areas-of-practice (2K)

Excessive Fees/Taxes

GSK attorneys have handled several class action cases seeking refunds of illegally collected government fees. In Margola Associates v. City of Seattle, GSK represented the class of persons who paid rental housing registration fees to the City of Seattle. On the eve of trial, the City agreed to refund millions of dollars of fees which GSK argued were illegally collected.

In Skeers v. City of Bellingham, the City of Bellingham refunded $750,000 in excess building permit fees. Similar cases are pending by GSK attorneys against the City of Bainbridge Island and Clark County. GSK is also challenging the increased taxes imposed by the 2005 Legislature as violating the spending limits established in Initiative 601. In that action, GSK is representing the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington State Grange, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Building Industry Association of Washington, Evergreen Freedom Foundation, and the Washington Association of Realtors®.