OLYMPIA (AP) — The state Supreme court has revived a lawsuit that alleged illegal spending by a backer of Republican Dino Rossi in the 2008 gubernatorial election.
The News Tribune reported that the 8-1 ruling Thursday sends the case of Utter v. Building Industry Association of Washington back to a King County court for more proceedings.
The case was from Rossi’s 2008 rematch with Gov. Chris Gregoire, which the Democrat Gregoire won. Two retired Supreme Court justices, Faith Ireland and the late Robert Utter, filed the lawsuit against the BIAW, arguing that it illegally coordinated its fundraising with Rossi.
After a state investigation, an arm of the BIAW paid $242,000 in a 2010 settlement.
An appeals court found the investigation precluded the lawsuit from going forward, but the Supreme Court reversed that decision. The high court said state law allows citizens to sue when state attorneys don’t.
The court also found the plaintiffs presented enough evidence to raise questions about whether BIAW should have registered as a political committee.
