our resolution of the issues in
this appeal belies that assertion.
RCW 4.84.185 reads, in pertinent part, "In any civil action, the court . . .
may, upon written findings by the judge that the action . . . was frivolous and
advanced without reasonable cause, require the nonprevailing party to pay the
prevailing party the reasonable expenses, including fees of attorneys, incurred in
opposing such action." We review a trial court's decision under RCW 4.84.185
for an abuse of discretion. Rhinehart v. Seattle Times. 59 Wn. App. 332, 339-40,
798 P.2d 1155 (1990). "A frivolous action is one that cannot be supported by
any rational argument on the law or facts." Rhinehart, 59 Wn. App. at 340. In
order for the court to award attorney fees under RCW 4.84.185, the lawsuit must
be frivolous in its entirety and "advanced without reasonable cause." N. Coast
Elec. Co. v. Selig. 136 Wn. App. 636, 650, 151 P.3d 211 (2007). As some of
Homeowners' claims should have survived Respondents' CR 12(b)(6) motions to
dismiss, Homeowners' lawsuit was clearly not frivolous in its entirety. The trial
court did not err by denying the request for an award of attorney fees.
B
Sanford, Burckhard, Sansburn, and Lozier Homes also request attorney
fees on appeal pursuant to RAP 18.9(a).38 Homeowners' appeal is frivolous,
38 RAP 18.9(a) states:
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No. 69637-8-1/53
they assert, because Homeowners' underlying claim was frivolous and
Homeowners make no new arguments on appeal. "An appeal is frivolous if 'no
debatable issues are presented upon which reasonable minds might differ, i.e., it
is devoid of merit that no reasonable possibility of reversal exists.'" Hartford Ins.
Co. v. Ohio Cas. Ins. Co.. 145 Wn. App. 765, 780, 189 P.3d 195 (2008) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting Olson v. City of Bellevue, 93 Wn.App. 154,
165, 968 P.2d 894 (1998)). As we reverse the trial court's decision with respect
to some claims, Homeowners' appeal is not devoid of merit. The request is
denied.
VIII
The decision of the trial court is reversed and remanded for further
proceedings with respect to the following claims: all negligence claims against
Lozier Homes; all civil conspiracy claims against Lozier Homes and Sanford; all
fraud claims against Lozier Homes, Sanford, Burckhard, Sansburn, and Peter; all
board member duty of care claims marked in the following chart,
Sanford Peter Backues Cusimano Hovda Phillip Lozier Homes
Alexander X X
The appellate court on its own initiative or on motion of a party may order a party
or counsel, or a court reporter or other authorized person preparing a verbatim
report of proceedings, who uses these rules for the purpose of delay, files a
frivolous appeal, or fails to comply with these rules to pay terms or compensatory
damages to any other party who has been harmed by the delay or the failure to
comply or to pay sanctions to the court. The appellate court may condition a
party's right to participate further in the review on compliance with terms of an
order or ruling including payment of an award which is ordered paid by the party.
Ifan award is not paid within the time specified by the court, the appellate court
will transmit the award to the superior court of the county where the case arose
and direct the entry of a judgment in accordance with the award.
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No. 69637-8-1/54
Blocker X X X X X X X
Ventures
Clark X X X X X
Edgington X X X
Johnson X
Kanuri X
Kasprzak X X X X X X X
Larkins X
Magnussen X
McKillop X X X X X
Ott X X
Patton X
Schultz X X X X X
Smith X X X X X X X
Stoddard X X X X X
West X X X X X
Xu X
and all negligent misrepresentation claims marked in the following chart.
Sanford Burckhard Sansburn Lozier Homes
Alexander
Blocker X X
Ventures
54-
No. 69637-8-1/55
Clark X X
Edgington
Johnson
Kanuri
Kasprzak X X
Larkins
Magnussen
McKillop X X
Ott
Patton
Richards
Schultz X X
Smith X X
Stoddard X X
West X X
Xu
The decision of the trial court is affirmed in all other respects.
55
No. 69637-8-1/56
Affirmed in part, reversed in part.
L^-*-^t/
We concur:
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56