News and Insights
July 2023 Knowing the Waters
July 2023 Knowing the Waters - Litigation Involving the Washington Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW). By Frank Chmelik I just returned from the WPPA Commissioners Conference where we had a discussion about the increase in litigation involving the Washington Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW). I [...]
June 2023 Knowing the Waters – Port Documents
By Frank Chmelik This month we will take a look at what documents your port district should have on file and be keeping up to date. Some documents are required by statute and others are good to have as a “best practice.” Required By Statute Annual Operating Budget. RCW [...]
May 2023 Knowing the Waters – Resignations and Filling Commission Vacancies
By Frank Chmelik In the 2023 legislative session, the law relating to filling vacancies in municipal government elected bodies (including port commissions) was amended. RCW 53.12.140 is the port district statute that specifies when a vacancy in the port commission occurs and how to fill that vacancy. This column [...]
April 2023 Knowing the Waters – Elections
By Frank Chmelik Well, we are coming up on what one executive director described to me as “the silly season.” You are thinking spring and maybe some boating or barbeques – we lawyers are thinking election season. As the election season is upon us, local government officials and employees [...]
November 2022 Knowing the Waters – Incidents and Claims
By Frank Chmelik This month we will look at how a port should react to a reported personal injury or property damage claim on port property and how the port should expect to interface with the potentially injured party, the port’s insurance broker, the port’s insurance carrier and the [...]
Nondisclosure Agreements Update
Employers commonly require employees to sign agreements containing nondisclosure and/or non-disparagement provisions. These provisions are most often found in employment contracts or severance agreements. However, due to recent changes in the law, employers will want to immediately review their provisions to make sure they are compliant with the new [...]
July 2023 Knowing the Waters
July 2023 Knowing the Waters - Litigation Involving the Washington Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW). By Frank Chmelik I just returned from the WPPA Commissioners Conference where we had a discussion about the increase in litigation involving the Washington Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW). I [...]
June 2023 Knowing the Waters – Port Documents
By Frank Chmelik This month we will take a look at what documents your port district should have on file and be keeping up to date. Some documents are required by statute and others are good to have as a “best practice.” Required By Statute Annual Operating Budget. RCW [...]
May 2023 Knowing the Waters – Resignations and Filling Commission Vacancies
By Frank Chmelik In the 2023 legislative session, the law relating to filling vacancies in municipal government elected bodies (including port commissions) was amended. RCW 53.12.140 is the port district statute that specifies when a vacancy in the port commission occurs and how to fill that vacancy. This column [...]
April 2023 Knowing the Waters – Elections
By Frank Chmelik Well, we are coming up on what one executive director described to me as “the silly season.” You are thinking spring and maybe some boating or barbeques – we lawyers are thinking election season. As the election season is upon us, local government officials and employees [...]
November 2022 Knowing the Waters – Incidents and Claims
By Frank Chmelik This month we will look at how a port should react to a reported personal injury or property damage claim on port property and how the port should expect to interface with the potentially injured party, the port’s insurance broker, the port’s insurance carrier and the [...]
October 2022 Knowing the Waters – Annual Checklist
By Frank Chmelik I have recently received several requests to talk again about issues that a port commission or executive director may consider at year end or early next year. The idea here is to list items, which should be looked after at least annually – call it an [...]