Latest Washington Headlines
All the headlines from our Washington Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Judge Refuses to Dismiss Nuclear Plant Lawsuit in Washington
Nov 7 2016 // A federal judge has rejected the U.S. Department of Energy’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Washington state over worker safety issues at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rice...
Washington Governor Wants Coordinated Earthquake, Tsunami Response Plan
Nov 7 2016 // Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is directing several state agencies to work together to prepare for a coordinated plan in case of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. Friday’s directive creates a subcabinet group of the...
Suit against Washington Shoemaker over Use of Marathoner’s Name Dismissed
Nov 3 2016 // The maker of a popular line of minimalist running shoes doesn’t have to pay damages for naming some of its models after Abebe Bikila, the legendary Ethiopian runner who won the 1960 Olympics marathon barefoot, a...
Judge Allows Washington City’s Pollution Suit against Monsanto to Proceed
Nov 2 2016 // A federal judge says Spokane’s lawsuit against the agrochemical giant Monsanto regarding pollution in Washington’s Spokane River can move forward. The city sued Monsanto last year, alleging the company knew for...
Judge in Washington Finds Railway Could Be Liable if Spills Proven
Oct 28 2016 // A federal judge in Seattle has found that BNSF Railway could be held liable in a lawsuit claiming that coal spilled from trains pollutes waterways if environmental groups can show at trial that such discharges actually...
RV Salesman in Washington Caught on Camera in Workers’ Comp Scam Fined $81K
Oct 24 2016 // A recreational vehicle salesman in Washington who claimed he couldn’t work because of an on-the-job injury has been ordered to pay back more than $81,000 in state disability benefits. Bobby Ray Johnson, 48, pleaded...
Washington Employer Fined for Asbestos Violations
Oct 19 2016 // A Kirkland, Wash. asbestos removal contractor has been cited for several workplace health violations that reportedly put workers, contractors and homeowners at risk. The Department of Labor & Industries cited American...
Weather Service: Tornado, Rain Walloped Pacific Northwest
Oct 17 2016 // A tornado struck an Oregon beach town, sending debris flying and toppling power lines and trees as strong winds and heavy rain walloped the Pacific Northwest over the weekend, according to the National Weather...
Owner of Washington Asbestos Company Pleads Guilty to Bogus Certifications
Oct 17 2016 // The owner of a company that provided federally mandated training for construction firms that work with asbestos has pleaded guilty to giving certifications to people he knew had not taken his course. U.S. Attorney Annette...
State Taking Steps to Protect Washington Nuclear Site Workers
Oct 14 2016 // Washington state asked a federal judge this week to issue an injunction requiring the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractor to take steps to protect workers at a major nuclear waste storage site. Washington state...
Three Found Guilty of in Separate Insurance Fraud Cases in Washington
Oct 13 2016 // Insurance fraud cases investigated by Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s special investigations unit have resulted in felony convictions against three people. David Cook, 51, pleaded guilty in Pierce...
$60M in Settlements for Victims of Deadly Washington Landslide
Oct 12 2016 // Survivors and family members of people killed in the nation’s deadliest landslide have reached $60 million in settlements with the state of Washington and a timber company that logged an area above the site of the...
$50M Proposed Settlement Reached in Washington Landslide Lawsuit
Oct 11 2016 // The attorneys representing the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the state of Washington over a deadly 2014 landslide have announced a proposed $50 million settlement on the eve of a trial. The Seattle Times reported the...
New York Home Explosion Points to Dangerous Marijuana Growing Methods
Oct 4 2016 // An explosion that destroyed a New York City home and killed a firefighter has drawn attention to marijuana-making methods that are legal in many states – but can also be lethal. A New York fire battalion chief died...
JLT Re Names Brodsky Senior Vice President in Washington Workers’ Comp Unit
Sep 30 2016 // JLT Re has named John Brodsky a senior vice president in Seattle, Wash. Brodsky will be part of the workers’ compensation unit, and will focus on the expansion and development of JLT Re’s casualty practice. He...
Obama Expected to Veto Bill Allowing 9/11 Suits Against Saudis
Sep 11 2016 // The unopposed House vote Friday to allow families of Sept. 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia begins a diplomatic nightmare for President Barack Obama. The legislation is sure to antagonize a key U.S. ally in the Middle East...
Judge Orders AG to Hand Over Emails in Washington Landslide Liability Case
Sep 9 2016 // A judge this week ordered the Washington Attorney General’s Office to give him internal emails that might help explain when state lawyers handling a case about liability for the devastating Oso landslide realized...
Alliant Acquires Farmin, Rothrock & Parrott in Washington
Sep 8 2016 // Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has acquired Spokane, Wash.-based Farmin, Rothrock & Parrott. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. This marks Alliant’s fifth acquisition in the Northwest since 2014. John...
Attorneys for Washington Deny Fraud Committed in Landslide Trial Prep
Sep 6 2016 // Attorneys for the state of Washington have denied allegations of fraud in the deletion of emails by their expert witnesses in preparing for a trial over a deadly 2014 landslide. But they acknowledge emails were deleted and...
Washington Commissioner Fines Pet Insurer for Violating State Laws
Sep 6 2016 // Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has fined a pet insurance company $150,000 for violating state laws. Kreidler said his agency issued fines in July against American Pet Insurance, which goes under the name...
