Preliminary decisions in quarantine lawsuits may be on horizon

WENATCHEE — Supporters and opponents of Gov. Jay Inslee’s quarantine measures will have to wait a little longer to see if the shutdowns will remain intact.

Of the at least seven lawsuits seeking to end Inslee’s orders, two could have preliminary decisions coming in the next few days.

On Thursday morning, Chelan County Superior Court Judge Kristin Ferrera ended a hearing by saying she’ll take hours of arguments under consideration before determining the fate of the case, filed by multiple plaintiffs, including former state Rep. Cary Condotta and four Wenatchee City Council members.

She said she would rule before 2 p.m. Monday.

Bainbridge Island attorney Joel Ard represented the plaintiffs in the case, noting the governor’s actions have cause “irreparable harm” already.

Another lawsuit, filed across the Columbia River in Douglas County, will be heard at 9 a.m. Friday morning by Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Henry Rawson in Okanogan. The venue of that case was changed because Douglas County’s three elected commissioners are among the plaintiffs.

Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties all remain in lockdowns due to the governor’s orders, even as nearly every county east of them has already moved toward reopening businesses, camping and other activities.

The effect of the lockdowns has meant the cancelation of the annual Apple Pie Jamboree in Pateros and even the Omak Stampede and World-Famous Suicide Race, which is traditionally the third largest rodeo in the Pacific Northwest.

In Chelan County, nearly every store and restaurant in the tourism meccas of Leavenworth and Chelan are shuttered despite the fact thousands of Western Washington visitors are flocking to them.

In all, 26 of the state’s 39 counties are taking steps to get businesses open and economies back on track. But even prior to receiving the governor’s “permission” to start reopening, many businesses remained open, golf courses continued to operate and construction workers continued their trades.

Even so, many events have been canceled in those counties, as well, including concerts, sports, fairs and more.

Gubernatorial candidate Tim Eyman is involved in at least three other lawsuits seeking to pry control from the grip of Gov. Inslee. Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier is also involved in one case, and has been a vocal opponent of the quarantine orders.

Four Republican lawmakers also filed suit in southwest Washington, and another gubernatorial candidate, Joshua Freed, is suing the governor in yet another case.

And in Whitman County, Steptoe resident Kevin Akesson is also suing.

All of the cases allege Gov. Inslee has exceeded his authority by violating inalienable rights guaranteed by the federal constitution, as well as the state’s.

Attorney’s representing the governor are trying to have all the cases transferred to a Thurston County court.

Author Bio

Roger Harnack, Publisher

Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.

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