IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
MICHAN RHODES, an individual;
KEYSTONE WINDOWS AND No. 79173-7-I
DOORS, a Washington corporation,
DIVISION ONE
Respondents/Cross-Appellants,
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
v.
EMILY SHARP RAINS and MICHAEL
RAINS, individually and their marital
community; RAINS LAW GROUP, a
professional limited liability company,
Appellants/Cross-Respondents,
HEATHER CHRISTIANSON and
JOHN DOE CHRISTIANSON, and
their marital community,
Defendants.
SMITH, J. — Michan Rhodes and her now defunct company, Keystone
Windows and Doors (Keystone), sued Emily Rains,1 her husband, Michael Rains,
and Emily’s business, Rains Law Group, for alleged wrongs committed during the
course of a business relationship. This is the third appeal following two separate
trials. In the first trial, a jury found that Emily breached her fiduciary duty to
Keystone and Rhodes. In the second trial and at issue in this appeal, a jury
found the Rainses liable to Keystone under the Washington Consumer Protection
Act (CPA), chapter 19.86 RCW.
1 For clarity, we refer to Emily and Michael by their first names throughout.
Citations and pin cites are based on the Westlaw online version of the cited material.
No. 79173-7-I/2
Following the jury’s verdict, the trial court offset the jury’s damages award
by the award in the first trial. The Rainses then moved for judgment as a matter
of law, or in the alternative, for new trial and/or remittitur. The trial court denied
the motions.
The Rainses appeal the orders denying their motions for judgment as a
matter of law and a new trial. And Keystone appeals the trial court’s entry of
judgment, which offset the damages. Because Keystone presented sufficient
evidence for a reasonable jury to find for it on each element of its CPA claim, we
conclude that the trial court did not err when it denied the Rainses’ motion for
judgment as a matter of law. Additionally, because there were no irregularities at
trial that prejudiced the Rainses, the trial court did not err when it denied the
motion for a new trial. However, we conclude that the trial court abused its
discretion when it offset the damages award. Therefore, we remand for
reinstatement of the full damages award.
FACTS2
In 2011, Rhodes was told that Keystone would soon go bankrupt. In need
of assistance and having received a referral for Emily’s company, Rhodes
approached Emily for help with Keystone’s accounting and planning. Emily
promised that she could help with Keystone’s financial situation and that she
would provide expert financial services. After Rhodes researched Emily’s
2 Keystone moves this court to strike various parts of the record and the
Rainses’ briefs. We exercise our discretion to review the record and briefs in
their entirety. See, e.g., RAP 10.7 (providing this court discretion to accept an
improper brief).
2
No. 79173-7-I/3
credentials, Rhodes hired Emily as a consultant and later an employee of
Keystone.3 Emily also hired Heather Christianson, her sister, to assist with
accounting and Michael to assist with information technology. Various conflicts
occurred between Emily, Michael, and Rhodes, the details of which are disputed.
Following one such issue, Emily resigned on October 17, 2012. Keystone later
went bankrupt.
In December 2012, Rhodes and Keystone sued the Rainses and Rains
Law Group for legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of the
CPA. Emily counterclaimed that Keystone willfully withheld her wages. On the
Rainses’ motion for summary judgment, the trial court dismissed the legal
malpractice and CPA claims. In 2014, Keystone’s breach of fiduciary duty claim
and Emily’s wage claim proceeded to trial (2014 trial). A jury found Emily, acting
through Rains Law Group, liable to Keystone or Rhodes. And it found Keystone
liable to Emily for withheld wages. It awarded Keystone $88,764.38 for Emily’s
conduct as an in-house officer of Keystone and $7,685.29 for her conduct as an
outside attorney. The jury also awarded Emily $18,780.08 for willfully withheld
wages. After adding interest and attorney fees, doubling the wage claim
damages, and calculating the offset, the trial court entered a net judgment of
$40,162.89 for Keystone.
In 2016, Rhodes and Keystone appealed the order granting summary
judgment in favor of the Rainses. We held that there were “genuine issues of
3Rhodes later testified that she did not hire Emily as an employee of
Keystone but that Emily made herself an employee.
3
No. 79173-7-I/4
material fact with respect to all five elements of” the CPA claim. Rhodes v.
Rains, 195 Wn. App. 235, 238, 381 P.3d 58 (2016) (Rhodes I). We therefore
reversed and remanded for trial on Keystone and Rhodes’ claims that Emily,
Michael, and Rains Law Group violated the CPA. Rhodes I, 195 Wn. App. at
251.
In August 2018, the CPA claim proceeded to trial (2018 trial). A jury found
that Emily and Michael violated the CPA and owed damages to Keystone totaling
$80,000. Accordingly, Keystone submitted its proposed entry of judgment. In
their reply, the Rainses argued that the trial court should offset the damages in
the 2018 trial by those in the 2014 trial because the damages were duplicative.
On entering judgment, the court held, “With regards to the $80,000, the Court
finds that that is indeed duplicative, and . . . [it] should be offset by the damages
that were awarded in the first trial.” The trial therefore awarded Keystone $0.00,
except that the court awarded Keystone $25,000 in enhanced damages.
In October 2018, the Rainses moved for judgment as a matter of law,
and/or a new trial and/or remittitur. The trial court denied the Rainses’ posttrial
motions. And in November 2018, the Rainses and Keystone appealed the trial
court’s rulings and entry of judgment regarding the CPA claim (current appeal).
In June 2019, the Rainses moved the 2014 trial court for relief from the
jury verdict and final judgment pursuant to CR 60. The trial court denied the
motion, finding that the motion was untimely. The Rainses appealed, presenting
three claims of error: (1) the trial court abused its discretion when it rejected her
CR 60(b) motion as untimely and meritless, (2) the trial court erred when it
4
No. 79173-7-I/5
denied her motion to vacate the 2018 trial, and (3) we should recall our mandate
from the appeal of the 2016 appeal. Rhodes v. Rains, No. 80571-1-I, slip op. at
6 (Wash. Ct. App. June 22, 2020) (unpublished),
http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/805711.pdf (Rhodes II). We held that the
Rainses’ CR 60(b) motion was untimely and that the trial court therefore did not
err. Rhodes II, slip op. at 9. Similarly, we concluded that the Rainses’ motion to
recall our mandate from the 2016 appeal was untimely.4 Rhodes II, slip op. at 9.
Therefore, we affirmed the trial court’s order denying the CR 60 motion and
denied the motion to recall our mandate.
Before us in this appeal, the Rainses contend that the trial court erred
when it denied her posttrial motions, and Keystone contends that the trial court
improperly offset damages.
ANALYSIS
Judgment as a Matter of Law5
The Rainses contend that the trial court erred when it denied their motion
4 In this appeal, the Rainses seek to recall the mandate for other reasons.
Because we denied the motion in our most recent opinion, we decline to address
novel theories here. See, e.g., Reeploeg v. Jensen, 81 Wn.2d 541, 546, 503
P.2d 99 (1972) (noting that to “‘require courts to consider and reconsider cases
at the will of litigants would deprive the courts of that stability which is necessary
in the administration of justice’” (quoting Kosten v. Fleming, 17 Wn.2d 500, 505,
136 P.2d 449 (1943)).
5 Keystone contends that the law of the case doctrine applies and
prevents review of the Rainses’ motion for judgment as a matter of law. We
disagree. “[T]he law of the case doctrine precludes this court from reconsidering
the same legal issue already determined as part of a previous appeal.” Lian v.
Stalick, 115 Wn. App. 590, 598, 62 P.3d 933 (2003). In Rhodes I, we reviewed—
and the 2014 trial court granted—the motion for summary judgment based on
affidavits that were not presented to the jury as evidence in the 2018 trial.
5
No. 79173-7-I/6
for judgment as a matter of law under CR 50. Specifically, they contend that
Keystone failed to present sufficient evidence that (1) the Rainses engaged in
any unfair or deceptive acts (2) that affected the public interest, (3) which caused
an injury to Keystone. We disagree.
We review orders denying judgment as a matter of law de novo. Leren v.
Kaiser Gypsum Co., 9 Wn. App. 2d 55, 70, 442 P.3d 273 (2019), review denied
sub nom. Leren v. Elementis Chems., Inc., 194 Wn.2d 1017 (2020). Under
CR 50, “[i]f . . . a party has been fully heard with respect to an issue and there is
no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to find . . . for that
party with respect to that issue,” then the court may grant judgment as a matter
of law “against [that] party on any claim . . . that cannot under the controlling law
be maintained without a favorable finding on that issue.” In other words, the
court must conclude, “‘as a matter of law, that there is no substantial evidence or
reasonable inferences to sustain a verdict for the nonmoving party.’” Paetsch v.
Spokane Dermatology Clinic, P.S., 182 Wn.2d 842, 848, 348 P.3d 389 (2015)
(quoting Indus. Idem. Co. of Nw v. Kallevig, 114 Wn.2d 907, 915-16, 792 P.2d
520 (1990)). And substantial evidence is defined “as evidence ‘sufficient . . . to
persuade a fair-mind, rational person of the truth of the declared premise.’”
Davis v. Microsoft Corp., 149 Wn.2d 521, 531, 70 P.3d 126 (2003) (alteration in
original) (quoting Helman v. Sacred Heart Hosp., 62 Wn.2d 136, 147, 381 P.2d
605 (1963)).
Therefore, there is no basis upon which we could apply the law of the case
doctrine.
6
No. 79173-7-I/7
Additionally, in ruling on a CR 50 motion, we interpret the evidence and all
reasonable inferences therefrom “‘most strongly against the moving party and in
the light most favorable to the opponent.’” Lock v. Am. Family Ins. Co., __ Wn.
App. 2d __, 460 P.3d 683, 693 (2020) (quoting Goodman v. Goodman, 128
Wn.2d 366, 371, 907 P.2d 290 (1995)). To this end, the Rainses “admit[ ] the
truth of [Keystone’s] evidence and all inferences that can be reasonably drawn
therefrom.” Lock, 460 P.3d at 693. And to prevail on its CPA claim, Keystone
was required to provide sufficient evidence to “prove (1) an unfair or deceptive
act or practice, (2) occurring in trade or commerce, (3) affecting the public
interest, (4) injury to a person’s business or property, and (5) causation.” Panag
v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., 166 Wn.2d 27, 37, 204 P.3d 885 (2009).
With regard to unfair and deceptive practices, Keystone presented
sufficient evidence for a jury to find Emily and Michael engaged therein. Emily
promised to provide expert financial assistance to Keystone. She also described
herself online in various biographies and company profiles as having a “strong
financial accounting background” and as having managed and directed
multimillion dollar companies successfully “through various growth stages and
transitions.”6
But Emily did not do “any of the financial work that . . . needed to be done
for” Keystone, including failing to pay vendors, insurance, gas cards, and phone
6The Rainses contend that “Keystone is equitably estopped from raising a
new allegation on appeal” with regard to website information. Keystone
presented this argument throughout this litigation. Therefore, the Rainses’
contention is unpersuasive.
7
No. 79173-7-I/8
bills. Emily provided no financial reports to Rhodes, overbilled Keystone for her
work, and failed to properly maintain financial records. Furthermore, Emily
admitted at trial that she took no accounting courses as an undergraduate, never
worked in accounting, and was never a certified professional accountant. She
also hired her husband, Michael, despite Rhodes being uncomfortable, and,
without Rhodes’ knowledge, she hired her sister, Heather. Emily attempted to
gain ownership interests in the company and held herself out as treasurer of
Keystone in the registration details with the Secretary of State Corporations
Division. And in the spring of 2012, Emily told Rhodes that the company was
doing well and increased Emily and Rhodes’ salaries. Finally, the Rainses also
convinced Rhodes to sign a number of blank checks for their use.
In short, Emily’s promise to provide expert financial management services
had “the capacity to deceive a substantial portion of the public.” Panag, 166
Wn.2d at 47 (“A plaintiff need not show the act in question was intended to
deceive, only that it had the capacity to deceive a substantial portion of the
public.”). And based on the evidence described above, which we have taken as
true and in favor of Keystone, there was sufficient evidence for a reasonable juror
to find that Emily and Michael mislead or misrepresented their skill or expertise,
which was the reason why Rhodes hired Emily. See Holiday Resort Cmty. Ass’n
v. Echo Lake Assocs., LLC, 134 Wn. App. 210, 226, 135 P.3d 499 (2006)
(“Implicit in the definition of ‘deceptive’ under the CPA is the understanding that
the practice misleads or misrepresents something of material importance.”).
With regard to the public interest element, a plaintiff “establish[es] that [an]
8
No. 79173-7-I/9
act or practice is injurious to the public interest” by evidence that the act injured
others, or has or had “the capacity to injure others.” RCW 19.86.093(3)(a), (c).
Here, taking the evidence in the light most favorable to Keystone, there was
substantial evidence that Keystone’s claim affects the public interest.
Specifically, at trial, Keystone presented testimony of Kyle Duce, who had
previously worked with Emily and Michael. Duce testified that Emily and Michael
similarly injured his business when Emily asserted that she could assist with his
restaurant’s taxes and accounting. After being hired, Emily did not pay the
restaurant’s taxes for three months, charged the restaurant nearly double what
Duce expected as the cost for her accounting services, never provided financial
statements, and took a 10 percent ownership interest in the restaurant when
Duce was unable to pay the bill. Additionally, Emily convinced Duce to hire
Michael. Therefore, Keystone presented sufficient evidence for a reasonable
juror to find that the Rainses’ actions injured or had the capacity to injure others.7
With regard to injury and causation, “[i]t is sufficient to establish [that] the
deceptive act or practice proximately caused injury to the plaintiff’s ‘business or
property.’” Panag, 166 Wn.2d at 63-64. With regard to causation, “[a] plaintiff
must establish that, but for the defendant’s unfair or deceptive practice, the
plaintiff would not have suffered an injury.” Indoor Billboard/Wash., Inc. v.
Integra Telecom of Wash., Inc., 162 Wn.2d 59, 84, 170 P.3d 10 (2007). And “the
7The Rainses contend that Duce perjured himself and that Keystone
procured his testimony by fraud. The jury made a credibility determination and
assumedly found Duce’s testimony credibility. On a motion for a judgment as a
matter of law, we do not make credibility determinations. Faust v. Albertson, 167
Wn.2d 531, 543, 222 P.3d 1208 (2009). Therefore, we are not persuaded.
9
No. 79173-7-I/10
injury requirement is met upon proof the plaintiff's ‘property interest or money is
diminished because of the unlawful conduct even if the expenses caused by the
statutory violation are minimal.’” Panag, 166 Wn.2d at 57 (quoting Mason v.
Mortg. Am., Inc., 114 Wn.2d 842, 854, 792 P.2d 142 (1990)).
Because there was evidence that the Rainses injured Keystone by
inadequately managing its finances and overbilling, a reasonable juror could find
that Keystone was injured. And because “[p]roximate cause is typically a
question of fact for the jury,” we will not disturb the jury’s finding that those
injuries were caused by the Rainses alleged unfair and deceptive acts and
practices. Holiday Resort Cmty. Ass’n, 134 Wn. App. at 227.
The Rainses contend that Keystone presented no evidence to support its
CPA claim or that the evidence presented was fraudulent. For example, the
Rainses contend that (1) Emily did not secretly hire her sister, yet they admit that
Rhodes testified that she was not aware that Emily hired Christensen until a
significant time after the hiring occurred, (2) Emily did not falsely claim ownership
or treasurer status, but Rhodes testified to the contrary, (3) Emily did not overbill
Keystone, but Rhodes testified to the contrary, and (4) Emily did not file
Keystone’s tax returns late, but Rhodes testified that over $10,000 in taxes and
penalties were paid after Emily came aboard. In reviewing a motion for judgment
as a matter of law, we take evidence and all reasonable inferences in the light
most favorable to Keystone and do not make credibility determinations or weigh
the evidence. Faust, 167 Wn.2d at 543. Therefore, the Rainses’ assertions are
unpersuasive.
10
No. 79173-7-I/11
In short, because we take the evidence and all reasonable inferences in
the light most favorable to Keystone, we conclude that Keystone presented
substantial evidence sufficient for a reasonable juror to find for it on each element
of the CPA claim. Accordingly, the trial court did not err when it denied the
Rainses’ motion for judgment as a matter of law.
Motion for a New Trial
The Rainses contend that the trial court erred when it denied their motion
for a new trial. We disagree.
We review a trial court’s ruling on a motion for a new trial for abuse of
discretion. Rookstool v. Eaton, 12 Wn. App. 2d 301, 307, 457 P.3d 1144 (2020).
A trial court may grant a motion for a new trial when an “[i]rregularity in the
proceedings of the court, jury or adverse party, or any order of the court, or
abuse of discretion,” “materially affect[ed] the substantial rights of” the moving
party and “by which such party was prevented from having a fair trial.”
CR 59(a)(1). But trial courts “should grant a mistrial only when nothing the court
can say or do would remedy the harm caused by the irregularity.” Kimball v. Otis
Elevator Co., 89 Wn. App. 169, 178, 947 P.2d 1275 (1997). And “[t]rial courts
have broad discretionary powers in . . . dealing with irregularities that arise.”
Kimball, 89 Wn. App. at 178.
Here, the Rainses point to three supposed irregularities. Specifically, they
contend that the trial court erred when it (1) provided jury instruction 5,
(2) “unreasonably allocate[d] trial time between the parties[ and] den[ied] Rains
. . . an opportunity to present witnesses and exhibits,” and (3) allowed Keystone
11
No. 79173-7-I/12
to present “expert witnesses not properly disclosed under [King County Superior
Court Local Civil Rule (KCLR) 26], irrelevant evidence, falsified documents, and
perjured testimony.” We disagree.
First, “[j]ury instructions are reviewed de novo for errors of law,” and “‘[j]ury
instructions are sufficient when they allow counsel to argue their theory of the
case, are not misleading, and when read as a whole[,] properly inform the trier of
fact of the applicable law.’” Anfinson v. FedEx Ground Package Sys., Inc., 174
Wn.2d 851, 860, 281 P.3d 289 (2012) (quoting Bodin v. City of Stanwood, 130
Wn.2d 726, 732, 927 P.2d 240 (1996)). “If any of these elements are absent, the
instruction is erroneous.” Anfinson, 174 Wn.2d at 860. “An erroneous instruction
is reversible error only if it prejudices a party.” Anfinson, 174 Wn.2d at 860. And
“[p]rejudice is presumed if the instruction contains a clear misstatement of law[,
but] prejudice must be demonstrated if the instruction is merely misleading.”
Anfinson, 174 Wn.2d at 860.
Here, jury instruction 5 described an attorney’s fiduciary duty to their
client. Specifically, the instruction explained that “[t]he fiduciary duty of an
attorney toward his or her client includes a duty to render candid advice, avoid a
conflict of interest; charge a reasonable fee; avoid engaging in conduct involving
dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; and acting with reasonable
diligence and competence.” We agree that the instruction may have been
misleading insofar as it discussed a duty that is not relevant to the CPA claim.8
8 Keystone disagrees and relies on In re Disciplinary Proceedings
Against Dann, 136 Wn.2d 67, 960 P.2d 416 (1998), and WPIC 107.09. However,
both In re Dann and WPIC 107.09 pertain to a breach of fiduciary claim against
12
No. 79173-7-I/13
However, the Rainses do not contend that it is an inaccurate description of an
attorney’s fiduciary duty. Rather, the Rainses—without citation to legal
authority—make only a conclusory assertion that the instruction is an incorrect
statement of the law. Therefore, we conclude it is merely misleading.
Because the instruction was misleading, the Rainses must show that it
resulted in prejudice. They failed to do so, and we find no evidence of prejudice.
The remaining instructions did not allow the jury to premise the Rainses’ CPA
liability on Emily’s breach of fiduciary duty because nowhere else did the
instructions mention that duty. See Keller v. City of Spokane, 146 Wn.2d 237,
251, 44 P.3d 845 (2002) (holding that an instruction was inherently misleading
and legally erroneous only to the extent that it allows juries to premise liability on
an incorrect interpretation of the law). Moreover, as discussed above, without
consideration of her duty as an attorney, there was substantial evidence for a jury
to find that the Rainses violated the CPA. Therefore, while we find that the
instruction was an irregularity, it is not reversible error because the Rainses have
not shown prejudice.
Second, the Rainses cite no authority to support their proposition that the
trial court improperly deprived them of time and violated their rights to due
process. We are not required to search for such case law but may assume that
the Rainses were unable to find any. See DeHeer v. Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
60 Wn.2d 122, 126, 372 P.2d 193 (1962) (“Where no authorities are cited in
an attorney. Because Keystone alleged a CPA violation in this trial, the
instruction could be construed as misleading.
13
No. 79173-7-I/14
support of a proposition, the court is not required to search out authorities, but
may assume that counsel, after diligent search, has found none.”). Nonetheless,
we note that, generally, a court “may impose reasonable time limits on a trial,”
Gen. Signal Corp. v. MCI Telecommunications Corp., 66 F.3d 1500, 1508 (9th
Cir. 1995), and “[t]rial courts have broad discretionary powers in conducting a
trial.” Kimball, 89 Wn. App. at 178. The Rainses have pointed to no evidence
that the time limits placed on them or Rhodes were unreasonable or what, if any,
specific evidence or testimony they were unable to present due to such time
limits.9 Therefore, we find no irregularity.
Finally, with regard to Keystone’s failure to disclose witnesses, the
Rainses provide only a quotation of KCLR 26 and a statement that Keystone did
not follow it. They did not provide specific argument on this point, and “[p]assing
treatment of an issue or lack of reasoned argument is insufficient to merit judicial
consideration.” Holland v. City of Tacoma, 90 Wn. App. 533, 538, 954 P.2d 290
(1998) (citing State v. Johnson, 119 Wn.2d 167, 171, 829 P.2d 1082 (1992)); see
also RAP 10.3(a)(6). Moreover, the trial court, at one point, offered the Rainses
time to prepare for an allegedly unexpected witness. But the Rainses declined to
utilize the time. Therefore, we again conclude there was no irregularity
warranting a new trial.
Because we hold that no irregularity at trial prejudiced the Rainses, we
conclude that the trial court did not err in denying their motion for a new trial.
9
In fact, when Emily was eliciting the testimony of witnesses, the court
below spent a significant amount of time explaining the rules surrounding
evidence and its admission.
14
No. 79173-7-I/15
Cross Appeal
In Keystone’s cross appeal, it contends that the trial court erred when it
concluded that Keystone received double recovery and offset its damages
award. We agree.
The trial court’s determination that the damage award for the CPA claim
should be reduced by the amount that Emily paid under the breach of fiduciary
duty claim is a mixed question of law and fact. Accordingly, “our review is de
novo, but we defer to the trial court’s factual findings that are supported by
substantial evidence.” In re Estate of Cordero, 127 Wn. App. 783, 787, 113 P.3d
16 (2005). “It is a basic principle of damages . . . that there shall be
no double recovery for the same injury.” Eagle Point Condo. Owners Ass’n v.
Coy, 102 Wn. App. 697, 702, 9 P.3d 898 (2000). However, “[t]he jury is given the
constitutional role to determine questions of fact, and the amount of damages is
a question of fact.” Bunch v. King County Dep’t of Youth Servs., 155 Wn.2d 165,
179, 116 P.3d 381 (2005).
Here, both jury instructions included damages for, among other things,
“excessive legal and accounting fees,” property and services used and not paid
for, and “IRS penalties and bank overdraft fees.” In the 2014 trial, based on
these instructions, the jury found that $88,764.38 resulted from Emily’s breach of
fiduciary duty while she was employed in-house as an officer of Keystone. The
jury also found that $7,685.29 of damages proximately resulted from Emily’s
breach of fiduciary duty to Rhodes or Keystone. But there is not substantial
evidence to support the determination that the jury awarded these same
15
No. 79173-7-I/16
damages in the 2018 trial. In fact, the jury in the 2018 trial could have awarded
damages for injuries wholly distinct from those awarded in the 2014 trial.
In the 2018 trial, Keystone and Rhodes requested damages of $540,000.
The jury awarded Keystone $80,000 based on Emily and Michael’s CPA
violations. And the instruction in the 2018 trial also included future economic
damages, monies paid that produced no value to Keystone, and the “reasonable
value of earnings to Keystone . . . with reasonable probability to be lost in the
future if Keystone had remained in business.” Additionally, the 2014 trial
included Emily’s damages to both Rhodes and Keystone. Here, the jury found
that Emily and Michael owed damages to only Keystone. Accordingly, to justify
offsetting the damages award, the trial court had to assume that the damages
were for the same injury by the same party. But we do not have substantial
evidence to that effect, and “[w]e strongly presume the jury’s verdict is correct.”
Bunch, 155 Wn.2d at 179. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court erred when
it offset the damages in the 2018 trial by the damages award in the 2014 trial.
Attorney Fees and Costs on Appeal
As a final matter, both parties contend they are entitled to attorney fees and
costs on appeal. Because Keystone is the prevailing party, we award it fees on
appeal subject to its compliance with RAP 18.1.
16
No. 79173-7-I/17
For the forgoing reasons, we affirm in part. But we reverse and remand
for the trial court to reinstate the full $80,000 damage award on Keystone’s CPA
claim.
WE CONCUR:
17