Nippon Dynawave claims employer immunity over fatal mill tank collapse

Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. LLC, which runs a Pacific Northwest pulp and paper mill where 11 employees died when a chemical tank burst in May 2026, has told a Washington judge that a wrongful death suit over the incident cannot proceed. The company argues the claim is barred by the state's workers' compensation law, which generally shields employers from civil suits over workplace injuries. The filing is dated 9 October 2026.

Why this mattersA successful immunity defence would limit civil liability exposure for pulp and packaging mill operators after mass-fatality workplace incidents.

• A chemical tank burst at the Pacific Northwest mill in May 2026, killing 11 employees.
• Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. LLC made its filing in Washington state court on 9 October 2026.
• The company argues Washington's workers' compensation law bars the wrongful death suit from proceeding.

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