Montes v. SPARC Group LLC
Summary
The Washington Supreme Court issued a decision in Montes v. SPARC Group LLC, a consumer protection case. The court ruled on issues involving defendant SPARC Group LLC with amicus participation from the National Association of Consumer Advocates, Washington Attorney General, and National Retail Federation. The decision features a divided court with multiple justices authoring dissents and concurrences.
What changed
The Washington Supreme Court filed its opinion in Montes v. SPARC Group LLC (Docket No. 104,162-4) on April 2, 2026. The case involves consumer protection claims against SPARC Group LLC, with significant amicus participation from both consumer advocates and retail industry groups. The court's 9-justice panel issued a split decision with dissenting opinions from Justices Stephens, González, and Montoya-Lewis. Justice Johnson signed the majority opinion authored by Justice Gordon McCloud, while Justice Melody did not participate.
This state supreme court decision establishes binding precedent for consumer protection litigation in Washington. Compliance officers at retail companies operating in Washington should review this opinion for implications on consumer-facing practices and litigation exposure. The Washington Attorney General's participation indicates significant public interest in the ruling's application to retail consumer practices.
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Supreme Court of the State of Washington Opinion Information Sheet
| Docket Number: | 104,162-4 |
| Title of Case: | Montes v. SPARC Group LLC |
| File Date: | 04/02/2026 |
| Oral Argument Date: | 10/28/2025 |
SOURCE OF APPEAL
| Judgment or order under review | |
JUSTICES
| Debra L. Stephens | Dissent Author | |
| Charles W. Johnson | Signed Majority | |
| Barbara A. Madsen | Signed Majority | |
| Steven C. González | Signed Dissent | |
| Sheryl Gordon McCloud | Majority Author | |
| Raquel Montoya-Lewis | Signed Dissent | |
| G. Helen Whitener | Signed Majority | |
| Salvador A. Mungia | Signed Majority | |
| Colleen M. Melody | Did Not Participate | |
| Mary I. Yu | Signed Majority | Justice Pro Tempore |
COUNSEL OF RECORD
| Counsel for Plaintiff(s) | |
| | Che Z. Corrington |
| | Hattis, Lukacs & Corrington |
| | 11711 Se 8th St. Ste. 120 |
| | Bellevue, WA, 98005-3543 |
| | |
| | Daniel Morley Kekoa Hattis |
| | Hattis, Lukacs & Corrington |
| | 11711 Se 8th St. Ste. 120 |
| | Bellevue, WA, 98005-3543 |
| | |
| | Paul Karl Lukacs |
| | Hattis, Lukacs & Corrington |
| | 11711 Se 8th St. Ste. 120 |
| | Bellevue, WA, 98005-3543 |
| | |
| | Stephen P. DeNittis |
| | Denittis Osefchen, Pc |
| | 5 Greentree Centre, Suite 410 |
| | Marlton, NJ, 08054 |
| Counsel for Defendant(s) | |
| | Molly Henry |
| | Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt |
| | 1420 5th Ave. Ste. 3400 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98101-2339 |
| | |
| | Michael Meuti |
| | Benesch, Friedlander |
| | 100 Pine Street, Suite 3100 |
| | San Francisco, CA, 94111 |
| | |
| | Stephanie Sheridan |
| | Benesch, Friedlander |
| | 100 Pine Street, Suite 3100 |
| | San Francisco, CA, 94111 |
| | |
| | David R. Ebel |
| | Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, PC |
| | 1420 5th Ave. Ste. 3400 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98101-2339 |
| | |
| | Meegan Brooks |
| | Benesch, Friedlander |
| | 100 Pine Street, Suite 3100 |
| | San Francisco, CA, 94111 |
| Amicus Curiae on behalf of National Assoc. of Consumer Advocates | |
| | Toby James Marshall |
| | Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC |
| | 1700 Westlake Ave. N, Ste. 300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98109-6212 |
| | |
| | Elizabeth Anne Adams |
| | Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC |
| | 1700 Westlake Ave. N, Ste. 300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98109-6212 |
| | |
| | Blythe H. Chandler |
| | Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC |
| | 1700 Westlake Ave. N, Ste. 300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98109-6212 |
| Amicus Curiae on behalf of Attorney General of Washington State | |
| | Benjamin Brysacz |
| | Wash. Attorney General's Office |
| | 800 5th Ave. Ste. 2000 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-3188 |
| | |
| | Julia Kravets Doyle |
| | Wash. Attorney General's Office |
| | 800 5th Ave. Ste. 2000 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-3188 |
| | |
| | Ellie Ann Page |
| | Wash. Attorney General's Office |
| | 800 5th Ave. Ste. 2000 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-3188 |
| Amicus Curiae on behalf of National Retail Federation | |
| | Fred B. Burnside |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Ambika Kumar |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Xiang Li |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | David M. Gossett |
| | Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP |
| | 1909 K Street Nw |
| | Washington, DC, 20006-1101 |
| Amicus Curiae on behalf of Chamber of Commerce of the Usa | |
| | Fred B. Burnside |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Ambika Kumar |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Xiang Li |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | David M. Gossett |
| | Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP |
| | 1909 K Street Nw |
| | Washington, DC, 20006-1101 |
| Amicus Curiae on behalf of Retail Litigation Center, Inc. | |
| | David M. Gossett |
| | Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP |
| | 1909 K Street Nw |
| | Washington, DC, 20006-1101 |
| | |
| | Ambika Kumar |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Xiang Li |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Fred B. Burnside |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| Amicus Curiae on behalf of Wa Retail Association | |
| | Fred B. Burnside |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Ambika Kumar |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | Xiang Li |
| | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP |
| | 920 5th Ave. Ste. 3300 |
| | Seattle, WA, 98104-1610 |
| | |
| | David M. Gossett |
| | Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP |
| | 1909 K Street Nw |
| | Washington, DC, 20006-1101 |
View the Slip Opinion(s) Filed for this Case.
View a Printer Friendly Version of this Opinion Information Sheet.
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