CAN I SUE MY EMPLOYER? - L&I CLAIM

In Washington State the rule is you cannot sue your employer or a co-worker for a covered job injury. The L&I system replaces your ability to sue your employer for his negligence. It doesn't matter that it's your employer's fault – you cannot sue him.

The exception to this rule is that you can sue your employer or co-worker if he injured you intentionally. RCW 51.24.020. It however is not as easy as it may look. Case law requires that:

1) The employer have actual, certain knowledge that the injury would occur; and

2) The employer willfully disregards that knowledge.

The intentional injury exception to the rule is not easy to prove. Most persons who act intentionally, still don't intend the injury. For example, the employer who intentionally remove the machine guard, will probably avoid an intentional injury lawsuit when he claims he didn't intend an injury. On the other hand, the employer or co-worker who throws a punch at you and is trying to hurt you can probably be sued. In both above examples, you will still have an L&I claim, and in the case of the thrown punch you will also have an intentional injury claim.

The upside of an intentional injury claim is that you can have both an L&I claim and an intentional injury claim. Also, there is no L&I lien on an intentional injury claim against the employer.

The downside of an intentional injury claim is that once you prove intentional injury, the defendant may lose his insurance coverage. Also, there is an L&I lien on the intentional injury claim proceeds against a co-employee.

CAN I SUE MY EMPLOYER? - NON L&I CLAIM

You can sue your employer in many circumstances if you don't have a job injury. Employment discrimination, sexual harassment, failure to accommodate, and many other employment situations do let you sue.

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