and the transportation of freight since the 1920's. In the 1950's the business expanded into Southeast Alaska. The Puget Sound portion was incorporated as Halvorsen Towing, Inc., in 1959; the Alaska portion was incorporated on the same date as Boyer Towing, Inc. Mr. Halvorsen was president and a director of each corporation.
In order to obtain an ICC permit, Boyer Towing negotiated the purchase of all outstanding stock of the Olson Tug Boat Company. The purchase was authorized and negotiated prior to the marriage, but was not consummated until after the marriage in 1965. In 1976 all shares of Olson Tug were transferred to Halvorsen Towing. In the 1960's Boyer Towing also developed a barge division, which was incorporated as Boyer Alaska Barge Line, a wholly owned subsidiary, inSubsequent petitions for review in the Washington Supreme Court and for mandamus in the United States Supreme Court were denied.
Appellant, acting pro se, commenced an action for breach of contract and legal malpractice against Ferguson & Burdell in 1980. Ferguson counterclaimed for its attorney's fees in the Halvorsen action. The various claims of legal malpractice were ultimately reduced to one: an alleged failure to pursue adequately a community property interest in the husband's corporations.
On June 30, 1983, Superior Court Judge Peterson granted Ferguson's motion for summary judgment. In its oral decision, the trial court indicated that the evidence submitted in opposition to Ferguson's motion failed to raise material factual issues regarding both negligence and proximate cause. In addition, the court, sitting without a jury, entered a judgment on