Sargeant v. Department of Labor & Industries

The Department of Labor and Industries appeals the trial court award of crime victim's benefits under RCW 7.68.020(5). We reverse.

On August 23, 1975, Reginald Sargeant, Jr., was fatally injured by another's criminal act. On October 1, 1975, his surviving spouse, Donna, filed an application with the Department on behalf of herself and the deceased's three surviving children for crime victim's death benefits pursuant to RCW 7.68. The Department denied the claim on the basis the death was not the result of a criminal act. Following a series of appeals, that order was reversed by the Court of…