Thymian v. Massart, 38551

Decision Date17 November 1966
Docket NumberNo. 38551,38551
Citation69 Wn.2d 806,420 P.2d 351
CourtWashington Supreme Court
PartiesRichard W. THYMIAN et al., Respondents, v. Clarence F. MASSART et al., Appellants.

A. L. Newbould, Corp. Counsel, Seattle, G. Grant Wilcox, Jorgen G. Bader, Asst. Corp. Counsel, for appellants.

Kumm, Maxwell, Petersen & Lee, Raymond J. Petersen, Seattle, for respondents.

FINLEY, Judge.

The precise issue presented by the instant fact pattern was raised in a companion case, Kasper v. City of Edmonds, Wash., 420 P.2d 346 (1966). Thus, we are once again concerned with the meaning and effect to be given to the words 'total cost of the improvement' as they appear in RCW 35.43.180, the statute which provides for the restraint of local improvement projects by protest of property owners within the proposed local improvement district.

The salient facts of this case differ only slightly from those in Kasper, supra. In the present case, the City of Seattle, by Ordinance 93669, ordered the creation of Local Improvement District No. 6314 and the initiation of what is known as the 'Broadview Project.' The project was to combine the installation of storm drains, the paving of streets, the laying of concrete sidewalks, and various other improvements. The estimated total cost of the project was established to be $2,560,443.17, of which the City of Seattle was to contribute $492,980.00, and $2,067,463.17 was to be assessed against property within the local improvement district. Within 30 days after Ordinance 93669 was enacted, and in accordance with the provisions of RCW 35.43.180, protests were filed by owners of property subject to assessments in the amount of $1,277,671.25. This figure is approximately 60.19% Of that portion of the total cost of the project to be assessed against property within the district, including publicly owned property, and is approximately 49.90% Of the total cost of the project. Respondent property owners filed a petition for a writ of prohibition in the Superior Court for King County, seeking to restrain the city from further proceedings with Local Improvement District No. 6314. The trial court granted the writ, and the City of Seattle has appealed.

We are convinced that 'total cost of the improvement,' as it appears in RCW 35.43.180, refers to the assessed cost as borne by the property owners whose property is benefited, and that properly filed protests representing 60% Of this figure deprive a municipality of jurisdiction to proceed...

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4 cases
  • Kasper v. City of Edmonds
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • 17 November 1966
    ...Seattle, for respondent. FINLEY, Judge. The question for determination in the instant case and in a companion appeal, Thymian v. Massart, Wash., 420 P.2d 351 (1966), concerns the meaning of the words "total cost of the improvement" as they appear in the presently effective version of RCW 35......
  • Esping v. Pesicka, 5289-I
    • United States
    • Washington Court of Appeals
    • 3 April 1978
    ...they appear in RCW 35.43.180. In the companion cases of Kasper v. Edmonds, 69 Wash.2d 799, 420 P.2d 346 (1966) and Thymian v. Massart, 69 Wash.2d 806, 420 P.2d 351 (1966), it was held that the words "total cost of the improvement" refer only to that portion of the project costs assessed aga......
  • Esping v. Pesicka, 5289-I
    • United States
    • Washington Court of Appeals
    • 14 August 1978
    ...cost of the LID. We do not agree. The companion cases of Kasper v. Edmonds, 69 Wash.2d 799, 420 P.2d 346 (1966) and Thymian v. Massart, 69 Wash.2d 806, 420 P.2d 351 (1966), upon which appellants rely, hold that a municipality may not dilute LID protestors' right of protest by contributing "......
  • Esping v. Pesicka
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • 16 August 1979
    ...property owners protested the formation of the LID. See Kasper v. Edmonds, 69 Wash.2d 799, 420 P.2d 346 (1966), and Thymian v. Massart, 69 Wash.2d 806, 420 P.2d 351 (1966). The trial court rejected petitioners' arguments and entered a judgment for the city. On appeal, the Court of Appeals i......

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