Dep't of Labor & Indus. v. Lyons Enters., Inc.

**What Happened** Lyons Enterprises, Inc. operated a franchise business in Washington state. A dispute arose over whether the company's franchisees (people who bought and operated individual franchise locations) were considered "workers" under Washington's Industrial Insurance Act, which provides workplace injury coverage. The Department of Labor & Industries argued that franchisees without employees should be covered by workers' compensation insurance, while Lyons Enterprises disagreed. **What the Court Decided** The Washington Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Department of Labor & Industries. The court confirmed that franchisees who don't have any employees working under them are considered covered workers under the state's Industrial Insurance Act. The court sent the case back to the state board to figure out which specific franchisees actually do employ other people. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision expands workers' compensation protection to franchise owners who work alone. Many franchisees operate as solo business owners but may not realize they're entitled to workplace injury benefits. This ruling ensures that independent franchise operators in Washington have access to the same injury protection as traditional employees, providing important financial security if they get hurt while working.