The Washington civpro gauntlet

Twenty days — sixty if served out of state

The asymmetric answer pair: the in-state clock is tight, the out-of-state clock is triple, and the day of service never counts.

CR 12(a); RCW 4.28.180

THE 90-DAY COMMENCEMENT TRAP

Filing or service is only TENTATIVE commencement — the other act must land within ninety days or the action is deemed not commenced for limitations purposes.

RCW 4.16.170

The under-7 computation twist

Periods under seven days skip intermediate weekends and holidays; seven-plus counts every calendar day and only the last day rolls.

CR 6(a)

The first response decides what survives

Threshold defenses omitted from the first motion or responsive pleading can be waived — consolidation is mandatory.

CR 12(g), (h)

SILENCE ADMITS

Requests for admission are admitted unless answered within 30 days — the one device that decides itself.

CR 36

The conference before every discovery motion

The court will not entertain a rules-26-37 motion unless counsel have conferred — no exceptions in the rule's text.

CR 26(i)

The 28/11/5 summary-judgment calendar

The motion goes on file four weeks out; oppositions and rebuttals march backward from the hearing — and CR 56(f) is the rescue, with reasons stated.

CR 56(c)

The government standstill

Sue a local entity too early and the suit is barred — sixty calendar days must elapse after claim presentment (the limitations clock tolls meanwhile).

RCW 4.96.020

The 1-year note-for-trial DWOP

A case not noted for trial within a year of joinder SHALL be dismissed on motion — and noting it before the hearing is the cure the rule itself provides.

CR 41(b)(1)

Mandatory arbitration's fee-shift exit

Qualifying claims arbitrate first; the trial de novo request runs 20 days from proof-of-service of the later of the award or a fee decision — and failing to improve your position has a price.

RCW 7.06; SCCAR 7.1