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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'>TO: WLTA Board<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'>FROM: Ashley Callahan, Judiciary Committee Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Please read the email from Ashley Callahan (below) regarding the request for an amicus brief, and contact Ashley ASAP if questions. <b><i>If there are no responses to Ashley or responses to this email by the end of the workday tomorrow (Thursday) she will let the requesting attorneys know that the Board has decided not to provide an amicus brief</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>George<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D'>George Peters, WTP<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D'>Executive Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D'>Washington Land Title Association<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><a href="https://washingtonlandtitle.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://washingtonlandtitle.com</span></a> <span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D'>Mail: PO Box 328, Lynnwood, WA 98046<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D'>Delivery: 6817 208<sup>th</sup> St SW, #328, Lynnwood, WA 98036<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D'>206-437-5869 (Mobile)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#1F497D'>206-260-4731 (Fax)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:execdirector@wltaonline.org"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'>execdirector@washingtonlandtitle.com</span></a></span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><img border=0 width=169 height=97 style='width:1.7583in;height:1.0083in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DB98D4.B1D952A0" alt="WLTA Logo w-Ring Blue 1a"><img border=0 width=95 height=95 style='width:.9916in;height:.9916in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.jpg@01DB98D4.B1D952A0"></span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>This is a confidential communication intended solely for the named recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, please destroy it and call George Peters at 206-437-5869 immediately. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>From:</span></b><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'> Callahan, Ashley <ACallahan@ortc.com> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 19, 2025 1:18 PM<br><b>To:</b> George <execdirector@washingtonlandtitle.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Amicus Brief Recommendation - Skanska v. Howell<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>Hi George – will you send the email below from the judicial committee to the Board? Thank you!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello WLTA Board,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Attorneys for 1200 Howell Street LLC (“Howell”) renewed their request for an amicus brief in light of the recent Court of Appeal decision dated January 22, 2025. Recall we discussed this decision at the February 24, 2025 board meeting. Howell’s concern is with the court’s judgment and decree of foreclosure allowing Skanska’s mechanic’s lien to be foreclosed against the entire property. The foreclosure decree’s legal description was the pre-condominium legal description for land known as “Parcel A” and “Parcel B.” Howell contends that this judgment and decree of foreclosure is bad because it allows the sheriff to knock on every condo unit door to foreclose the Skanska lien, even though Howell bonded off the lien for many of the condo units (so it could sell them free and clear). The title insurers, says Howell, will have to pay to enjoin the sheriff’s activity because the insurers have issued “clean” policies for the sold condos in reliance on the bond. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Court of Appeal decision recognizes that, pursuant to RCW 60.04.161, a lien cannot be foreclosed against title to real property if a bond exists. The court stated “[t]he sale of the condominium units and the conversion of proportional liens to lien release bonds is not fatal to Skanska’s ability to foreclose on the proportional liens and bonds. We hold that the trial court did not err by granting foreclosure of Skanska’s lien.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The judicial committee recognizes that the judgment and foreclosure decree against Parcels A and B makes no sense and seems disconnected from the Court of Appeal decision which recognizes that foreclosure against the bond, not the title, is required for a proportional amount of the units. But, as a practical matter, Howell paid the Skanska lien and there will not be a sheriff knocking at the door. It is my understanding that no claim exists contrary to what Howell’s attorneys predict. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Court of Appeal’s decision does not run afoul of RCW 60.04.161 and the judgment and decree of foreclosure is moot. The judicial committee therefore does <u>not</u> recommend supporting an amicus brief. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>If you object to the Judicial Committee’s recommendation, or have any questions about the recommendation, please email Ashley Callahan (<a href="mailto:acallahan@ortc.com">acallahan@ortc.com</a>) no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2025. If you agree, there is no need to respond.</b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#003087;mso-ligatures:none'>Ashley B. Callahan</span></b><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#003087;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#003087;mso-ligatures:none'>Senior Regional Counsel | Western Title Division<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#003087;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Direct Line: 425.835.7404<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>T: 425.776.1970 | F: 425.776.5710 | TF: 800.877.6850<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="mailto:acallahan@ortc.com"><span style='color:#003087'>acallahan@ortc.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Old Republic Title | Old Republic Insurance Group<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>19020 33rd Ave. W. | Suite #360 | Lynnwood, WA 98036<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'><a href="http://www.ortc.com/"><span style='color:#003087'>ortc.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. 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Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>If you received this email as a commercial message and would like to opt out of future commercial messages, please let us know and we will remove you from our distribution list.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>