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New Pro Se Bankruptcy Clinic at the Federal Courthouse

The Northwest Consumer Law Center, in partnership with the Federal Bar Association, launched a new Pro Se Bankruptcy Clinic at the Federal Courthouse. The clinic is a free walk-in clinic where experienced bankruptcy lawyers will help pro se individuals:

  • Look through forms to catch things that may cause problems for your case
  • Help you fix problems in your forms and file amended (revised) ones
  • Step in to represent you in your case, including going with you to the Meeting of Creditors
  • Advise you in various bankruptcy-related issues

The clinic occurs from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on the 1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month at the Federal Courthouse: 700 Stewart Street, Seattle, WA 98101, Room 6101 (6th Floor). If you are unable to attend the clinic at those times, then you may also call the Northwest Consumer Law Center’s Intake Message Line at (206) 805-1722 to request a consultation. The clinic is limited to assisting those individuals whose household gross monthly income is 200% of the Federal Poverty Level or lower. For more information about the clinic, and to see if you qualify for its services, click here.

Want more information about the various legal clinics offered in King County? Visit our legal clinics page.

Want more information and resources about Debt & Bankruptcy in King County? Visit our Debt Defense Legal Clinics & Resources page.

KCLL Hires a New Director

The Board of Trustees and the staff are pleased to announce that KCLL has hired Barbara Swatt Engstrom as its new Executive Director.  Ms. Swatt Engstrom, who holds a J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law and an M.L.I.S. from the University of Washington Information School, has over 15 years of experience in law librarianship, most recently as Librarian and Adjunct Professor at the Seattle University School of Law.  She will join the KCLL team on September 1, 2016.  Welcome, Barbara!

New Law Helps Tenants With Evictions

On June 9, 2016 Engrossed Senate Bill 6413 was enacted. This bill creates a procedure called “Order of Limited Dissemination” which would prevent tenant screening companies from disclosing an eviction on their report. A judge may sign your order if:

  1. You were wrongly named in an eviction/unlawful detainer action or there was no basis for the action.
  2.  Your tenancy was reinstated after the filing of the unlawful detainer.
  3.  Some other “good cause” which is up to the discretion of the judge.

If you are granted this order you may take it to a tenant screening agency and they will not disclose any evictions on your report. You may then use this report for up to 30 days while trying to obtain housing. This process does not remove the eviction from the public record and so it is still discoverable to the general public.The law also gives landlords up to 21 days to either return the security deposit or submit a statement detailing how the deposit was applied.

Want more information? Check out our list of Housing Law Clinics & Resources, as well as an Eviction Process Guide.

Important Rule Change: Courts May Consider Unpublished Appellate Decisions

Beginning September 1 of 2016, Washington courts may choose to consider unpublished opinions of the Court of Appeals.  While such opinions would still be nonbinding, amendments to GR 14.1 would allow them to be “accorded such persuasive value as the court deems appropriate” – provided the citing party identifies the decision as unpublished and appends a copy to the pleading.  The proposed amendment and rationale can be read here – along with comments received regarding the changes.  The adopted rule may be found here.

Want more help finding Washington Case Law? Check out our Washington Case Law Guide.