Deal v. Department of Labor & Industries

Robert Deal was fatally injured in an industrial accident on November 16, 1965. He was survived by his widow and two minor children. Jane Deal, the widow and respondent here, filed her claim with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for a widow’s pension pursuant to RCW 51.32.050 (2). This claim was denied by the department on the ground that Jane Deal had never been legally married to the decedent. In light of this fact, however, the department concluded that the decedent’s two -minor children were “orphans” for the purposes of RCW 51.32.050 (3); and, pursuant to that…