(1) An
action to set aside a forfeiture not otherwise void under RCW 61.30.040(1) may be commenced only after the declaration of
forfeiture has been recorded and only as provided in this
section, and regardless of whether an action was previously
commenced under RCW 61.30.110.
(2) An action to set aside the forfeiture permitted by this
section may be commenced only by a person entitled to be given
the required notices under RCW 61.30.040 (1) and (2). For all
persons given the required notices in accordance with this
chapter, such an action shall be commenced by filing and serving
the summons and complaint not later than sixty days after the
declaration of forfeiture is recorded. Service shall be made
upon the seller or the seller's attorney-in-fact, if any, who
signed the declaration of forfeiture. Concurrently with
commencement of the action, the person bringing the action shall
record a lis pendens in each county in which any part of the
property is located.
(3) The court may require that all payments specified in the
notice of intent shall be paid to the clerk of the court as a
condition to maintaining an action to set aside the forfeiture. All payments falling due during the pendency of the action shall
be paid to the clerk of the court when due. These payments shall
be calculated without regard to any acceleration provision in the
contract (except an acceleration because of a transfer,
encumbrance, or conveyance of the purchaser's interest in the
property when otherwise enforceable) and without regard to the
seller's contention the contract has been duly forfeited and
shall not include the seller's costs and fees of the forfeiture. The court may make orders regarding the investment or
disbursement of these funds and may authorize payments to third
parties instead of the clerk of the court.
(4) The forfeiture shall not be set aside unless (a) the
rights of bona fide purchasers for value and of bona fide
encumbrancers for value of the property would not thereby be
adversely affected and (b) the person bringing the action
establishes that the seller was not entitled to forfeit the
contract at the time the seller purported to do so or that the
seller did not materially comply with the requirements of this
chapter.
(5) If the purchaser or other person commencing the action
establishes a right to set aside the forfeiture, the court shall
award the purchaser or other person commencing the action actual
damages, if any, and may award the purchaser or other person its
reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of the action. If the court
finds that the forfeiture was conducted in compliance with this
chapter, the court shall award the seller actual damages, if any,
and may award the seller its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs
of the action.
(6) The seller is entitled to possession of the property and
to the rents, issues, and profits thereof during the pendency of
an action to set aside the forfeiture: PROVIDED, That the court
may provide that possession of the property be delivered to or
retained by the purchaser or some other person and may make other
provisions for the rents, issues, and profits.
[1988 c 86 § 14; 1985 c 237 § 14.]