Under Washington State canons of statutory construction, what is the Absurd-Consequences Rule? Here’s my point of view.
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THE ABSURD-CONSEQUENCES RULE
In Washington State, courts “will avoid literal reading of a statute which would result in unlikely, absurd, or strained consequences.” Fraternal Order of Eagles v. Grand Aerie of Fraternal Order of Eagles, 148 Wn.2d 224, 239, 59 P.3d 655 (Wash. 2002) (citing State v. McDougal, 120 Wn.2d 334, 350, 841 P.2d 1232 (1992)). “The spirit or purpose of an enactment should prevail over … express but inept wording.” Id. (citing State v. Day, 96 Wn.2d 646, 648, 638 P.2d 546 (1981)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
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