Premises Liability Complaint - Washington

Before you use this: If the defendant is a Washington state or local public entity, or its officer, employee, or volunteer acting in that capacity, check the tort-claim presentment rules before filing. Present a local claim to the designated agent under RCW 4.96.020 or a state claim to the Office of Risk Management under RCW 4.92.100; where those rules apply, wait 60 calendar days after presentment before filing (RCW 4.96.020(4), 4.92.110).

PREMISES LIABILITY COMPLAINT — WASHINGTON

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Caption
2. Parties
3. Jurisdiction and Venue
4. Factual Allegations
5. Dangerous Condition and Notice
6. Duty of Care
7. Count I — Negligence / Premises Liability
8. Count II — Negligent Maintenance
9. Comparative Fault
10. Damages
11. Jury Demand
12. Prayer for Relief

CAPTION

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF [COUNTY NAME]

PARTIES

1. Plaintiff [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] is an individual residing at [PLAINTIFF ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Washington [ZIP CODE].

2. Defendant [DEFENDANT FULL NAME] is [an individual residing at / a corporation organized under the laws of [STATE], with its principal place of business at] [DEFENDANT ADDRESS], [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Washington [ZIP CODE].

3. At all times relevant hereto, Defendant owned, operated, managed, maintained, and/or controlled the real property located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS] ("the Premises").

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

4. This Court has original jurisdiction under RCW 2.08.010 because the amount in controversy satisfies that section's jurisdictional requirement. Plaintiff does not state a damages amount in this personal-injury Complaint.

5. Venue is proper in [COUNTY] County pursuant to RCW 4.12.020, as the cause of action arose in this county.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

6. On or about [DATE OF INCIDENT], Plaintiff was lawfully present on the Premises located at [PROPERTY ADDRESS], [CITY], Washington, for the purpose of [PURPOSE OF VISIT, e.g., shopping, conducting business, visiting as a guest].

7. At the time of the incident, Plaintiff was a business invitee on the Premises because [STATE FACTS SHOWING INVITATION FOR THE PREMISES’ BUSINESS PURPOSE].

8. While on the Premises, Plaintiff [DESCRIBE THE INCIDENT, e.g., slipped and fell on a wet surface, tripped over a defect in the walkway, was injured by falling merchandise].

9. As a direct and proximate result of the incident, Plaintiff suffered serious bodily injuries, including but not limited to [DESCRIBE INJURIES].

DANGEROUS CONDITION AND NOTICE

10. At the time of Plaintiff's injury, there existed a dangerous condition on the Premises, specifically [DESCRIBE DANGEROUS CONDITION IN DETAIL].

11. The dangerous condition had existed for [DURATION OR DESCRIPTION OF TIME PERIOD], which was sufficient time for Defendant, in the exercise of reasonable care, to discover and remedy the condition.

12. Defendant knew or, by exercising reasonable care, would have discovered the condition, and should have realized it involved an unreasonable risk of harm to invitees.

13. Defendant should have expected that invitees would not discover or realize the danger, or would fail to protect themselves against it.

14. Despite having actual and/or constructive notice of the dangerous condition, Defendant failed to repair, remedy, guard, barricade, or warn of the dangerous condition.

DUTY OF CARE

15. As the owner, operator, and/or controller of the Premises, Defendant owed Plaintiff, as a business invitee, a duty of reasonable care to keep the Premises in a reasonably safe condition, consistent with Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 343 and 343A.

16. Defendant's duty included, but was not limited to:

    • ☐ Regularly inspecting the Premises to discover dangerous conditions;
    • ☐ Repairing known hazards in a timely manner;
    • ☐ Warning of dangerous conditions that could not be immediately remedied;
    • ☐ Maintaining the Premises in a reasonably safe condition for invitees;
    • ☐ Exercising reasonable care regarding snow and ice accumulations in common areas and parking lots.

COUNT I — NEGLIGENCE / PREMISES LIABILITY

17. Plaintiff incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.

18. Defendant breached the duty of care owed to Plaintiff by one or more of the following acts or omissions:

    • ☐ Failing to maintain the Premises in a reasonably safe condition;
    • ☐ Failing to inspect the Premises to discover the dangerous condition;
    • ☐ Failing to repair or remedy the dangerous condition within a reasonable time;
    • ☐ Failing to warn Plaintiff of the dangerous condition;
    • ☐ Failing to barricade or guard the dangerous condition;
    • ☐ [OTHER SPECIFIC ACTS OF NEGLIGENCE].

19. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's negligence, Plaintiff suffered the injuries and damages described herein.

COUNT II — NEGLIGENT MAINTENANCE

20. Plaintiff incorporates all preceding paragraphs as though fully set forth herein.

21. Defendant negligently maintained the Premises by [DESCRIBE SPECIFIC MAINTENANCE FAILURES].

22. Defendant's negligent maintenance of the Premises was a direct and proximate cause of Plaintiff's injuries and damages.

COMPARATIVE FAULT

23. Plaintiff was not at fault for the incident described herein, or alternatively, any fault attributable to Plaintiff should only diminish the damages proportionally.

DAMAGES

24. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant's negligence, Plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer the following damages:

Economic Damages:

• ☐ Past medical expenses;
• ☐ Future medical expenses;
• ☐ Lost wages and earning capacity;
• ☐ Future lost wages and diminished earning capacity;
• ☐ Property damage;
• ☐ Other economic losses: [DESCRIBE].

Non-Economic Damages:

• ☐ Physical pain and suffering, past and future;
• ☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress;
• ☐ Loss of enjoyment of life;
• ☐ Permanent impairment and/or disfigurement;
• ☐ Loss of consortium (if applicable).

JURY DEMAND

25. Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable as a matter of right under CR 38. Plaintiff will serve and file the written demand and pay the jury fee required by law.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant as follows:

1. Compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial;
2. Economic damages including medical expenses, lost wages, and future care costs;
3. Non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life;
4. Pre-judgment and post-judgment interest as allowed by law;
5. Costs and disbursements of this action;
6. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and equitable.

Respectfully submitted,

[LAW FIRM NAME]

By: [________________________________]
[ATTORNEY NAME], Esq.
[WSBA NUMBER]
[FIRM ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE]
[TELEPHONE]
[EMAIL]

Attorney for Plaintiff

Date: [__/__/____]

VERIFICATION

STATE OF WASHINGTON
COUNTY OF [COUNTY NAME]

I, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME], declare under penalty of perjury under the law of Washington that the factual allegations in the foregoing Complaint are true and correct.

[________________________________]
[PLAINTIFF FULL NAME]

Signed at [CITY], Washington, on [__/__/____].

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES — WASHINGTON