Shafer v. Department of Labor & Indus.

Worker Wins Appeal Over Improper Claim Closure

This case involved a worker who challenged the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries after the agency improperly closed their workers' compensation claim. The worker argued that the department failed to follow its own procedures when shutting down the claim and didn't provide proper accommodations.

The Washington Court of Appeals sided with the worker, overturning a lower court's decision. The appeals court found that the Department of Labor and Industries had violated its own policy by failing to notify the worker's treating physician before closing the claim. Because this required notification never happened, the court ruled that the closure order was never legally final and valid.

The court sent the case back to the lower court for additional proceedings, giving the worker another chance to pursue their claims.

What this means for workers: This ruling reinforces that government agencies must follow their own established procedures when handling workers' compensation claims. If an agency skips required steps—like notifying your doctor—their decisions may be invalid. Workers have the right to challenge improper claim closures, and courts will enforce procedural requirements that protect injured employees. Always keep track of whether proper notifications are being made during your workers' compensation process.