L&I, Farm Bureau Settle Inspections Suit

Washington Farm Bureau and the Department of Labor and Industries announced Tuesday the settlement of a 3-year-old federal civil-rights lawsuit involving inspections of private property and businesses. At issue was how farms and other businesses are inspected under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, the parties said. Farm Bureau filed suit in 2003, alleging that the existing law, which authorized entry without permission or a warrant, was unconstitutional. Farm Bureau also claimed that without changes to the law inspectors for L&I lacked the legal right to obtain search w...