Tomlinson v. Puget Sound Freight Lines, Inc.

¶1 — James Tomlinson’s knee was injured on the job. After a series of largely unsuccessful surgeries, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries concluded that Tomlinson had a permanent total impairment of 75 percent of the left leg above the knee joint. It also found that at the time of the industrial accident, he had a preexisting permanent partial disability (PPD) of 50 percent of the left leg. Tomlinson’s claim was granted, but only for 25 percent of the compensation set by statute for the debilitation of the entire limb. Tomlinson unsuccessfully appealed, arguing, among…