Opinion Information Sheet

			

                                                                               FILED
                                                                           FEB 23, 2012
                                                                    In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                                  WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

In re RAPID SETTLEMENTS, LTD.'S                           No. 29743-8-III
APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF                     )
TRANSFER OF STRUCTURED                          )
SETTLEMENT PAYMENT RIGHTS,                      )         Division Three
RSL-3B-IL, Ltd.,                                )
                      Appellant,                )
                                                )         PUBLISHED OPINION
              v.                                )
                                                )
SYMETRA LIFE INSURANCE                          )
COMPANY AND SYMETRA ASSIGNED                    )
BENEFITS SERVICES COMPANY,                      )
                                                )
                      Respondents.              )
                                                )

       Brown, J. ? RSL-3B-IL, Ltd. (3B) appeals a trial court's CR 60(b) decision to 

allow Symetra Life Insurance Company and Symetra Assigned Benefit Services 

Company (collectively Symetra) a set off against 3B in a transfer of settlement payment 

rights arrangement.  It mainly contends the trial court erred in deciding 3B was the alter 

ego of Rapid Settlements, Ltd. (RSL) (now known as Liquidating Marketing, Ltd.), the 

named "transferee" under the Washington Structured Settlement Protection Act 

(SSPA), chapter 19.205 RCW, and Symetra's judgment debtor.  We reject 3B's due  

No. 29743-8-III 
In re Rapid Settlements, LTD.

process, alter ego, Texas law, merger, and full faith and credit arguments. Accordingly, 

we affirm and deny 3B's equitable attorney fee request.

                       BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL FACTS

       Symetra Life and Symetra Assigned are Washington corporations.  Symetra 

Assigned is a structured settlement obligor, assuming the obligation to make periodic 

payments under a structured settlement agreement.  Symetra Life is an annuity issuer,

issuing annuity contracts to fund the obligation of the structured settlement obligor to a 

payee under the structured settlement agreement.  Under SSPA, the payee is usually a 

tort victim entitled to receive tax-free payments under a structured settlement. RCW

19.205.010(8).  Historically, structured settlement agreements prohibited payees from 

accelerating, selling or assigning payments, in order to preserve favorable tax 

treatment. In 2001, Washington enacted the SSPA to allow payees to transfer some or 

all periodic payments in exchange for a lump sum. The SSPA requires the transferee 

to comply with specified notifications, disclosures, and processes designed to protect 

the payee and interested parties and allow the court to determine whether a transfer is 

in the payee's best interests.  Liability for compliance is on the transferee. RCW

19.205.060(6).

       RSL is a Texas limited partnership that purchases payments from payees.  RSL 

has filed transfer applications in Washington seeking approval of transfers it entered 

with payees, including William Thompson and Nicholas Reihs, both Washington 

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residents.  In July 2004, RSL and Mr. Thompson contracted for Mr. Thompson to 

transfer one of his future payments for a lump sum payment from RSL. Rapid 

Settlements, 134 Wn. App. at 331. On October 26, 2004, RSL filed the Thompson 

application in King County Superior Court. Id.  Symetra opposed the Thompson 

application because the proposed transfer failed to meet SSPA requirements.  Id.

       During argument on the Thompson application, counsel for RSL stated, "The 

only liability, it is the transferee, Rapid, that bears all of the responsibility." Clerk's 

Papers (CP) at 640. Following this hearing, the King County Superior Court agreed 

RSL had not complied with the SSPA and dismissed the Thompson application without 

prejudice.  Rapid Settlements, Ltd. v. Symetra Life Ins. Co., 134 Wn. App. 331, 332, 

139 P.3d 411 (2006). Symetra then successfully petitioned under RCW 19.205.040 for 

attorney fees and costs, receiving $7,927.50.  Id.  RSL unsuccessfully appealed and 

Division One of this court awarded Symetra fees on appeal. Id. at 335-36.  The 

Washington Supreme Court denied RSL's petition for review and awarded Symetra 

additional fees.  Rapid Settlements Ltd. v. Symetra Assigned Benefits Serv. Co., 160 

Wn.2d 1015, 161 P.3d 1027 (2007).  On October 31, 2008, the King County Superior 

Court entered a still unsatisfied judgment of $39,287.04 for Symetra.

       RSL successfully refiled the Thompson application for approval of transfer of 

structured settlement payments in Cowlitz County. RSL changed the designated 

beneficiary to 3B and assignment payment to 3B.  Meanwhile, Symetra continued to 

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seek payment from RSL and domesticated the judgment to RSL's principal place of 

business, Texas, and issued interrogatories to RSL to identify RSL property.  On March 

17, 2009, RSL, through its representative, Stewart Feldman, issued objections and

responses to Symetra's postjudgment interrogatories.  RSL claimed it owned no 

property in Texas.  Symetra was then unsuccessful in garnishing RSL's bank account

because RSL's assets were held under the name of another RSL entity.   

       On November 19, 2004, RSL filed the Reihs application with the Benton County 

Superior Court, seeking to purchase a structured settlement payment from Mr. Reihs.  

The underlying court-approved structured settlement included a $60,000 guaranteed 

payment due to Mr. Reihs on September 2, 2012.  The Reihs application sought 

approval of a transfer agreement under which Mr. Reihs would sell his $60,000 future 

lump sum payment to RSL in exchange for a $20,000 payment to Mr. Reihs upon court

approval. RSL filed and served notice upon Symetra.  On January 12, 2005, Symetra 

objected, arguing the Reihs application violated the SSPA.  

       On March 18, 2005, RSL filed an amended application including an amended 

transfer agreement signed on March 1, 2005, by Mr. Reihs and Mr. Feldman on behalf 

of RSL.  It partly states Mr. Reihs "hereby sells, assigns, and transfers to Rapid 

Settlements all of Assignor's right, title, and interest (including all benefits and rights 

relating thereto) . . . .  Rapid Settlements hereby purchases and accepts such 

assignment and transfer of the Assigned Payment(s)." CP at 25. Symetra 

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unsuccessfully objected to RSL's amended application.  On May 12, 2005, the court 

approved the transfer.  

       On June 2, 2010, Symetra requested a CR 60(b) modification of the May 2005 

order with the Benton County Superior Court, serving its motion on RSL.  Symetra 

renoted the motion twice, first at the request of counsel for RSL, and then at the 

request of 3B's counsel.  On July 2, 2010, 3B moved to intervene.  The record shows

no request for evidentiary hearing, to present witnesses, for a continuance, or for a jury

trial.  3B did not object to Symetra's evidence in support of its motion.

       3B argued RSL "ceased doing business several years ago." CP at 410. Yet, in 

July 2010, the Texas Secretary of State listed RSL as "[i]n existence."  CP at 421, 425.

As recently as January 2010, RSL was aggressively litigating an action in Texas in 

order "to thwart the execution of a valid judgment against [RSL]."  CP at 234. In 

addition, RSL engaged in litigation throughout 2010.  See, e.g., Rapid Settlements, Ltd.

v. Shcolnik, No. H-I0-1366, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118792 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 8, 2010); In 

re RSL Funding, LLC & Rapid Settlements, Ltd., No. 14-10-01111-CV, 2010 Tex. App. 

LEXIS 9157 (Ct. App. Tex. Nov. 18, 2010); Hartford Life Ins. Co. v. Rapid Settlements,

Ltd., No. 14-09-00169-CV, 2010 Tex. App. LEXIS 7774 (Ct. App. Tex. Sept. 23, 2010).

       Symetra's declaration testimony establishes a writ of execution served January 

19, 2010, on RSL at the same business address shared by RSL and 3B.  The name on 

the door was solely "Rapid Settlements, Ltd." CP at 242.  The employees present

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stated they were solely "Rapid" employees. CP at 241-43.  Numerous documents such 

as checks and operations manuals were found there bearing solely RSL's name.

       3B argued no set off should be made because no mutuality of obligation existed 

between 3B and RSL, and it was denied due process without discovery time.  The trial 

court granted the set off, reasoning RSL, not 3B, was the transferee, thus Symetra's 

obligation ran solely to RSL.  The court found substantial evidence supported finding 

RSL and 3B were "one in the same," supporting mutuality of obligation. Report of 

Proceedings at 20.  3B unsuccessfully requested reconsideration and then appealed. 

                                          ANALYSIS

                                       A.  Due Process

       The issue is whether 3B was afforded due process in the proceedings below.  

3B contends Symetra never served 3B with process, denying 3B's opportunity to be 

heard.        

       We review this CR 60 motion ruling for an abuse of discretion.  Vance v. Offices 

of Thurston County Comm'rs, 117 Wn. App. 660, 671, 71 P.3d 680 (2003).  "'Discretion 

is abused when it is exercised on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons.'"  

Luckett v. Boeing Co., 98 Wn. App. 307, 309-10, 989 P.2d 1144 (1999) (quoting Lane 

v. Brown & Haley, 81 Wn. App. 102, 105, 912 P.2d 1040 (1996)). The applicability of 

the constitutional due process guaranty is a question of law we review de novo.  Post v. 

City of Tacoma, 167 Wn.2d 300, 308, 217 P.3d 1179 (2009).

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       3B was not a party to the underlying action and had no interest in the 

proceedings because it was not the transferee.  Symetra's obligation ran to RSL.  Thus, 

3B was not entitled to service of the notice of the motion to revise the 2005 order.

Even so, on June 4, 2010 a copy of the motion was faxed and mailed to Mr. Feldman, 

3B's registered agent and CEO. In Washington, as reasoned below, this forestalls 3B's

fair play and substantial justice arguments associated with lack of notice or service.  

       In Lenzi v. Redland Ins. Co., 140 Wn.2d 267, 276, 996 P.2d 603 (2000), the 

insureds sought a declaration that their underinsured motorist insurer was bound to pay 

a default judgment that had been entered against an uninsured tortfeasor.  Id. The 

insurer argued it had merely received a mailed copy of the summons and complaint for 

the suit against the tortfeasor, and was not actually "served" with the pleadings so it

had not received "perfected" notice. Id. at 275. The court reasoned receipt of the 

summons and complaint "alerts a potential party there is a lawsuit afoot." Id. at 276. 

The insurer knew about the litigation, had an interest in the outcome, and was 

obligated to protect its position and could have done so by intervening.  Id. Receipt of 

the pleadings alone was sufficient to comport with "notions of fair play and substantial

justice."  Id.

       Here, 3B received actual notice of the motion and intervened.  It was afforded an 

opportunity to present its objections and was heard. Further, 3B requested and was

granted an extension of the motion hearing.  Because 3B had notice, time to prepare a 

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response, and an opportunity to be heard, due process was satisfied.  3B argues for 

the first time on appeal that it had a right to a jury trial on the question of alter ego.  But 

3B never made this argument before the trial court and we consider it waived on

appeal.  Ford Motor Co. v. Barrett, 115 Wn.2d 556, 563, 800 P.2d 367 (1990).  

Moreover, a party is not entitled to a jury trial if the relief sought is equitable in nature. 

Brown v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 94 Wn.2d 359, 365, 617 P.2d 704 (1980).  Proceedings 

under CR 60 are "'equitable in nature.'"  Housing Auth. of Grant County v. Newbigging,

105 Wn. App. 178, 192, 19 P.3d 1081 (2001) (quoting Pamelin Indus., Inc. v. Sheen-

U.S.A., Inc., 95 Wn.2d 398, 404, 622 P.2d 1270 (1981)).

                                         B.  Alter Ego

       The issue is whether the trial court erred in finding 3B was the alter ego of RSL.  

3B contends Symetra did not meet its burden of proof to establish that the two entities 

are one in the same.  

       Washington recognizes the "alter ego" doctrine providing where one entity "so 

dominates and controls a corporation that such corporation is [the entity's] alter ego, a 

court is justified in piercing the veil of corporate entity and holding that the corporation 

and private person are one and the same."  Standard Fire Ins. Co. v. Blakeslee, 54 Wn.

App. 1, 5, 771 P.2d 1172 (1989) (quoting Pohlman Inv. Co. v. Virginia City Gold Mining 

Co., 184 Wash. 273, 283, 51 P.2d 363 (1935)). As noted in Northern Laminate Sales,

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Inc. v. Matthews, 249 F. Supp. 2d 130, 139 (D.N.H. 2003), "[a]lthough a corporation is 

treated as a separate legal entity and its liabilities are not attributable to its owners and 

officers, the corporate separateness that shields an owner from liability may be 

disregarded under certain conditions."  Scully Signal Co. v. Joyal, 881 F. Supp. 727, 

736 (D.R.I. 1995).  "The result . . . is that if the corporation is found liable or subject to 

the jurisdiction of the court, the owner is likewise subject to liability and personal 

jurisdiction."  N. Laminate Sales, 249 F. Supp. 2d at 139.  Thus, a court will pierce the 

veil and find a corporate entity is one and the same with another corporate entity when 

the corporate form has been intentionally used to violate or evade a duty.  "Typically, 

the injustice which dictates a piercing of the corporate veil is one involving fraud, 

misrepresentation, or some form of manipulation" to the entity's benefit and the 

creditor's detriment.  Truckweld Equip. Co., Inc. v. Olson, 26 Wn. App. 638, 644-45, 

618 P.2d 1017 (1980).  

       In J.I. Case Credit Corp. v. Stark, 64 Wn.2d 470, 392 P.2d 215 (1964), the court 

found two companies, Case and Credit, were one and the same, in order to prevent 

injustice to Mr. Stark. There, Mr. Stark leased a combine from the LaCrosse Hardware 

Company. Id. at 471. Later, he exercised an option to purchase the combine from 

LaCrosse.  Id. at 471-72.  He signed a note and chattel mortgage on Case Company

forms and Case Credit Corporation purchased the note and mortgage.  Id. at 472.  Mr. 

Stark experienced repeated problems with the combine, returned it to the retailer as 

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irreparable, and refused to pay on the note.  Id. Credit sued him, claiming he could not 

assert a defense that the combine was defective because Credit was a separate 

corporation from Case.  Id. at 475. The court disagreed, and found the entities were 

one and the same because Credit was a wholly-owned Case subsidiary, Case's 

secretary/treasurer was Credit's president, all Credit employees were paid by Case, the 

credit manager of Credit was also an employee of Case, both companies had the same 

address, the same lawyer, the same agent, the same auditors, and Credit's sole

business was to handle retail financing for Case. Id. The court reasoned piercing the 

veil would prevent a wrong against Mr. Stark.  Id. at 478. 

       The piercing elements are established here.  RSL and 3B share an identity of 

beneficial ownership and control.  RSL is a registered Texas domestic limited 

partnership, with a principal place of business at 5051 Westheimer, Suite 1875, 

Houston, TX. RSL's general partner is Rapid Management Corporation.  RSL's 

registered agent is Mr. Feldman.  3B is a registered Texas domestic limited 

partnership, with the same principal place of business as RSL.  Rapid Management

Corporation represented itself to the courts in Washington SSPA transfer applications 

as "the General Partner of Rapid Settlements, Ltd. and [3B]."  CP at 348.  Thus, the 

ownership of both entities has been held out to third parties as identical with an 

identical place of business.  3B is a Texas for-profit corporation that lists Mr. Feldman 

as the director, president, secretary and treasurer and he is 3B's registered agent.  The 

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sole name on the door of the identical business addresses is "Rapid Settlements, Ltd."  

CP at 241-42.  The employees at the location identified themselves as "Rapid"

employees.  Id.

       In sum, a clear identity of control and ownership exists between RSL and 3B. 

Mr. Feldman is the beneficial owner, sole director, and controlling officer of each entity.  

Rapid Management Corporation held itself out to third parties as the general partner of 

both RSL and 3B.  Given all, the trial court correctly reasoned substantial evidence 

showed RSL and 3B shared common control and ownership, and that the assets were 

transferred between the entities to avoid the creditor claims.  Accordingly, the trial court 

correctly concluded 3B and RSL were one and the same.

                                          C.  Set Off

       The issue is whether the trial court erred in granting Symetra's set off request.      

       "[W]hether mutual judgments may be satisfied by being set off against each 

other rests largely within the court's discretion . . . the application to set off judgments 

should be made in equity and controlled by equitable principles."  Reichlin v. First Nat'l 

Bank, 184 Wash. 304, 314-15, 51 P.2d 380 (1934) (citations omitted).  Courts, 

however, have the equitable authority to set off claims between two parties against the 

claim of a third party if "it becomes necessary for a clear equity or to prevent 

irremediable injustice." 20 Am.Jur.2d Counterclaim, Recoupment, and Setoff 47 at 267; 

see also Reichlin, 184 Wash. at 315; Darwish v. Harmon, 633 N.E.2d 546, 549 (Ohio 

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App. 8th Dist. 1992).

       In Darwish, the father of a child who was hit by a car while riding his bike 

brought suit on behalf of his son against the car driver.  The driver brought a third party 

claim against the parents, alleging they had negligently instructed their son on the 

proper use of his bike and had failed to properly equip his bike with reflectors and 

lights.  A jury found all three parties liable.  The trial court offset the amount the driver 

owed to the child by the amount the parents owed the driver. The Court of Appeals of 

Ohio affirmed, concluding the setoff decision was discretionary.  Darwish, 633 N.E.2d 

at 548.

       Similarly, it was within the trial court's discretion to offset 3B's right to payment 

by Symetra's judgment against RSL because, as discussed above, the two were one 

and the same. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering the 

set off.

                                          D.  Merger

       The issue is whether the trial court wrongly merged two partnerships into one.  

3B contends it was not liable for RSL's judgment under Texas law.  3B concedes this 

defense was not raised below.  

       Generally, appellate courts will not entertain issues raised for the first time on 

appeal.  RAP 2.5(a); Brundridge v. Fluor Fed. Servs., Inc., 164 Wn.2d 432, 441, 191 

P.3d 879 (2008).  The reason for this rule is to afford the trial court an opportunity to 

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correct errors, thereby avoiding unnecessary appeals and retrials.  Smith v. Shannon,

100 Wn.2d 26, 37, 666 P.2d 351 (1983). A defendant waives his right to assert an 

affirmative defense if he fails to raise the defense at trial. City of Seattle v. Lewis, 70 

Wn. App. 715, 718-19, 855 P.2d 327 (1993). Because this defense was not raised 

below, it is waived.  

       Even so, when parties dispute choice of law, an actual conflict must exist 

between the laws before courts will engage in a conflict of laws analysis.  Erwin v. 

Cotter Health Ctrs., 161 Wn.2d 676, 692, 167 P.3d 1112 (2007). If an actual conflict 

exists, the court then determines which jurisdiction has the most significant relationship 

with the matter.  Seizer v. Sessions, 132 Wn.2d 642, 650, 940 P.2d 261 (1997).  Here, 

even if Texas law presents an actual conflict, Washington has the most significant 

relationship to this matter.  The 2008 judgment is a Washington judgment, RSL filed the 

Reihs application in Washington, the 2005 order is a Washington order, Mr. Reihs is a 

Washington resident, Symetra is a Washington corporation, and RSL and 3B have 

significant contact with Washington.  In sum, Washington law was properly applied.

                                   E.  Full Faith and Credit

       The issue is whether the trial court violated the full faith and credit clause of the 

United States Constitution.

       We review constitutional issues de novo. Citizens Protecting Res. v. Yakima 

County, 152 Wn. App. 914, 919, 219 P.3d 730 (2009). Article IV of the United States 

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Constitution requires the states to give full faith and credit to every other state's judicial 

proceedings.  U.S. Const. art. IV, § 1. Congress prescribes the means of proving a 

judgment is entitled to such credit.  A foreign state's judgment cannot reach beyond the 

settled controversy to control proceedings in other states by other parties asserting 

claims the merits of which the foreign state has not considered.  Baker by Thomas v. 

Gen. Motors Corp., 522 U.S. 222, 238, 118 S. Ct. 657, 139 L. Ed. 2d 580 (1998).

       3B contends Symetra's Washington judgment against RSL would not be entitled 

to full faith and credit in Texas.  Symetra was permitted to offset the payment it was 

required to make to 3B by the judgment amount owed by RSL because the court found 

RSL and 3B had mutuality of obligation.  The full faith and credit clause does not 

preclude Symetra from offsetting what is owed to 3B by what RSL owes Symetra under 

Washington law because the involved companies are incorporated in different states.  

3B offers no contrary authority. Accordingly, we conclude 3B's contention lacks merit.

       Affirmed.     

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                                                    _______________________________
                                                    Brown, J.

WE CONCUR:

_________________________                           _______________________________
Kulik, C.J.                                         Korsmo, J.

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