orange-big.pngAs an associate member of the Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW), I receive the quarterly magazine, Evergreen State Surveyor. The Winter 2012 edition had an interesting article written by the wife of a surveyor. This is the view of someone close, but not within the survey profession.

Author Stephanie Dickson chronicles her husband’s

orange-big.pngThe situation is this. You are about to hire a surveyor. You should anticipate the possibility that the surveyor will determine a boundary which is contrary to your understanding of the use and occupation on the ground. 

There are several reasons for seeeking this upfront clarity … and contingency planning when contracting with your surveyor.

black-big.pngThis morning I had a meeting with Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara A. Madsen. We exchanged ideas regarding her concurring opinion in Gorman v. City of Woodinville in which she suggested the legislature should eliminate adverse possession. I presented ideas regarding the Washington Legislature’s new adverse possession law RCW 7.28.083.

Almost beyond coincidence, upon my return my inbox contained an email from some of my

gray-large.pngLast night, I found myself turning over ideas as to how to for Adverse Possession cases one might create a framework for calculating a “Trial Win”.

Notably, I carefully chose the term “Trial Win” and define it only as prevailing against one’s neighbor at trial.

Barring truly exceptional instances, the reality parties who find themselves taking their Adverse Possession matter all the

justice-smiles-red-large.pngThis past Thursday, I had the privilege of attending a fairly small event in which Justice Steve Gonzalez also attended. In fact, by happenstance of his slightly delayed entrance, we ended sitting close enough to each other to have a conversation.

My impressions were these. Steve Gonzalez is an extremely thoughtful, polite, and reasonable man. For anyone that

black-big.pngRCW 7.28.083 officially became effective today, Sunday July 1, 2012. Effectively the new law of adverse possession became effective at the close of business of Washington’s Superior Courts on Friday.

What’s in store? I have done my best to anticipate how the changes will effect the practice of boundary dispute law in Washington. It is my hope that the law will allow

gray-large.pngI spent the better half of last week at the annual conference of LSAW (Land Surveyors Association of Washington). While there, not only did I have the chance to listen to some interesting presentations, I was given the opportunity to give a presentation on adverse possession … twice.

As surveyors are often the people that identify the titular lines of property which on many

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 Your survey indicates that the fence encroaches your way; your neighbor’s survey indicates that the fence encroaches in their direction; or perhaps you split the cost of a survey and you found that the fence encroaches one way or another … what should be done now?

First try to find out the following facts:

  1. Who