Cobra Roofing Service, Inc. v. Department of Labor & Industries

**What Happened:** Cobra Roofing Service faced safety citations from Washington's Department of Labor & Industries for workplace violations. The company challenged these citations in court, arguing they were unfair or incorrectly classified. One key dispute involved whether a fall protection violation should be considered a "repeat offense," which carries harsher penalties. Cobra also requested that the government pay their attorney fees. **What the Court Decided:** The appeals court mostly sided with the Department of Labor & Industries. The court upheld nearly all the safety citations against Cobra Roofing. Most importantly, the court ruled that Cobra's fall protection violation was indeed a repeat offense, not a first-time violation as a lower court had determined. This means the company faced stronger penalties. The court also denied Cobra's request for attorney fees, meaning the company had to pay its own legal costs. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling strengthens workplace safety enforcement. When employers repeatedly violate safety rules—especially fall protection requirements that prevent serious injuries and deaths—they face escalating penalties. The decision shows that courts will support state agencies when they crack down on repeat safety violators, which helps protect workers from dangerous conditions.