Opinion ID: 2595617
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Helton v. Todd Shipyards

Text: ¶ 4 Eddie Helton was employed as a shipscaler at Todd's Seattle shipyard from 1944 to 1969. Helton CP at 2. While working at the shipyard, Mr. Helton was allegedly exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing products and, as a result of this exposure, he developed asbestos-related disease, namely lung cancer. Id. at 2, 3. It is alleged that Todd had actual knowledge that an injury to shipscalers such as Mr. Helton was certain to occur and willfully disregarded that knowledge by continuing to expose him to asbestos fibers during his work at Todd Shipyards. Id. at 2. Mr. Helton died from lung cancer in 1999. ¶ 5 Wilhemina Helton [1] filed suit against Todd in King County Superior Court on her own behalf for wrongful death and on behalf of the estate of Eddie Helton for damages surviving his death. Helton's suit, like Gorman's, was based on the intentional injury suit provision of the WIIA, RCW 51.24.020. Todd moved to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to CR 12(b)(6), arguing that the LHWCA bars Helton's suit. Thereafter, a superior court judge ordered Helton's suit dismissed. Helton, like Gorman, has not filed a claim for compensation under the WIIA or the LHWCA.