Non-Permanent State Employees
Health Benefits Case

Moore v Health Care Authority and State of Washington

This class action is brought by state employees who work at least half-time on non-standard work schedules, but who do not receive health insurance. The class consists mainly of employees HCA categorizes as "career seasonal" and "nonpermanent" employees.

Class Members

On June 8, 2007, Judge Catherine Shaffer signed the order certifying the class. It is generally defined as follows:

• "all state employees who worked half-time or more on average for six months, and who were denied health insurance (a) commencing in the seventh month of employment, and/or (b) at any time in the none or more months or in the corresponding off-season for those employees who work half-time or more on a nine-month (or more) seasonal basis, and/or (c) in any month after the employees became eligible in which the employees received pay for eight or more hours of work in the same position. The class is limited in time to employees within the applicable statute of limitations . . .."

Status

This case is currently still in King County Superior Court. In a series of summary judgment decisions, the Superior Court decided generally in favor of the plaintiff class on liability. When the liability phase is concluded, the case will move to the monetary relief phase.