Tag Archives: DLI Fine

Contractor Fraud

Temp-A-Cure Inc. fined for non-permitted work In WA

Temp-A-Cure, an out-of-state contractor, was fined more than $60,000 for electrical violations at 22 homes across Washington State.

Temp-A-Cure Inc. of Oregon City, Ore., received a $63,600 fine for working without an electrical license, having no electrical permits for the work, and employing unlicensed electricians as installers. L&I also fined three Temp-A-Cure employees a total of $5,000 for working without an electrical license.

In its investigation, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) noted this is the third time the firm has violated Washington law.

“This is an example of an out-of-state company unlicensed for electrical work hiring unqualified people for non-permitted projects,” said Steve Thornton, L&I chief electrical inspector. “The result takes work from honest businesses and contractors licensed in Washington, and creates a danger to public safety.”

Neither the company nor the employees appealed the violations by the December deadline. Temp-A-Cure and two employees now have until next month to pay the fines or face having their fines go to a private collection agency, which could significantly increase their costs, Thornton noted. The third employee has paid the fine.

The homes are located in Vancouver, Camas, Washougal, Walla Walla, Pasco, and Kennewick. The work involved replacing furnace and air conditioning units.

Temp-A-Cure had previous run-ins with L&I in 2017 and earlier this year. Those violations were also for performing electrical work without a valid electrical license.

Hire smart. L&I can help

Thornton said another company contacted L&I to complain about bidding for a job that Temp-A-Cure won in Walla Walla. Thornton cautioned people to hire smart when looking for contractors to work on a home, including getting three written bids, and verifying the contractor’s electrical license.

To find out whether a contractor is licensed, has an up-to-date workers’ compensation account, or has any safety violations pending, go to L&I’s ‘verify’ web page. Find more tips on checking bids on L&I’s Protect My Home web page.

L&I uses a special group of inspectors, called the Electrical Compliance, Outreach, Regulation, and Education (ECORE) team, for its investigations. In fiscal year 2019, ECORE issued 3,766 violations against unlicensed contractors and uncertified electricians, working without permits, and failing to properly supervise trainees. ECORE collected more than $1.8 million in penalties.

Farm Labor Contractor

WA DLI Fines Agri Aide $105,000 for Violating Conditions in Hiring Ag Workers

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) fined an Othello, WA company $105,000 for violating required conditions in hiring farm workers.

The violation issued to Agri Aide Inc. is the largest L&I fine ever against a farm labor contractor. The penalty is based on the firm’s history of repeated violations. Agri Aide did not file an appeal and made payment toward the infraction.

As a farm labor contractor, Agri Aide is one of about 250 firms across the state that hires, organizes, and transports workers to farms. Under law, contractors must provide each worker written notice about pay, housing, safety requirements, and other conditions.

“Often, these workers are happy just to have a job; they’re not looking at whether the person who got them the job has a license,” said Tisa Soeteber, agricultural employment specialist at L&I. “L&I is going after repeat offenders like Agri Aide to stop unlicensed contractors from both competing with legitimate farm labor contractors and putting workers at risk.”

Marivel and Jose Luis Brunetti, Agri Aide owners, operated the company without a farm labor contracting license in at least 2012, 2013, and 2015. Agri Aide received the maximum fines in those cases, which included forging a contractor license in 2012 and failing to tell workers about the conditions of their employment in 2015.

L&I began its investigation in May after receiving a complaint. It involved Agri Aide laborers at Williamson Farms, in Quincy, WA, transplanting chili plants.

Williamson Farms hadn’t checked the Agri Aide license since 2006. The farm told L&I it would no longer work with any unlicensed contractor.

Soeteber said farmers should check annually for the license of their farm labor contractor. She said the Farm Labor Contractor Act protects workers’ rights and limits the liability a farmer may face for using an unlicensed firm.

Information about farm labor contracting is available by emailing ESgeneral@Lni.wa.gov, calling 1-866-219-7321, or going online to www.Lni.wa.gov and typing “Farm Labor Contractors” in the search box.

Photo credit: WA DLI, via Twitter