Pierce County

 

 

Office of the County Council Dan Roach
Councilmember, District No 1
930 Tacoma Avenue South, Room 1046 Council Chair

Tacoma, Washington 98402-2176
(253) 798-3635

FAX (253) 798-?509
1-800?992-2456

E-mail: dan.roach@co.pierce.wa.us


December 1, 2015

Jessie Harris

Hunter M. Abell

601 Union Street, Suite 4100
Seattle, WA 98101

Dear Messrs. Harris and Abel]:

The Court file in Nissan v. Pierce County indicates you have ?led multiple pleadings with the
Thurston County Superior Court in which you purport to represent Pierce County. However, you are
not counsel for Pierce County and Pierce County is not seeking to have you or your ?rm appointed as
its counsel. Pierce County's attorneys in Nissan have been of record for over four years and those
appointed by the Prosecutor remain its sole authorized counsel.

The Pierce County Council controls County litigation under RCW 36.32.120(6) and RCW 36.32.005,
and it has not authorized your ?lings. Likewise, prosecutors "are required to represent the county in all
criminal and civil proceedings in which the county may be a party, RCW see
Osborn v. Grant County, 130 Wn.2d 615, 627 (1996), and you are neither deputy prosecutors nor
special deputy prosecutors. Please immediately withdraw both your unauthorized appearance and
motion. See e. g. RPC 1.2(0 lawyer shall not purport to act as a lawyer for any person or
organization if the lawyer knows or reasonably should know that the lawyer is acting without the
authority of that person or organization, unless the lawyer is authorized or required court order?).

Finally, please be advised that because Pierce County has not consented to your unauthorized
appearance or representation, Pierce County is not responsible for and will not pay any legal fee or
expense related to your services in this matter.

Sincerely,



Dan Roach
Chair, Pierce County Council
District No. 1

c: Councilmembers
Pat McCarthy, Pierce County Executive