Tyree Oil, Inc. v. Bureau of Labor & Industries

Petitioner Tyree Oil, Inc. (Tyree), seeks review of an order of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) requiring it to reinstate as an employee an individual who was injured while working for another company whose assets Tyree purchased. Tyree argues that it is not the injured individual’s employer and is not obligated to reinstate that individual to a job that does not exist. We agree and reverse.

The pertinent facts are not disputed. Cumberland Distributing, Inc. (Cumberland), was in the business of selling and distributing fuel and petroleum products and served…