Latest 2 Cases: Standard Water Control Systems, Inc. v. Jones (Construction Law), Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC v. Retterath (Contracts)

Dead Letter Office: What’s Left of the Impeachment Power After Trump’s Acquittal

DEAN FALVY

Dean Falvy, a lecturer at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, discusses what happens now, after Senate Republicans voted to acquit President Trump. Falvy predicts that (1) President Trump will be emboldened to commit further abuses of power, (2) future presidents will be less constrained by fear of impeachment, and (3) impeachment may become more routine as political practice and significantly less effective as a constitutional remedy.

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Standard Water Control Systems, Inc. v. Jones

Docket: 17-2009

Opinion Date: February 7, 2020

Judge: Edward M. Mansfield

Areas of Law: Construction Law, Real Estate & Property Law

In this dispute over Contractor's attorney fees the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court finding that Homeowners waived their assertion that including attorney fees in a mechanic's lien foreclosure decree violated their homestead rights, holding that Homeowners needed to raise their homestead exemption before the district court entered the foreclosure decree. This appeal stemmed from a judicial determination that Homeowners had to pay most of Contractor's unpaid bill and that Contractor was entitled to foreclosure of its mechanic's lien. Later, a revised decree was entered granting Contractor the right to foreclose a mechanic's lien against the property both for the principal amount due and for the attorney fees. When a second sheriff's sale of the residence was impending, Homeowners, for the first time, asserted that including attorney fees in the mechanic's lien foreclosure decree violated their homestead rights. The judicial court found a waiver by Homeowners. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) attorney fees can be recovered in a mechanic's lien foreclosure action against the homestead; and (2) the district court correctly found that principles of res judicata and waiver barred Homeowners' assertion of a homestead exemption.

Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC v. Retterath

Docket: 18-0950

Opinion Date: February 7, 2020

Judge: David S. Wiggins

Areas of Law: Contracts

In this breach of contract action involving the repurchase of all of a limited liability company's (LLC) member's membership interests, the Supreme Court reversed in part the district court's determination that the LLC was entitled to specific performance under the parties' agreement and granting the LLC's request for attorney fees, holding that the award of attorney fees was in error. The LLC member and the LLC executed an agreement whereby the LLC would buy back all of the member's membership interests. Five days later, the member attempted to revoke his offer to sell his interests. The LLC filed a breach of contract claim seeking specific performance as well as attorney fees under the contract. The district court held that the member had breached the agreement, ordered specific performance under the agreement, and granted the LLC's request for attorney fees. The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part, holding that the district court (1) correctly determined that the contract was a valid and binding agreement and that the LLC was entitled to specific performance as the remedy for the member's breach of the agreement; but (2) erred in awarding attorney fees.