Latest Washington Headlines
All the headlines from our Washington Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Washington Roofers Face $750K in Fines for Putting Workers at Risk
Jan 13 2022 // The Washington Department of Labor & Industries issued a combined $768,000 in fines against three Washington roofing companies for reportedly allowing workers to roof on top of homes without using fall protection and...
Minimum Wage, OT And Workers’ Comp Premium Changes in Washington Starting in 2022
Dec 28 2021 // Changes in Washington’s minimum wage, overtime for white-collar professionals, overtime for agricultural workers, and workers’ compensation premiums are set to take effect Jan. 1, 2022. The Washington State...
$4M Settlement in Washington Foster Abuse Case
Dec 27 2021 // The state of Washington has agreed to a $4 million settlement for two former foster children who were abused and sexually assaulted. The record-breaking settlement comes out of a sex abuse lawsuit for the two sisters, who...
A Month After Washington Floods, Slow Return to Normal
Dec 21 2021 // Over a month has passed since flooding inundated northwest Washington’s Whatcom County that caused some $50 million in damage. As Roger De Bruin returned to his flood-damaged home in Sumas recently, the word...
Catholic Archdiocese in Washington Settles Sexual Abuse Claim
Dec 14 2021 // Seattle’s Catholic archdiocese has agreed to pay a Washington woman $725,000 as part of an early dispute resolution to her lawsuit alleging an unidentified employee sexually abused her at the Catholic school she...
Leavitt Group Acquires Whims Insurance in Washington
Dec 9 2021 // Leavitt Group acquired Whims Insurance & Financial Services in Monroe, Washington. The Whims Insurance staff of 11, all locations, and contact information will remain the same. Whims Insurance & Financial Services...
Washington Insurance Agent Sentenced to 2 Years in Wire Fraud Case
Dec 9 2021 // A Snohomish, Washington, insurance agent was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud in the theft of premium payments from clients. Vicki Boser, owner of InsuranceTek, Inc., pleaded guilty in...
People Moves: Pathpoint Names Chi Head of Product; Lockton Adds Cahoon in Washington
Dec 9 2021 // Pathpoint Inc. named Melissa Chi head of product. Chi comes to Pathpoint from Stord where she was the director of product. Chi’s technology and startup background also includes experience as product manager at SigFig...
Leavitt Group Northwest Acquires Employee Benefits Division of SCS in Washington
Dec 8 2021 // Leavitt Group Northwest acquired the employee benefits division of the SCS Insurance in Bellevue, Washington. The acquisition brings a staff of six, with Chris Allen at the helm. Allen was and will remain director of the...
Study: No Intentional Racial Bias in Washington Patrol Traffic Stops
Dec 7 2021 // A study from Washington State University found no intentional racial bias in traffic stops by the Washington State Patrol, however it noted disparities in traffic stops involving Black and Hispanic drivers. KOMO reports...
$3.5M Police Wrongful-Death Suit Settled in Washington
Dec 2 2021 // Seattle, Washington will pay $3.5 million to settle a wrongful-death civil lawsuit filed on behalf of the children of a pregnant Black woman who was fatally shot by two white Seattle police officers in 2017. Karen Koehler,...
Average Price of Washington Workers’ Comp Going up Slightly in 2022
Nov 30 2021 // The Washington Department of Labor & Industries announced a 3.1% increase in the average worker’s compensation premium rate for hours worked in 2022. “A modest hike is needed because of the rising costs to...
Washington Paper Mill Fined $140K for Failing to Protect Workers from COVID
Nov 24 2021 // A Cowlitz County, Washington, papermaking plant is facing nearly $140,000 in fines after one worker died and more than a dozen machine operators got sick with COVID-19. An inspection by the Department of Labor &...
People Moves: Alliant Names Johnson Managing Director in Oregon; XPT Adds Mansfield in Washington
Nov 18 2021 // Alliant Insurance Services named Peter Johnson executive vice president and managing director. Johnson is based in Portland, Ore., and will focus on providing strategic risk management solutions for agribusiness clients...
Washington State Blames Drug Distributors in $95 Billion Opioid Trial
Nov 16 2021 // Washington state’s attorney general on Monday argued in court that three large drug distributors’ excessive shipments of pain pills helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic, calling it the “worst man-made...
USI Acquires Washington-Based Griffin MacLean
Nov 15 2021 // USI Insurance Services has acquired Bellevue, Washington-based Griffin MacLean Insurance Brokers. Founded in 1981, Griffin MacLean is an independent insurance brokerage operation serving businesses and individuals...
Discrimination Filed Against Washington County Sheriff’s
Nov 8 2021 // Three Black women who work for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department have filed a lawsuit against the county alleging a long-standing pattern of discrimination, harassment and retaliation against minority...
Washington Asbestos Removers Facing $800K in Fines for Exposing Workers, Public
Nov 4 2021 // Two Washington asbestos removal contractors are facing a combined $800,000 in fines from the Department of Labor & Industries for “knowingly and repeatedly” exposing employees and the public to hazardous...
People Moves: Willis Towers Watson Names Shay Head of Risk & Broking for West; Dietzler Becomes Washington’s Chief Deputy Commissioner
Nov 4 2021 // Willis Towers Watson appointed Chuck Shay head of risk & broking for the Western region of North America. Shay has more than 25 years of experience. Shay previously led the Willis Towers Watson FINEX practice in both...
Case Filed by Mother of Washington Man Shot During Protests Dismissed
Nov 3 2021 // A judge has dismissed a civil-rights lawsuit filed by the mother of a 19-year-old Seattle man fatally shot during last year’s Capitol Hill Organized Protest. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour said Donnitta...
