Bob C. Sterbank

Overview

Bob has more than 30 years of municipal, land use and litigation experience. He is a veteran city attorney having advised mayors, city council members and other government administrators in cities across the Greater Seattle area.

Prior to joining Foster Garvey, Sterbank served as attorney for the City of Snoqualmie for nearly a decade. He is a frequent speaker on land use and municipal topics, and has been recognized for his leadership by Washington Super Lawyers.

Bob received his bachelor’s degree with honors from Northwestern University and his Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

Professional Activities

• Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys (WSAMA), Member
  • Amicus Committee
  • Board Member
• Washington State Bar Association, Member 

Community Activities

Columbia Metropolitan Choirs, Concord Chamber Choir, 2016-present

Experience

Appellate Litigation
Decisions representing primary party:

• Heller v. City of Bellevue, 147 Wn.App. 46 (Div. I 2008)
• City of Federal Way v. Town & Country Real Estate, LLC, 161 Wn.App. 17 (Div. II 2011)
• Jones v. Town of Hunts Point, 166 Wn.App. 452 (Div. I 2011)
• Sleeping Tiger, LLC v. City of Tukwila, 173 Wn.App. 1026, 2013 WL 709825 (Div. I 2013)
  (unpublished)
• BD Lawson Partners, LP v. Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board, 165
  Wn.App. 677 (Div. I 2011)
• Toward Responsible Development v. City of Black Diamond, 179 Wn.App. 1012, 2014 WL
  295838 (Div. I 2014) (unpublished)
• City of Snoqualmie v. King County Executive Dow Constantine et al., 187 Wn.2d 289 (2016)
  Drebick v. City of Olympia, 156 Wn.2d 289 (2006)
• Olympia v. Thurston County Board of County Commissioners, 131 Wn.App. 85 (Div. II 2005)
• Responsible Urban Growth Group v. City of Kent, 123 Wn.2d 376 (1994)
• San Juan Holding Company v. Skagit County, 87 Wn.App. 703 (Div. I 1997) (briefed and argued
  case through Skagit County Superior Court, whose decision was upheld on appeal)
• Sorgenfrei v. Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1, 87 Wn.App. 1013, 1997 WL
  1119583 (Div. I 1997) (unpublished)

Amicus Curiae (aka “Friend of the Court”) briefs:

• University of Washington v. City of Seattle, 188 Wn.2d 823 (2017)
• Benchmark Land Co. v. City of Battle Ground, 138 Wn.2d 1008 (1999):
  • On remand: Benchmark Land Co. v. City of Battle Ground, 103 Wn.2d 721 (Div. II 2000)
  • On appeal: Benchmark Land Co. v. City of Battle Ground, 146 Wn.2d 685 (2002)
• Isla Verde International Holdings, Inc. v. City of Camas, 146 Wn.2d 740 (2002)
• City of Everett v. Public Employment Relations Commission and IAFF Local 46, Case No.
  77831-5-1 (Div. I Court of Appeals) (amicus brief filed 9/10/2018)

Significant Trial Court Litigation:

• City of Snoqualmie v. Dow Constantine et al., King County Superior Court Cause No. 14-2-29269-4
  SEA (March 4, 2015)
  • Order granting in part and denying in part City of Snoqualmie’s Motion for Partial Summary
    Judgment and denying State Department of Revenue’s motion for summary judgment
• National Wildlife Federation v. Federal Emergency Management Association et al., 2014 WL 5449859
  (unpublished October 24, 2014)
  • Order Denying Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment and Granting Federal Emergency
• Snoqualmie Indian Tribe v. City of Snoqualmie, 186 F.Supp.3d 1155 (W.D. Wash. 2016)
  • Management Agency’s and Intervenor Cities’ Motions for Summary Judgment, in Order Granting in Party and Denying in Part Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss

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