(1) All claims against the state, or against the state’s officers, employees, or volunteers, acting in such capacity, for damages arising out of tortious conduct, must be presented to the office of risk management. A claim is deemed presented when the claim form is delivered in person or by regular mail, registered mail, or certified mail, with return receipt requested, or as an attachment to email or by fax, to the office of risk management. For claims for damages presented after July 26, 2009, all claims for damages must be presented on the standard tort claim form that is maintained by the office of risk management. The standard tort claim form must be posted on the department of enterprise services’ website.
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Terms Used In Washington Code 4.92.100

  • Attachment: A procedure by which a person's property is seized to pay judgments levied by the court.
  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Department: means the department of enterprise services. See Washington Code 4.92.006
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Office of risk management: means the office within the department of enterprise services that carries out the powers and duties under this chapter relating to claim filing, claims administration, and claims payment. See Washington Code 4.92.006
  • person: may be construed to include the United States, this state, or any state or territory, or any public or private corporation or limited liability company, as well as an individual. See Washington Code 1.16.080
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(a) The standard tort claim form must, at a minimum, require the following information:
(i) The claimant’s name, date of birth, and contact information;
(ii) A description of the conduct and the circumstances that brought about the injury or damage;
(iii) A description of the injury or damage;
(iv) A statement of the time and place that the injury or damage occurred;
(v) A listing of the names of all persons involved and contact information, if known;
(vi) A statement of the amount of damages claimed; and
(vii) A statement of the actual residence of the claimant at the time of presenting the claim and at the time the claim arose.
(b)(i) The standard tort claim form must be signed either:
(A) By the claimant, verifying the claim;
(B) Pursuant to a written power of attorney, by the attorney-in-fact for the claimant;
(C) By an attorney admitted to practice in Washington state on the claimant’s behalf; or
(D) By a court-approved guardian or guardian ad litem on behalf of the claimant.
(ii) For the purpose of this subsection (1)(b), when the claim form is presented electronically it must bear an electronic signature in lieu of a written original signature.
(iii) When an electronic signature is used and the claim is submitted as an attachment to email, the conveyance of that claim must include the date, time the claim was presented, and the internet provider’s address from which it was sent. The attached claim form must be a format approved by the office of risk management.
(iv) When an electronic signature is used and the claim is submitted via a facsimile machine, the conveyance must include the date, time the claim was submitted, and the fax number from which it was sent.
(v) In the event of a question on an electronic signature, the claimant shall have an opportunity to cure and the cured notice shall relate back to the date of the original filing.
(c) The amount of damages stated on the claim form is not admissible at trial.
(2) The state shall make available the standard tort claim form described in this section with instructions on how the form is to be presented and the name, address, and business hours of the office of risk management. The standard tort claim form must not list the claimant’s social security number and must not require information not specified under this section. The claim form and the instructions for completing the claim form must provide the United States mail, physical, and electronic addresses and numbers where the claim can be presented.
(3) With respect to the content of claims under this section and all procedural requirements in this section, this section must be liberally construed so that substantial compliance will be deemed satisfactory.

NOTES:

Intent—Effective date—2002 c 332: See notes following RCW 43.19.760.
Purpose—Severability—1967 c 164: See notes following RCW 4.96.010.
Puget Sound ferry and toll bridge system, claims against: RCW 47.60.250.
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