September 2025 Knowing the Waters
A question was recently posed by the WPPA Marina Committee. They asked, “Can a port district charge differing moorage rates for customers...
A question was recently posed by the WPPA Marina Committee. They asked, “Can a port district charge differing moorage rates for customers...
We are extremely pleased to announce that Shane Brady has joined CSD Attorneys at Law as a principal attorney. Shane was previously with the litigation defense firm of Simmons Sweeney Freimund Smith Tardiff based in Washington State.
Congratulations to Frank Chmelik, Jon Sitkin, and Seth Woolson who have been selected to the 2025 WA Super Lawyers List, and Matt Paxton, Tim Schermetzler, and Aaron Haynes who have been selected again this year as honorees of the Rising Stars list!
At the end of July, I attended the Commissioner’s Conference at Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine. It was a nice change of pace to attend a conference near my home, not only because I could sleep in my own bed and avoid several hours of travel...
It’s an election year, which means election law is front and center. In this month’s column, I will discuss updates to port-specific election laws and revisit some election season tips for port staff, commissioners and candidates to keep in mind.
On May 20, 2025, the Governor signed a new law that will apply to all Community Associations starting January 1, 2026. The new law is intended to assist owners who are struggling financially...
Summertime at the port means increased use of port facilities—port marinas, piers, and boat launches will be filled with recreational boaters, commercial fishers, and whale watchers; port parks will host festivals and events; and general aviation airports will see increased traffic.
In April, the Washington Court of Appeals issued a decision in West v. Walla Walla City Council , a case involving an alleged violation of the Open Public Meetings Act (“OPMA”).
If you have been following this blog or the Water Resource Inventory Area (“WRIA”) 1 Adjudication, you have learned that the Washington Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) has issued its Summons to all potential water right claimants in the Nooksack Basin and WRIA 1.
In this month’s column, I cautiously dip my legal toe into the implications around recent federal funding actions. I say “cautiously” because I realize there are strong opinions on all sides of federal politics right now.