Customer's right to stop payment; burden of proof of loss.
(a) A customer or any other person authorized to draw on the account if there is more than one person may stop payment of any item drawn on the customer's account or close the account by an order to the bank describing the item or account with reasonable certainty received at a time and in a manner that affords the bank a reasonable opportunity to act on it before any action by the bank with respect to the item described in RCW 62A.4-303. If the signature of more than one person is required to draw on an account, any of these persons may stop payment or close the account.
(b) A stop-payment order is effective for six months, but it lapses after fourteen calendar days if the original order was oral and was not confirmed in writing within that period. A stop-payment order may be renewed for additional six-month periods by a writing given to the bank within a period during which the stop-payment order is effective.
(c) The burden of establishing the fact and amount of loss resulting from the payment of an item contrary to a binding stop-payment order or order to close the account is on the customer. The loss from payment of an item contrary to a stop-payment order may include damages for dishonor of subsequent items under RCW 62A.4-402.
[ 1993 c 229 s 109; 1965 ex.s c 157 s 4-403. Cf. former RCW sections: (i) RCW 30.16.030; 1959 c 106 s 4; 1955 c 33 s 30.16.030; prior: 1923 c 114 ss 1, part, and 2; RRS ss 3252-1, part, and 3252-2. (ii) RCW 30.16.040; 1955 c 33 s 30.16.040; prior: 1923 c 114 ss 1, part, and 3; RRS ss 3252-1, part, and 3252-3.]