Crown Zellerbach Corp. v. Department of Labor & Industries

The Court of Appeals, Division Two, certified the following question to this court:

In determining administrative expense assessments to be levied against self-insuring employers under RCW 51.44.150 of the workers' compensation act and WAC 296-15-060, may the Department of Labor and Industries consider claims filed by the employer's workers which are attributable to prior years during which the employer was a participant in the state fund rather than self insured?

We answer in the affirmative.

Prior to 1971 all employers covered by the Industrial Insurance Act, RCW Title 51, were required to…