Cities Insurance Association of Washington (CIAW) has determined an appeal of a jury verdict awarding Yakima resident Mark Peterson $480,000 in damages stemming from a case involving a fire inspection request by the City of Yakima in 2013 is necessary.

CIAW, the City’s insurance provider for this case, is responsible for paying the amount awarded in damages by a Yakima County Superior Court jury in mid-March of this year if the appeal is unsuccessful.  The decision to appeal was not made by the City Council or City staff. The decision was made solely by CIAW. 

The City satisfied its $100,000 CIAW insurance policy deductible in 2019.  Once the deductible was satisfied, all additional costs related to the case were borne by CIAW. According to the City’s policy with CIAW, any decision to appeal a verdict is CIAW’s to make.

The case involves a 2013 request by City fire inspectors to inspect a business Peterson owned in Yakima.