OLYMPIA, Wash. - The state is settling a lawsuit with the one of the owners of a BBQ restaurant destroyed in the December 2007 floods.
Amy Anderson sued the state claiming unlawful and dangerous forest practices contributed to the landslide that ripped the Ranch House BBQ off its foundation. Anderson and her business partner, Melanie Tapia, owned the popular restaurant off state Route 8 near Summit Lake.
Anderson sued the state for $2.4 million.
"Our investigation showed we had no liability for it," said Peter Goldmark, State Lands Commissioner for the Department of Natural Resources.
Goldmark said although the state determined it was not at fault, since it was state-owned land that slid, the DNR decided to settle the lawsuit out of court.
"We felt this was a better settlement than putting the case before a jury," said Goldmark. "Which could, theoretically, levy a higher settlement against us."
The Department of Natural Resources has agreed to pay Anderson $800,000.
The owner said the settlement is not enough to cover the loan she had to take out to rebuild the restaurant.
"Nobody wins here," said Anderson, "I'm still in debt."
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