Clallam County Bar

Clallam County lawyers & legal news

Angeles Mediation

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Landlord tenant lawyers and the pandemic

If you are looking for a lawyer to help you with a landlord tenant matter in Clallam County, try calling the lawyers on this page.

The COVID troubles

It’s not easy for tenants or landlords during the the COVID-19 pandemic. ClallamCountyBar.com encourages everyone to be polite and respectful and to try to work things out on your own. Nobody “wins” in court. For tenants, please remember that legal problems can follow you for a long time, and for Landlords, please keep in mind that if an out of court solution is possible, it might lead to a best case outcome for you. We wish everyone the best in these difficult times.

If you are a lawyer practicing landlord tenant law in Clallam County, you can be listed on the Real Estate page. Just contact us.

Dennis Dickson J.D.: In memoriam 2021

Long time Clallam County lawyer Dennis Dickson passed away on May 21, 2021. Dennis was 75. He practiced most of his career as a city attorney for Port Angeles. He was known for his dedication to protecting the Port Angeles community, hard work, compassion, fair treatment of everyone in the legal system, and for being a lawyer others could look to for inspiration. He was never dogmatic and always looked for the facts and the unique aspect of what made each and every case unique.

In 2007, Dennis made a decision not to charge a 20 year-old woman who hit and killed another woman with her vehicle. He looked at the facts carefully and nonjudgmentally, and found there was no evidence of speeding, negligence or reckless driving. He found the incident was an accident, and the family of the deceased woman agreed. “When we get into situations like this, we certainly have to recognize there are things that are unfortunate accidents that don’t involve criminal behavior.” Peninsula Daily News, September 25, 2007.

Dennis Dickson, Port Angeles City Attorney

Dennis was born in 1946. He graduated from law school in Ohio and practiced for several years in Toledo. He was admitted to practice law in Washington on May 31, 1988, and served the Port Angeles City Attorney’s office for 22 years, retiring in 2010.

Dennis contributed greatly to community causes. He served on the board or in an active position for Peninsula Behavioral Health, Dungeness River Audubon Center, North Olympic Land Trust, Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, Naval Elks #353, and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Dennis Dickson Obituary (1946 – 2021) – Port Angeles, WA – Peninsula Daily News (legacy.com)

Teaching About ACEs at Peninsula College: A Clallam Reslience Project community meeting

On April 6th, 2021 at 10am, The Clallam Resilience Project will convene via zoom for their monthly Community Meeting. This month will feature a presentation by Dr. Allen Lapin, a retired MD and current instructor in the Addiction Studies program, and Anna King, the director the Early Childhood Education Department. The two instructors will present on how they incorporate teaching about Adverse Childhood Experiences into their curriculum in order to prepare their students to support future clients.

Session details

Date: April 6, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (PST)
Price: Free
Host/Facilitator: Anna King and Dr. Allen Lapin
Sponsors: Clallam Resilience Project and Clallam County United Way
CLE: Continuing education credit is not provided, but may be available from your respective licencing agency.
Zoom Meeting login: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89928194489?pwd=Nmx4NkZ2eVpZbldNYk9tY2k4YUJNZz09
Meeting ID: 899 2819 4489
Passcode: HOPE

Presenters

Anna King is the Early Childhood Education Program Coordinator and Faculty for Peninsula College. Prior to working at the college Anna worked for OlyCAP in the Early Childhood Services programs. She is passionate about children having accesses to quality education programs.

Dr. Allen Lapin graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. He completed his residency at LA County -USC Medical Center, then served active-duty in the US Army Medical Corps for two years. He worked at the San Mateo County Medical Center for 29 years. He and his wife have now lived in Port Angeles for 21 years, and he serves as part-time faculty at Peninsula College, teaching about Addiction Studies in the Medical Assisting Department.

The Clallam Resilience Project Community Meetings take place the first Tuesday of every month and are open to the public. Meetings are posted at Meetings | Clallam Resilience Project (unitedwayclallam.org)

Questions about the event can be directed to: [email protected]

Port Angeles District Court jury trials cancelled

Judge Neupert has postponed all criminal jury trials through January 12, 2021. Contact your attorney for details about how your case will be handled if you have a pending criminal case. The Clallam County District Court I Administrative Order 2020-07 (DCI AO7) is linked below, and it has the details Civil trials and hearings, infractions, anti-harassment hearings, and motions are covered in CDI AO7.

CC-DC-I-Administrative-Order-12-07-2020Download

Washington’s Minor Guardianship Court forms

Washington State’s new Uniform Guardianship Act replaces the nonparent custody laws, and the official state forms are now available. The forms are currently available on the Washington Court’s List of All Forms page, just look for the Guardianship forms, then the minor guardianship forms, or clikc below. Click here for an article describing the minor guardianship law.

Click here for Washington Courts Minor Guardianship forms

If you go to the “List of All Forms page, look for the “Minor Guardianship” link on the page:

RCW 26.10, which governs third party custody, non-parent, and some grandparent rights laws, are being replaced by RCW 11.130, the new Uniform Guardianship Act. The new laws go into effect on January 21, 2021.

The new law is complicated. ClallamCountyBar.com recommends people interested in seeking the court’s help under this law should contact the Clallam County Facilitator, or consult with an attorney.

CLE: Overview of the new minor guardianship law

Credits: 1.5 Credits Pending
Date: DECEMBER 19, 2020
Time: 10:30am – Noon
Price: Free, suggested $35 donation to CJCPL
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_h3RS4PPeT4GfOmb2AnCYfQ

Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers is sponsoring this CLE designed to provide an overview of the new minor guardianship statute that goes into effect on January 1, 2021. This law replaces the current non-parental custody statute and is quite different in many respects. Non-attorneys who are interested in being appointed as guardians ad litem or court visitors are also encouraged to attend. The presentation will also include valuable information on how the transitions from non-parental custodies to minor guardianships will be handled in Jefferson and Clallam County Clerk’s Offices and Superior Courts.

This CLE is free of cost, though participants will be encouraged to make a $35 donation to the Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers.

Presenters include Commissioner Brandon Mack of Clallam County Superior Court, and Lorraine Rimson of Kurlin & Rimson Law Offices, PLLC, and Ruth Gordon, Jefferson County Clerk of Superior Court.

Elizabeth Schwantor has moved

Attorney Elizabeth Schwantor has taken a position with the legal department at Olympic Medical Center. She will be working in the risk management and compliance efforts section.

Ms. Schwantor previously had a private practice where she focused on family law cases.

ClallamCountyBar.com congratulates Ms. Schwantor for her new position.

Superior Court jury trials cancelled through January 13, 2021

All Clallam County Superior Court jury trials through January 13, 2021 have been cancelled, pursuant to Emergency Order 12-4-2020, Cause # 20-2-00001-05. Bench trials are not cancelled, which means any family law or other civil trials which do not require a jury will continue as scheduled.

Hearings for motions are not cancelled. The courtrooms remain open, however, the court strongly encourages people to appear for hearings by Zoom.

The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting Clallam County hard right now. Nipping the spread of the virus in bud will make it easier for our county to return to whatever normal is possible, and minimize negative economic impacts.

COVID-19-Emergency-Order-12-4-20Download

RFP: legal services for indigent adult offenders

Legal Services for Indigent Adult Offenders          

RFP No. 12391

In December 2020, the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain legal services for eligible Incarcerated Individuals at the following prison facilities:

Airway Heights Corrections Center, Airway Heights, WA
Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Clallam Bay, WA
Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla, WA
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Connell, WA
Monroe Correctional Complex, Monroe, WA
Stafford Creak Corrections Center, Aberdeen, WA
Washington Corrections Center, Shelton, WA
Washington Corrections Center for Women, Gig Harbor, WA

Services will primarily relate to post-conviction relief, conditions of confinement, and civil matters including family law.  Successful proposers (contractors) must be licensed to practice law in Washington State.  DOC anticipates that contracts resulting from the RFP will begin in February 2020, continue through June 30, 2022, and at DOCs discretion, may be renewed for additional periods through June 30, 2027.

This RFP No. 12391 will be posted on Washington’s Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) under commodity codes 961-49 and 961-50.  The Department encourages you to register on WEBS to receive notification of publication of this and other procurements. There is no charge to register.  Once registered at https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs, you will receive notification of any solicitation posted under the commodity codes that you selected.

If you are interested applying for these opportunities, if you have questions and/or would like additional information, please contact:

Michael Pumilia, JD, Procurement Coordinator
Email:  [email protected]
Subject Line: RFP12391

Please feel free to forward this opportunity to other interested parties. We look forward to hearing from you regarding these opportunities.

Superior Court trials temporarily postponed – EO 11-18-2020

By Emergency Order 11-18-2020, the Clallam County Superior Court has postponed all jury trials for two weeks. Contact your attorney or the court for details, or read the full order in the link below. Bench trials (trials which do not require a jury) and motions will continue as normal.

The courtrooms continue to be open, however the judges strongly urge people to participate in hearings by Zoom (video or telephone) appearance. Masks and other appropriate personal protective equipment are required to be worn in the courtrooms. Masks protect you and everyone else.

Juror protections remain in place. Special distancing procedures have been implemented by the judges. Jurors may automatically request a postponement. Read your jury summons notice carefully for instructions.

COVID-19-Emergency-Order-11.18.20Download