Short Cressman & Burgess has represented numerous cities, counties, special purpose districts, tribes and other governmental agencies as general and special counsel since the firm was established. We have developed the substantive knowledge and practical experience to help governments deal effectively with their unique concerns, ensure that their transactions are successful, and avoid unnecessary risk and delay.
The scope of our work for public entities includes all elements of municipal activities, including:
Drafting and applying land use regulations
Conducting hearings and handling subsequent litigation and appeals
Managing eminent domain, land acquisition, and complex development actions
Compliance with public procedural and ethics laws
Implementing environmental regulations and managing hazardous waste liability
Negotiating, litigating, and advising on labor (management) and employment law
Preparing bidding documents and negotiating construction contracts
Negotiating and drafting interlocal cooperation and development agreements
Defending tort actions and other claims
Litigation in the areas of land use, construction, real estate, permitting, enforcement and compliance, employment, and public processes.
When possible, we focus on preventive law when working with public entities. This approach avoids the back-end cost of litigation and is better suited to public responsibilities and accountability. When necessary, our attorneys have been successful in litigation and appeals, making significant contributions to Washington law. For example: new principles of annexation law were established by Scott M. Missall in Snohomish Co. v. Hinds, 61 Wn. App. 371 (1991); the method of establishing construction damages was enunciated in a case involving Andy Maron in Eastlake Construction Co. v. Hess, 102 Wn.2d 30 (1984); the constitutionality of Initiative 695 was litigated by Andy Maron in Amalgamated Transit Union v. State, 142 Wn.2d 183, 11 P.3d 762 (2000); and new principles of park mitigation fees were established by Scott Missall in United Development Corp. v. Mill Creek, 106 Wn. App. 681 (2001).
