| Directions: Be sure to make an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English spelling and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be four (4) pages in length; refer to the “Assignment Format” page for specific format requirements.
To increase your knowledge of legal research and writing, please go to: http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18. Then answer the following questions.
- Your supervising attorney asks you to carry out research on landlord-tenant law in Washington State. Cite the statute that governs tenants’ obligations. Cite the statute that governs landlords’ obligations.
- Once you have located the relevant law, work up a rough draft of a letter to Jenny Briggs, a potential client and tenant who is facing eviction from the Chambord Arms Apartments for not paying rent. Jenny is 15 days late in paying her rent. She has the money to pay, but she has withheld the rent intentionally, because Mr. Pritchard, the landlord, has not made repairs to the heating system in her apartment. Jenny lives in Spokane, and the temperature out of doors has been between 17 and 35 degrees for the past month. The temperature inside Jenny’s apartment is 47 degrees and falling. Your attorney has directed you to the Washington State statutes that govern landlord-tenant disputes. Jenny needs to know if she can legally withhold rent due to the landlord’s failure to make repairs. If not, what are her options?
How can you find out more about the statute’s wording that means by “reasonable time to make repairs?”
Jenny also wants to know if she will get her security deposit returned.
- Set up this letter in block format. See Figure 14-11, which is an example of an opinion letter. You work for Charles Harris, Esq., 530 Main Street, Spokane, WA 99223, telephone (509) 000-0000. Jenny Briggs resides at 435 East 9th Avenue, Apartment D, Spokane, WA 99034.
Make certain to prepare a closing paragraph similar to the one found in Figure 14-11. Block indent any quotes from the relevant statutes cited within your letter.
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Rubric Name: Assignment 8 Rubric
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This table lists criteria and criteria group names in the first column. The first row lists level names and includes scores if the rubric uses a numeric scoring method. You can give feedback on each criterion by tabbing to the add feedback buttons in the table.Criteria
Exemplary
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
Unacceptable
Criterion Score
Reasonable Time Statute
24 points
Student locates the statute that addresses the definition of “reasonable time.”
16 points
Student is mostly accurate in identifying the statute that addresses the definition of “reasonable time.”
8 points
Student is only partially accurate in identifying the statute that addresses the definition of “reasonable time.”
0 points
Student does not locate the correct statute that addresses the definition of “reasonable time.”
Score of Reasonable Time Statute,/ 24Criterion score has been overridden
Statutes (3 statutes total)
10 points
Student correctly locates all 3 of the statutes that govern landlord and tenant duties in Washington State. 1. RCW 59.18.060
Landlord—Duties; 2. RCW 59.18.090
Landlord’s failure to remedy defective condition—Tenant’s choice of actions; 3.
RCW 59.18.260
Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Written rental agreement to specify terms and conditions for retention by landlord—Written checklist required.
7 points
Student correctly locates 2 of the 3 statutes that govern landlord and tenant duties in Washington State. 1. RCW 59.18.060
Landlord—Duties; 2. RCW 59.18.090
Landlord’s failure to remedy defective condition—Tenant’s choice of actions; 3.
RCW 59.18.260
Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Written rental agreement to specify terms and conditions for retention by landlord—Written checklist required.
4 points
Student correctly locates 1 of the 3 statutes that govern landlord and tenant duties in Washington State. 1. RCW 59.18.060
Landlord—Duties; 2. RCW 59.18.090
Landlord’s failure to remedy defective condition—Tenant’s choice of actions; 3.
RCW 59.18.260
Moneys paid as deposit or security for performance by tenant—Written rental agreement to specify terms and conditions for retention by landlord—Written checklist required.
0 points
Student does not locate any of the three (3) statutes that govern landlord and tenant duties in Washington State.
Score of Statutes (3 statutes total),/ 10Criterion score has been overridden
Proper Block Letter Format
10 points
Student accurately sets up letter to Jenny Briggs.
7 points
Student is mostly accurate in setting up letter to Jenny Briggs.
4 points
Student is only partially accurate in setting up letter to Jenny Briggs.
0 points
Student does not use the proper format in setting up letter to Jenny Briggs.
Score of Proper Block Letter Format,/ 10Criterion score has been overridden
Body of Letter
36 points
Student drafts a well-written, opinion letter to Jenny Briggs that addresses the landlord’s duty to repair, the tenant’s right to withhold rent, and the return of Jenny’s security deposit.
24 points
Student drafts a mostly well-written opinion letter to Jenny Briggs that addresses the landlord’s duty to repair, the tenant’s right to withhold rent, and the return of Jenny’s security deposit.
12 points
Student drafts a written opinion letter to Jenny Briggs that poorly addresses the landlord’s duty to repair, the tenant’s right to withhold rent, and the return of Jenny’s security deposit.
0 points
Student does not draft the body of the opinion letter to Jenny Briggs.
Score of Body of Letter,/ 36Criterion score has been overridden
Mechanics -Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling
10 points
Student does not make any errors in grammar or spelling, especially those that distract the reader from the content.
7 points
Student makes 1-2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.
4 points
Student makes 3-4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.
0 points
Student makes more than 4 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.
Score of Mechanics -Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling,/ 10Criterion score has been overridden
Format – APA Format, Citations, Organization, Transitions
10 points
The paper is written in proper APA and organizational format. All sources used for quotes and facts are credible and cited correctly. Excellent organization, including a variety of thoughtful transitions.
7 points
The paper is written in proper format with only 1-2 errors. All sources used for quotes and facts are credible, and most are cited correctly. Adequate organization includes a variety of appropriate transitions.
4 points
The paper is written in proper format with only 3-5 errors. Most sources used for quotes and facts are credible and cited correctly. Essay is poorly organized, but may include a few effective transitions.
0 points
The paper is not written in proper format; the sources used for quotes and facts are not credible and are not cited correctly. The paper shows no organization or development.
Score of Format – APA Format, Citations, Organization, Transitions,/ 10Criterion score has been overridden
