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138 stories matching liabil
- Shelton’s Shuttered Bank Promises to Pay Every Depositor in Full
After the sheriff closed the Bank of Shelton, its president bought out the cashier and announced a $20,000 reorganization.
- The State's Rabies Crackdown
Facing an outbreak of rabies, Washington state officials grant peace officers and citizens the power to destroy unmuzzled dogs on sight.
- Local Businessman Retires Amidst Failing Health
John Buckley announces the closure of his business, citing health issues rather than financial hardship.
- Playground Liability Lawsuit Threatens School Equipment
A $5,000 jury verdict for a child injured on school apparatus has sparked fears that playgrounds across North Yakima will be stripped of their play structures.
- The Unpaid Wages of Seattle's Mill Workers
Employees at a local mill face financial desperation after being notified that their promised wages for two weeks of labor cannot be paid.
- The Tax Bill Seattle Couldn't Defend
Kate Evans wins a default judgment over an illegal Twelfth Street grade assessment, exposing a $75,000 civic liability as the abandoned improvement heads back to the Supreme Court.
- The Scapegoat of Pierce County
A prominent local businessman finds himself the target of a smear campaign after a financial scandal guts the county treasury, revealing the toxic power of public rumor in 1870s Tacoma.
- The Supreme Court Rules on Street Grading Liability
The Washington State Supreme Court clarifies the statute of limitations for damage claims against the City of Seattle.
- The Wharfinger's Narrow Escape
A jury rules that a dock owner isn't a common carrier, leaving an injured woman without recourse.
- The Human Cost of Railroad Expansion
A laborer files a massive suit against his contractor after an injury on the Great Northern line costs him his leg.
- A Mount Vernon Mill Folds
A cedar mill succumbs to the dual pressures of economic flooding and a string of creditor lawsuits.
- The Price of a Debt: A Legal Battle in Snohomish
A legal summons filed in 1877 reveals the high stakes of commerce and personal liability in the early days of Snohomish County.
- County Scraps Courthouse Contract Amid Legal Dispute
The Ferro Concrete Company of Seattle walks away from the Benton County courthouse project as legal challenges persist.
- Collapse of a Mercantile Giant in Ellensburg
A devastating fire and the tightening of the money market force the largest mercantile house in Central Washington into a complex legal assignment.
- Ballard Mill Fire Sparks Legal Battle with Great Northern Railway
Insurance companies have filed suit against the Great Northern Railway, alleging a passing locomotive started a massive fire that destroyed the Fleming-Ayerst mill.
- The Internal Feud at a Ballard Lumber Mill
A sawmill partnership in Ballard faces a forced liquidation as the company president sues his partner for mismanagement and mounting debts.
- The Grange Declares Economic War
Washington state farmers and laborers forge a historic alliance to demand fair trade and challenge the monopoly power of the era.
- The City Grants a Telephone Franchise
A new 25-year contract outlines the city's control over telecommunications infrastructure, requiring underground conduits and free service for city officials.
- The Logging Hazard: Court Rules on Hidden Dangers
A landmark state supreme court decision shields lumber merchants from liability for hidden defects in timber that cause mill accidents.
- Death the Price of a Job
A brutal internal railroad memo reveals that safety rules were meant for legal protection, while speed was the only metric that mattered for keeping a job.
- Newport’s Financial Reckoning
Facing a mounting deficit and unpaid warrants, the town council moves to put a bond measure before voters to keep the lights on.
- The Sudden Collapse of the Farmers' Bank
Seattle's financial community was left in shock as a major institution shuttered its doors, leaving depositors and creditors in the lurch.
- The Madison Street Midnight Escape
A Seattle grocer skips town in the dead of night, leaving behind a shop full of unpaid bills and curious neighbors.
- The Great Land Grant Tax Dodging Scheme
Railroad companies are holding onto millions of acres of public land without filing for patents to avoid taxes, placing the burden of government costs on local settlers.
- The Treasurer's Escaped Liability
A landmark state supreme court decision saves King County bondsmen from paying for a massive treasury shortage.