Opinion ID: 1375403
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: finality of board's decision and attorneys' fees

Text: After the superior court dismissed Black's appeal but before the Court of Appeals reversed, Black argued the 30-day period within which his original appeal could have been filed had not even begun to run. Black relies on RCW 51.52.106 which states the Board shall, in all cases, render a final decision .... [which] shall be mailed to each party.... Black asserts because the Board sent its final decision to the Department by interagency mail rather than by U.S. mail, the 30-day period did not begin to run yet. The superior court dismissed this argument as did the Court of Appeals. We affirm. The relevant statute, RCW 51.52.110, gives an aggrieved worker 30 days within which to appeal a Board decision to superior court. The 30-day period begins to run when the Board's decision is communicated to the aggrieved worker. [11] Here, the Board rendered its final decision and mailed it to Black, thereby starting the 30-day period within which Black could appeal to superior court. He timely did so. Two years later he asserted the 30-day period had not even begun because the Board mailed the decision by interagency mail to the Department. Black's argument is without merit. He does not advance a coherent argument to the contrary and cites no relevant case law. Dismissal was proper. When the superior court dismissed this claim it awarded the Department as the prevailing party $125 in statutory attorneys' fees. Black contests this award yet offers no coherent argument why the award was improper. The statutory attorneys' fees were not awarded in error. RCW 4.84.030 states [i]n any action in the superior court of Washington the prevailing party shall be entitled to his or her costs and disbursements.... RCW 4.84.080(1) sets the statutory attorneys' fees at $125. These rules of procedure apply here. See RCW 51.52.140 (the rules of civil procedure shall apply in all appeals to the superior court under the industrial insurance act); see also Allan v. Department of Labor & Indus., 66 Wash. App. 415, 422-23, 832 P.2d 489 (1992) (statutory attorneys' fees under RCW 4.84.030 properly awarded to Department as prevailing party in superior court.).