Worker Who Fought for Benefits Can't Reduce Repayment Obligations

A narrowly divided Washington Supreme Court last week ruled that the state Employment Security Department can reap the benefits of an injured worker’s efforts to secure additional comp benefits without having to share in the cost of his legal fees. Revised Code Section 50.20.190 requires that a worker who receives unemployment and workers' compensation benefits for the same period must return the unemployment benefits to the ESD. While the statute carves out an exception when "equity and good conscience" makes repayment unfair, the court said Christopher Belling&rsquo...