Under Washington law, a foreign corporation must obtain a certificate of authority to do business within the state and must appoint a registered agent to transact business. Concrete Placing Company (D) was an Idaho corporation that wanted to build two roads in Walla Walla in 1985 and 1986. As such, D obtained a certificate of authority and appointed a registered agent. In 1994, D bought a concrete placing machine from Washington (P). D refused to pay the full purchase price, and P sued D in Washington State based on the certificate of authority and the registered agent. The trial court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction and P appealed; D had consented to jurisdiction by the appointment of a registered agent and a registered office in the state.

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