Stoel Rives Secures Arbitration Victory for Waste Connections and Pierce County Recycling, Composting and Disposal (“LRI”)

Stoel Rives achieved a significant arbitration victory on behalf of Waste Connections and its Pierce County affiliate, LRI, following more than two years of complex litigation involving waste management operations and long term contractual obligations.

The dispute culminated in a six day arbitration hearing before a three member panel in March 2026. On April 30, 2026, the panel issued its award, rejecting Pierce County’s claims and delivering a strong result for Stoel Rives’ client.

The case arose from allegations by Pierce County that LRI had breached its long term waste handling agreement by mischaracterizing waste streams, failing to transport waste to out of county facilities to preserve landfill capacity, and improperly landfilling yard waste. The County asserted claims for fraud, breach of contract, and violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act, seeking injunctive relief and damages exceeding $100 million. The Consumer Protection Act claim was dismissed on summary judgment prior to the arbitration hearing.

In its award, the arbitration panel rejected all of the County’s liability theories, including its capacity, long haul, and special waste claims. The only relief awarded was a rate credit related to yard waste landfilling that the parties had previously negotiated and agreed upon long before the arbitration was filed.

The Stoel Rives team was led by Maren Norton, Jenna Poligo, and Sean James, with significant support from Ali Harris, Jay Perez, and Vicki Hager. The matter highlights the firm’s skill and depth in complex commercial arbitration and litigation, as well as its ability to guide clients through high stakes, complex disputes.