Court Allows 3rd-Party Suit by L&I After Statute of Limitations Passed

The Washington Court of Appeals on Tuesday ruled that the state Department of Labor and Industries may seek damages from a third-party tortfeasor in excess of the amount it paid an injured worker in benefits, after the statute of limitations for the worker to bring the third-party claim had elapsed. The case was Carrera v. Sunheaven Farms.  Basilio Carrera worked for Brent Hartley Farms, which was part of the Sunheaven Farms farming conglomerate. He suffered the loss of an arm while using a conveyor belt without a safety guard in August 2009. After the accident, Carrera filed a neglige...