Guide to the Archives of the City of Seattle

Record Group 4400
Law Department

The Law Department represents the City in all legal matters and litigation, provides legal advice and opinions to City departments and agencies, and is responsible for prosecuting violations of City ordinances in Municipal Court. The position of City Attorney was established in 1875. The 1890 City Charter created the Law Department headed by the Corporation Counsel. The title was changed to City Attorney in 1977.

4400-01
Annual Reports
1957-1978
0.4 cubic foot

Annual reports detailing departmental activities including a recapitulation of cases, claims, condemnations, and legal opinions.

RA
Container List

4400-02
Mark Sidran Subject Files
1990-2002
13.4 cubic feet

Sidran served as city attorney from 1990 through 2001. His subject files cover the routine work of the City Attorney's Office as well as specific programs and priorities of the agency during his tenure. A program to impound the cars of persons caught driving with suspended licenses is documented extensively. His office's work on problem nightclubs is also covered, including both general policy initiatives and files on specific clubs. Materials on the street civility laws include a good deal of correspondence and feedback from citizens and businesses. Other topics covered in depth include parks exclusion, land use code enforcement, graffiti, and liquor issues.

SMA
Folder List

4401-01
Correspondence (Series I)
1892-1915
5.0 cubic feet

Correspondence to the Corporation Counsel requesting legal opinions and advice, information requests, and responses to Law Department requests for information regarding claims against City departments. Includes correspondence to George Donworth, W. T. Scott, John K. Brown, W. E. Humphrey, Mitchell Gilliam, and Scott Calhoun.

SMA

4401-02
Correspondence (Series II)
1939-1977
46.8 cubic feet

Correspondence to and from the City Attorney. Includes requests from City agencies for legal opinions and advice.

SMA
Folder List

4401-03
Subject Files
1975-1985
2.4 cubic feet

Correspondence, memoranda, and reports relating to city legal actions and law enforcement projects. Major topics include family violence, Ross Dam, and Washington Public Power Supply System.

SMA

4401-04
Legal Opinions Regarding Public Utilities
1907-1972
0.4 cubic foot

Opinions issued by the City Attorney at the request of various City officials regarding public utility issues. Included are Seattle's water system, refuse disposal, electricity, and the street railway and transit systems.

SMA

4402-01
Litigation Records
1950-1987
295.6 cubic feet

Records of closed cases involving the City relating to real property title; validity of an ordinance, law or bond issue; personal injury or property damage cases involving more than 100,000 dollars payment; and cases appealed to an appellate court. Includes briefs, pleadings, judgements, and correspondence. Arranged by closed case number.

SMA
Box List

4402-02
Baseball Litigation Records
1964-1977
6.4 cubic feet

Correspondence, reports, specifications, contracts, newspaper clippings, and court documents relating to the joint State-County-City lawsuit against the American League following the departure of the Seattle Pilots in 1969. Includes materials relating to the remodeling of Sick's Stadium and planning for a multi-purpose domed stadium.

SMA

4402-03
Liquid Asphalt Anti-Trust Case Records
1958-1975
5.0 cubic feet

Correspondence, memoranda, court documents, and exhibits relating to the liquid asphalt anti-trust suit against the Chevron Asphalt Company. The City was a party to the suit that was filed by the State of Washington.

SMA

4403-01
Cedar River Watershed Condemnation Records
1892-1930
1.0 cubic foot

Correspondence, judgement on verdicts, petitions, appraisals, court orders, motions, and draft legislation relating to the condemnation of land in the Cedar River Watershed for pipeline right-of-ways and creation of a reservoir.

SMA

4403-02
Skagit Condemnations
1920-1950
7.0 cubic feet

Correspondence, ordinance copies, and court documents relating to the condemnation of property in the Skagit River area for use in power and water supply development.

SMA
Folder List

4403-03
Sand Point Naval Air Station Property Title History
1920-1974
0.4 cubic foot

Maps, abstracts of City of Seattle and King County resolutions, copies of deeds, ordinances, and notes regarding the title to the Sand Point Naval Station property. Includes "Report to the King County Council on County Interests in the Sand Point Properties" prepared by the King County Prosecutor.

SMA

4403-04
Condemnation Files
1897-1982
59.0 cubic feet

Court documents, correspondence, condemnation maps, title reports, deeds, property appraisals, and photographs relating to the condemnation of property for use in constructing and improving streets, boulevards, regrading projects, sewers, water supply systems, electric generation and transmission facilities, garbage disposal sites, parks, playfields, and municipal buildings. Also includes files for condemnations of City property and easements by the State of Washington, King County and other municipalities.

Arranged numerically by condemnation ordinance. Condemnations of Seattle property arranged by Petitioner. Related material includes Engineering Department Condemnation Records (2608-02), Law Department Cedar River Watershed Condemnation Records (4403-01), and Law Department Skagit Condemnations (4403-02).

SMA

4404-01
Supreme Court Briefs
1892-1966
21.0 cubic feet

Legal briefs filed with the Washington State Supreme Court relating to cases involving the City of Seattle. The briefs are printed and bound in volumes.

SMA
Box List