RULE 53.3                                          
              APPOINTMENT OF MASTERS IN DISCOVERY MATTERS                        
                                                                                 
    (a) Appointment. The court in which any action is pending may appoint a      
special master either to preside at depositions or to adjudicate discovery       
disputes, or both. Such appointment may be made, for good cause shown, upon      
the request of any party in pending litigation or upon the court's own           
motion.                                                                          
    (b) Qualifications. The master shall be a lawyer admitted to practice        
in the state of Washington.                                                      
    (c) Compensation. The compensation of the master shall be fixed by the       
court. Payment of the master's compensation shall be charged to such of the      
parties or paid out of such other available funds as the court shall             
direct, but in determining payment of compensation the court shall take          
into account the relative financial resources of the parties and such other      
factors as the court deems appropriate.                                          
    (d) Powers. The order of reference to the master may specify the duties      
of the master. It may direct that the master preside at depositions and          
make rulings on issues arising at the depositions. It may direct the master      
to hear and report to the court on unresolved discovery disputes and to          
make recommendations as to the resolution of such disputes, as to the            
imposition of terms or sanctions to be assessed against any party, and as        
to which party or parties shall bear the costs of the master. If directed        
by the court, the master shall prepare a report upon the matters submitted       
to the master by the order of reference. A party may request that the            
report be sealed pursuant to rule 26(c). The report with the rulings and         
recommendations of the master shall be reviewed by the court and may be          
adopted or revised as the court deems just.