Opinion ID: 2595617
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Gorman v. Lockheed Shipbuilding and Todd Shipyards

Text: ¶ 2 Gorman was employed in various shipbuilding and ship-repair jobs at the Washington shipyards of both Lockheed and Todd from 1960 to 1975. Gorman alleges that during this employment he was exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing products and, as a result of this exposure, developed asbestos-related illness, including lung cancer. Gorman Clerk's Papers (CP) at 59. Gorman further claims that both Lockheed and Todd had actual knowledge of certain injury to [him] and willfully disregarded that knowledge. Id. at 60, 61. Following his employment with Lockheed and Todd, Gorman was employed at a number of land-based refineries where he was allegedly also exposed to asbestos. ¶ 3 In January 2001, Gorman became aware of his asbestos-related illness. He thereafter filed suit against Lockheed and Todd in King County Superior Court. Gorman's suit was based on a provision of the Washington Industrial Insurance Act (WIIA), Title 51 RCW, which allows a worker to maintain a suit for damages against his or her employer if the worker has been injured as a result of the deliberate intention of his or her employer to produce such injury. RCW 51.24.020. Lockheed and Todd together moved to dismiss Gorman's suit pursuant to Civil Rule (CR) 12(b)(6), alleging that, because Gorman's suit was barred by the exclusive liability provision of the LHWCA, he had failed to state a claim for which relief could be granted. The superior court agreed with Lockheed and Todd and dismissed Gorman's claims against the companies.