In Failla v. FixtureOne Corp., No. 89671-2, the Washington Supreme Court adopted a broad interpretation of the Washington long-arm statute. It concluded that the founder and CEO of a non-resident corporation, which had a single employee in Washington state, was subject to personal jurisdiction. “We hold that employing a Washington resident to perform work in Washington constitutes ‘transaction of any business within the state’ under RCW 4.28.185(1)(a) and satisfies the first [purposeful availment] prong in Shute [v. Carnival Cruise Lines, 113 Wn.2d 763, 767 (1989).]” The Court reasoned that because the CEO was the officer directly responsible for the hiring, firing, promotion, and payment of plaintiff’s wages, his contacts were sufficient to confer jurisdiction over him in his personal capacity. (The corporation was never served). The CEO acted “wilfully” in failing to pay plaintiff’s wages and was liable RCW 49.52.050 and .70.
