19.34.290 - Collection based on suitable guaranty -- Proceeds -- Attorneys' fees -- Costs -- Notice -- Recovery of qualified right of payment. - Washington Statutes

Collection based on suitable guaranty — Proceeds — Attorneys' fees — Costs — Notice — Recovery of qualified right of payment.

(1)(a) If the suitable guaranty is a surety bond, a person may recover from the surety the full amount of a qualified right to payment against the principal named in the bond, or, if there is more than one such qualified right to payment during the term of the bond, a ratable share, up to a maximum total liability of the surety equal to the amount of the bond.

     (b) If the suitable guaranty is a letter of credit, a person may recover from the issuing financial institution only in accordance with the terms of the letter of credit.

     Claimants may recover successively on the same suitable guaranty, provided that the total liability on the suitable guaranty to all persons making qualified rights of payment during its term must not exceed the amount of the suitable guaranty.

     (2) In addition to recovering the amount of a qualified right to payment, a claimant may recover from the proceeds of the guaranty, until depleted, the attorneys' fees, reasonable in amount, and court costs incurred by the claimant in collecting the claim, provided that the total liability on the suitable guaranty to all persons making qualified rights of payment or recovering attorneys' fees during its term must not exceed the amount of the suitable guaranty.

     (3) To recover a qualified right to payment against a surety or issuer of a suitable guaranty, the claimant must:

     (a) File written notice of the claim with the secretary stating the name and address of the claimant, the amount claimed, and the grounds for the qualified right to payment, and any other information required by rule by the secretary; and

     (b) Append to the notice a certified copy of the judgment on which the qualified right to payment is based.

     Recovery of a qualified right to payment from the proceeds of the suitable guaranty is barred unless the claimant substantially complies with this subsection (3).

     (4) Recovery of a qualified right to payment from the proceeds of a suitable guaranty are forever barred unless notice of the claim is filed as required in subsection (3)(a) of this section within three years after the occurrence of the violation of this chapter that is the basis for the claim. Notice under this subsection need not include the requirement imposed by subsection (3)(b) of this section.

[1996 c 250 § 310.]