Boeing Co. v. Dep't of Labor & Indus.

Boeing Company Must Pay Worker's Medical Costs After Retirement

This case involved a dispute over who should pay for a Boeing worker's ongoing medical treatment after the employee retired. Boeing, which self-insures its workers' compensation claims, wanted the state's second injury fund to cover the worker's post-retirement medical expenses. Boeing argued that once the worker retired and started receiving pension benefits, the state fund should take over responsibility for continued medical care related to a workplace injury.

The Washington Supreme Court disagreed and ruled against Boeing. The court determined that self-insured employers like Boeing cannot transfer responsibility for post-retirement medical costs to the state's second injury fund. Instead, Boeing must continue paying for the worker's medical treatment even after retirement.

Why this matters for workers: This decision strengthens protections for injured employees at large companies that self-insure. Workers can feel more confident that if they suffer a workplace injury requiring long-term medical care, their employer cannot simply shift those costs to the state once they retire. The ruling ensures that self-insured employers remain financially responsible for the full consequences of workplace injuries, providing better security for workers' ongoing healthcare needs.