06/23/2026
🚨 Significant Victory for Domestic Violence Survivors in Washington State 🚨
The Washington Court of Appeals, Division II, has issued a published decision recognizing that the continuing tort doctrine applies to claims for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress arising from domestic violence.
Why does this matter?
Domestic violence is rarely a single event. It often consists of years of intimidation, coercive control, threats, emotional abuse, isolation, financial abuse, and physical violence. Historically, survivors seeking civil justice have frequently faced arguments that parts of their claims were too old to pursue.
This decision acknowledges an important reality: abuse is often a continuing course of conduct, not a series of isolated incidents.
For survivors, this may open the door to civil claims that defendants previously argued were barred by the passage of time.
Civil lawsuits cannot undo the harm caused by abuse. But they can provide accountability, compensation, and a measure of justice beyond what is available through the criminal or family court systems.
Our firm has long believed that domestic violence survivors deserve access to every remedy the law provides. This decision represents a meaningful step forward in recognizing the true nature of abusive relationships and the lasting harm they cause.
If you are a survivor of domestic violence and have questions about your legal rights, or if you are a family law attorney, therapist, or advocate interested in understanding how this decision may affect survivors, we welcome the opportunity to discuss it.
Justice should not depend on an abuser’s ability to run out the clock.