Brent Bowden

A Pacific Northwest native, I grew up on Whidbey Island before moving to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. I received my law degree magna cum laude from Vermont Law School and was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 2011. Prior to joining Gillin Law Group, I was of counsel at Genesis Law Firm for three years and an associate at Purcell Legal & Mediation Services for two years. Prior to that, I was an Assistant City Attorney with the Seattle City Attorney’s Office for three years.

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Washington

Since 2011

Attorney

Gillin Law Group, PLLC

2021 - Current

Attorney

Genesis Law Firm, PLLC

2018 - 2021

Attorney

Purcell Legal & Mediation Services, PLLC

2016 - 2018

Assistant City Attorney

City of Seattle

2013 - 2016

Vermont Law School

J.D. (2011) | Law

2008 - 2011

Honors: Magna cum laude

Activities: Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, Symposium Editor SBA Executive Committee, IT Committee Chair

University of Washington

B.A. (2006) | Political Science

2002 - 2006

Magna Cum Laude

Vermont Law School

2011

Academic Excellence Award for Environmental ADR

Vermont Law School

2010

Award for highest grade in class

Academic Excellence Award for Environmental Law

Vermont Law School

2009

Award for highest grade in class

Washington State Bar Association  # 44316

Member

Current

Q. When a person passes and there is a will shouldn't all parties be notified? And if there not what do you do?

August 31, 2023

A: The heirs should be notified when a probate is opened. However, it is not always the case that someone opens a probate. If no probate was opened and nobody was appointed Personal Representative, there would be nothing to give notice of.

Q. In Washington, does RCW 59.18.060 (6) mean my landlord has to give me a key rather than relying on an electronic lock?

June 26, 2023

A: I am not aware of any caselaw answering the question directly. The statute likely predates the prevalence of electronic locks and codes, but it certainly raises issues if they only give you a code and not a physical key. If the power goes out/battery dies/tech malfunctions, etc. Not to mention it makes it a lot easier for a landlord to lock you out of your apartment illegally.

RCW 59.18.060 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.060) and RCW 59.18.070 (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=59.18.070) do provide a remedy if a landlord does not comply with the requirement to give you a key pursuant to RCW 59.18.060, but I would definitely suggest consulting with an attorney. There is a risk in using those remedies. Namely, if a court finds you used them wrongfully, the rent you withheld could be the basis for an eviction. I am not aware of any clear statutory authority or case law that makes it clear an electronic code is not sufficient to satisfy the requirement of a "key." And you can certainly imagine a court ruling that a code or password is an electronic key. ... Read More

Q. Can my landlord make me pay using a cashiers check after one returned rent payment?

May 4, 2023

A: RCW 59.18.063 requires that a landlord accept a personal check, cashier's check, or money order. Except that they do not have to accept a personal check if one has been returned NSF in the last 9 months.

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.063

So, under the relevant law in Washington, they can demand a cashier's check or money order for nine months after a check bounces. That being said, if the lease says they can only demand after two bounces, I would say the lease controls. It seems to me that the CC failing to process would count for two reasons: 1) I am assuming it occurred before the lease was signed; and 2) it does not sound like it was a returned payment but an unaccepted payment method.

That all being said, it is impossible to give actual advice without reading the lease and hearing what the landlord's argument or explanation is. I would suggest you get advice from a qualified lawyer in your area. ... Read More