Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

February 15, 2022

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II FREEDOM FOUNDATION, a Washington No. 55642-1-II nonprofit organization, Appellant, v. WASHINGTON STATE PUBLIC UNPUBLISHED OPINION DISCLOSURE COMMISSION, a State of Washington government agency, and AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF WASHINGTON STATE, an IRS 527 political organization,

Respondent.

LEE, C.J. — The Freedom Foundation (Foundation) appeals the superior court’s order dismissing the Foundation’s petition for judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act

(APA), chapter 34.05 RCW, and denying its motion for leave to conduct discovery. The Foundation argues that the trial court erred in concluding that the Foundation did not have standing and by denying its motion for leave to conduct discovery as moot.

We hold that the trial court did not err in concluding that the Foundation did not have standing nor by denying the motion for leave to conduct discovery as moot. Accordingly, we

affirm the superior court’s order dismissing the Foundation’s petition for judicial review and denying the Foundation’s motion for leave to conduct discovery.

No. 55642-1-II

FACTS

The Amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council of Washington State (ATULC) is an organization involved in protecting the rights of Amalgamated Transit Union members, lobbying for new legislation, cooperating with local unions, and encouraging members to be politically

active in matters affecting the transportation industry. The ATULC has been registered with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) as a lobbyist employer since at least 1996.

The Foundation filed a complaint with the PDC, alleging that the ATULC violated the Fair

Campaign Practices Act (FCPA), chapter 42.17A RCW, by failing to register as a political committee between 2014 and 2018. The Foundation argued that the ATULC should be registered as a political committee and should be required to meet the reporting requirements of political

committees because one if its primary purposes is influencing electoral political activity. The ATULC responded to the complaint by sending a letter to the PDC, arguing that it was not a political committee. The Foundation sent another letter to the PDC in response to the arguments in the ATULC’s letter.

The PDC opened a formal investigation and held an initial hearing on the allegations against the ATULC. The PDC reviewed several years of the ATULC’s activities and found that

“the totality of the evidence does not suggest that ATULC is a political committee, because the making of [political contribution] expenditures was not its primary purpose, or even one of its primary purposes.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 43.

The PDC sent a letter to the Foundation informing the Foundation that the PDC was dismissing the matter against the ATULC. The Foundation requested that the PDC reconsider its findings and dismissal of the complaint against the ATULC. The PDC then sent a letter to the No. 55642-1-II

Foundation informing the Foundation that the PDC did not find a reason to change its decision.

The letter also stated, “As a reminder, neither the complainant nor any other person has standing to participate or intervene in any investigation or consideration of a complaint by staff. WAC 390-

37-030. Nevertheless, staff provides this response as a courtesy to you.” CP at 74 (underlining omitted).

The Foundation filed a petition for judicial review of the PDC’s decision to dismiss the Foundation’s complaint to the PDC regarding the ATULC. The Foundation also filed a motion for leave to conduct discovery. The PDC filed a motion to dismiss under CR 12(b)(6), arguing that the Foundation lacked standing to seek judicial review under the APA. The ATULC joined the PDC’s motion to dismiss. The superior court held a hearing on the motions, granted the PDC’s motion to dismiss, and denied the Foundation’s motion for leave to conduct discovery as moot.

The Foundation sought direct review of this matter in our Supreme Court. Statement of Grounds for Direct Review, Freedom Foundation v. Public Disclosure Commission, No. 99281-9

(Wash. Dec. 15, 2020). Our Supreme Court transferred the appeal to this court. Order, Freedom

Foundation v. Public Disclosure Commission, No. 99281-9 (Wash. Apr. 7, 2021).

ANALYSIS

A. STANDING

The Foundation argues that it has standing because it suffered a competitive injury, because it was a party to the complaint that the PDC dismissed, and because it has associational standing on behalf of its supporters. We disagree.

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75, 86, 469 P.3d 364 (2020), review denied, 196 Wn.2d 1033 (2021). Where a party fails to meet

the injury-in-fact test, we need not determine whether the party’s interests satisfy the zone of interest test. See Patterson, 171 Wn. App. at 258 n.5.

To satisfy the “injury-in-fact” test, a party must show prejudice by alleging facts that demonstrate the party is “‘specifically and perceptibly harmed’ by the agency decision.” Id. at

258-59 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Trepanier v. City of Everett, 64 Wn. App. 380, 382-83, 824 P.2d 524, review denied, 119 Wn.2d 1012 (1992)). The party must show an invasion of a legally protected interest. Snohomish County Pub. Transp. Benefit Area v. Pub. Emp’t.

Relations Comm’n, 173 Wn. App. 504, 513, 294 P.3d 803 (2013). And “a petitioner’s interest

‘must be more than simply the abstract interest of the general public in having others comply with the law.’” Thompson v. City of Mercer Island, 193 Wn. App. 653, 663, 375 P.3d 681 (quoting

Chelan County v. Nykreim, 146 Wn.2d 904, 935, 52 P.3d 1 (2002)), review denied, 186 Wn.2d

1013 (2016).

“Conjectural or hypothetical injuries are insufficient to confer standing.” Bethel Sch. Dist., 14 Wn. App. 2d at 86. To prove redressability, the party must show that it is “‘likely, as opposed to merely speculative, that the injury will be redressed by a favorable decision.’” Patterson, 171

Wn. App. at 259 (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting KS Tacoma Holdings, LLC v. Shorelines Hearings Bd., 166 Wn. App. 117, 129, 272 P.3d 876, review denied, 174 Wn.2d 1007

(2012)).

No. 55642-1-II No. 55642-1-II that it has different ideological beliefs than the ATULC, but that showing is not sufficient to confer standing. See Valley Forge Christian College, 454 U.S. at 485-86. Therefore, the Foundation has not shown that it suffered a competitive injury-in-fact sufficient to confer standing.

No. 55642-1-II consideration of the complaint.” Id. at 87. Bethel School District held that “[t]he FCPA does not confer standing on a complainant, and a complainant does not have the ability to participate in any proceeding unless requested by the PDC.” Id.

Here, in its briefing, the Foundation relies on our unpublished decision in Automotive

United Trades Organization v. Public Disclosure Commission, No. 50652-1-II (unpublished)

(Wash. Ct. App. May, 14, 2019) (AUTO).1 In AUTO, the PDC declined to take action on the Automotive United Trades Organization’s (AUTO) citizen action notice and sent a decision letter

to AUTO. AUTO, slip op. ^[1]. AUTO then filed an untimely petition for judicial review, after the APA’s appeal deadline. Id. at 6-7, 10. AUTO argued that the deadline was extended because it was unaware it had standing to challenge the decision letter until later. Id. at 9. The AUTO court

held that the deadline was not extended because AUTO reasonably should have known the decision letter “would cause it specific and perceptible harm.” Id. at 10.

The Foundation argues that AUTO stands for the proposition that a complainant has standing to challenge the PDC’s dismissal of their complaint. But Bethel School District rejected the Foundation’s same argument:

[I]n AUTO we did not consider whether a complainant had standing to petition for review. Rather, we held that the complainant failed to timely file its petition for review, thus, the complainant was time-barred from filing the action. AUTO did not consider the question presented in this case.

14 Wn. App. 2d at 88. Like the court in Bethel School District, we reject the Foundation’s argument that AUTO applies to this case.

No. 55642-1-II

Here, like in Bethel School District, the Foundation argues that its status as a complainant

made it a party to the PDC complaint, and that this party status confers standing. But the Foundation’s status as a complainant does not make it a party to the PDC proceedings, so it does not have a party status that could confer standing. See RCW 34.05.010(12); WAC 390-37-030(1);

Bethel Sch. Dist., 14 Wn. App. 2d at 87-88. Accordingly, we follow Bethel School District and hold that the Foundation’s argument fails.

No. 55642-1-II

Here, the Foundation argues that all of its supporters are harmed by the PDC allowing the ATULC’s political activities to go unreported. The Foundation vaguely alleges that it has supporters across Washington who were directly harmed by the ATULC’s “secret political activities over the span of several years.” Br. of Appellant at 36. But the Foundation does not explain who these supporters might be or what direct harm they have suffered.

In support of its argument that its supporters have standing, the Foundation asserts that

questions concerning the extent of the PDC’s discretion “impact everyone who participates in representative democracy in the State of Washington and all of the various industries that are affected by the results of such electoral contests (which is to say, all of them).” Br. of Appellant at 37-38. But the Foundation fails to show how its supporters have suffered an injury distinct from

the interests of all Washington residents who participate in representative democracy. Therefore, the Foundation has shown only “‘the abstract interest of the general public in having others comply with the law,’” which is insufficient to confer standing. Thompson, 193 Wn. App. at 663 (quoting

Nykreim, 146 Wn.2d at 935). Thus, the Foundation has failed to show the specific and perceptible harm required for an injury-in-fact.

Because the Foundation has not shown how its supporters have suffered an injury-in-fact, we hold that the Foundation has failed to show how its supporters would otherwise have standing to sue in their own right. Accordingly, the Foundation has failed to show it has associational standing.

As in Bethel School District, the Foundation has failed to show that it has standing.

Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not err by dismissing the Foundation’s petition for judicial review based on the Foundation’s lack of standing.

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B. MOTION FOR LEAVE TO CONDUCT DISCOVERY

The Foundation argues that the trial court erred by denying its motion for leave to take discovery as moot. We disagree.

We review a trial court’s discovery order for an abuse of discretion. Richardson v. Gov’t

Emps. Ins. Co., 200 Wn. App. 705, 711, 403 P.3d 115 (2017), review denied, 190 Wn.2d 1008

(2018). We review de novo whether a legal claim or issue is moot. Gronquist v. Dep’t of Corr., 196 Wn.2d 564, 569, 475 P.3d 497 (2020). “A case becomes moot when a court can no longer provide effective relief.” Id.

Here, the trial court did not reach the merits of the Foundation’s motion for leave to take discovery and denied the motion as moot, so we review the issue de novo. See id. The trial court denied the Foundation’s motion for leave to take discovery as moot because the entire case was dismissed. The remedy sought, leave to take discovery, could not be granted in a case that was no longer active or pending. Therefore, the trial court could no longer provide effective relief.

Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not err by denying the Foundation’s motion for leave to take discovery as moot.^[3]

We affirm.

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A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040, it is so ordered.

Lee, C.J. We concur: Veljacic, J. Ashcraft, J.P.T.^[4]