LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Longview Fibre
Longview, WA: (Aug-22-07) The State Department of Labor & Industries and the Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Union Local 153 brought a lawsuit against Longview Fibre, alleging that the company had workplace-safety violations. The suit was filed after the death of 38-year-old Mark Greenland in January 2004. The Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Union Local 153 filed suit representing Fibre's union pulp mill workers. In July 2004, Fibre was fined for violations of procedures used to ensure machinery is turned off and can't accidentally start while employees work on it. Greenland died of chest and neck injuries when he was caught in a machine.
The state found three willful violations by Fibre and one serious violation. The company appealed that finding. During the appeal process, Fibre eventually agreed the violations took place, but the company contested the formula used to determine the fine, according to the findings issued by Industrial Appeals Judge Nancy Curington. The Labor & Industries inspector cited the company's poor history of correcting problems when calculating the fine.
In a settlement reached, Longview Fibre agreed to pay a $201,900 fine, resolving the lawsuit. Under the agreement, Labor & Industries will modify the seven violations from willful and serious repeat to serious, with a total penalty of $201,900; Fibre agrees to pay the penalties, correct the cited violations and dismiss its appeal of another citation issued in January 2007. [THE DAILY NEWS: WORKPLACE SAFETY]
Published on Aug-23-07
The state found three willful violations by Fibre and one serious violation. The company appealed that finding. During the appeal process, Fibre eventually agreed the violations took place, but the company contested the formula used to determine the fine, according to the findings issued by Industrial Appeals Judge Nancy Curington. The Labor & Industries inspector cited the company's poor history of correcting problems when calculating the fine.
In a settlement reached, Longview Fibre agreed to pay a $201,900 fine, resolving the lawsuit. Under the agreement, Labor & Industries will modify the seven violations from willful and serious repeat to serious, with a total penalty of $201,900; Fibre agrees to pay the penalties, correct the cited violations and dismiss its appeal of another citation issued in January 2007. [THE DAILY NEWS: WORKPLACE SAFETY]
Legal Help
If you have a similar problem and would like to be contacted by a lawyer at no cost or obligation, please click the link below.Published on Aug-23-07
