The bill amends RCW 12.40.060, which outlines the requirements for notices of claim in small claims actions. The updated language specifies that the notice must include the name and address of the plaintiff, a brief statement of the claim's nature and amount, a directive for the defendant to appear personally in the small claims department at a specified time (not less than five days from the notice's service), and an advisory statement regarding the consequences of failing to appear.

A significant change in the bill is the modification of the language concerning the potential outcome if the defendant does not appear. The phrase "judgment will" has been replaced with "judgment may," indicating that a judgment against the defendant is now contingent rather than guaranteed in the event of their absence. This change aims to provide a more flexible approach to the consequences of non-appearance in small claims cases.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 12.40.060
Bill as Passed Legislature: 12.40.060
Session Law: 12.40.060