Longview, Washington · Nippon Dynawave Packaging Disaster

When the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington history happened in Longview, we were already here.

Osborn Machler & Neff is a Seattle-based trial firm that already represents families harmed in the Nippon Dynawave disaster. We are Washington lawyers, in Washington courts, holding a Washington employer accountable — not an out-of-state firm signing up cases from a thousand miles away.

Washington Firm

Licensed and practicing here, not flying in for the headlines

Already Engaged

Already representing families affected by this disaster

Tracking Investigations

Monitoring L&I, Ecology, and federal safety investigations

No Fee Unless We Win

No legal fees unless we win your case

We’re Already Part of This Case

In the days after the Nippon Dynawave implosion, dozens of law firms put up web pages. Most of them are hundreds or thousands of miles away, with phone numbers in other states.

We are not one of them.

Osborn Machler & Neff is a Washington firm, and we are already representing families who lost loved ones in this disaster. We have been on the ground since the first days — listening to families, gathering facts, and pressing for the transparency this community deserves. We are already in contact with the agencies investigating what happened.

If your family was harmed at the Nippon Dynawave facility, you do not have to hand your case to a firm that learned the name “Longview” from a news alert. You can work with lawyers who are already here, already involved, and already fighting for the people affected.

“These families don’t need a sales pitch. They need the truth about what happened inside that plant, and they need someone willing to make sure it comes out. That’s the work we’re already doing.”

– Simeon Osborn, Osborn Machler & Neff

What Happened at Nippon Dynawave?

A company may blame the user. A manufacturer may call the injury a one-time accident. A product may be repaired, discarded, recalled, or altered before anyone investigates what actually happened.

On the morning of May 26, 2026, a large tank of “white liquor” — a caustic, highly alkaline mixture used in the kraft pulping process — failed at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility on Industrial Way in Longview.

The collapse killed 11 workers and injured others, including a responding firefighter. White liquor is composed largely of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide and is severely corrosive to skin, eyes, and lungs.

Governor Bob Ferguson has called it the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington history.

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries, the Washington Department of Ecology, and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board have all opened investigations. We are following each of them closely.

Your Rights Go Beyond Workers’ Compensation

Many families assume that workers’ compensation is the end of the story. It often is not.

Workers’ comp may cover some medical bills and a portion of lost wages — but it does not pay for pain and suffering, full lost earnings, the loss of a loved one’s companionship, or the human cost of what your family is enduring. And workers’ comp does not reach the other companies whose decisions may have led to this disaster.

A separate civil claim against a negligent third party — an equipment manufacturer, a maintenance or inspection contractor, an engineering firm, or the corporate parent — can pursue the full measure of harm. **Workers, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and first responders who were on-site may all have claims.**

The only way to know what your family is entitled to is to have a Washington lawyer review the facts. That review is free.

How We Work

You pay nothing unless we recover on your behalf

We handle these cases on a contingency-fee basis. There are no up-front costs and no hourly bills. If there is no recovery, you owe us no attorney’s fee.

We move carefully, not loudly. Families in Longview are grieving. We will never pressure you. When you’re ready to talk, we’ll listen first and explain your options in plain language.

Everything you tell us is confidential. A consultation is private and carries no obligation to hire us.

Our Team

Meet the Attorneys

Simeon Osborn Attorney at Law

Managing Partner | Attorney

Austin J. Neff

Partner | Attorney

Roger Rogoff

Of Counsel | Attorney

Susan Machler

Of Counsel

Testimonials

What our Clients Say

If you seek a law firm that marries surgical attention to detail with heartfelt client advocacy, look no further than Osborn Machler Neff. The Team will fight for your case, you’ll gain a relentless advocate whose professionalism and empathy turn difficult circumstances into successful outcomes.

 

Osborn Machler is such a blessing for me….No one wanted to take my personal injury case but they did. They took me in like Family. All of them worked so hard on my case (Awesome Team Work)… I will REFER everyone to them. If you need help they are the best…It’s nice to know that they have your BACK (LITERALLY).

Frequently Asked Questions

No. A third-party claim can exist alongside a workers’ compensation claim. We can review both.

I was a contractor,  not a Nippon employee. Do I have a claim?

Possibly. Anyone harmed at or near the facility may have rights. It’s worth a conversation.

Washington’s wrongful death law may allow a family to recover for their loss. We can explain who is eligible and what a claim can seek to recover.

Washington sets deadlines – known as statutes of limitation – and evidence at an industrial site can disappear quickly. The sooner the facts are preserved, the better.

Because this case belongs in Washington, before Washington courts, under Washington law — and because we are already here and already doing the work.

Nothing. The consultation is free and confidential, and we only earn a fee if we recover for you.

Talk to a Washington attorney who is already on this case

If you or someone in your family was harmed at the Nippon Dynawave facility, reach out whenever you’re ready. We’ll listen, answer your questions honestly, and tell you plainly whether we can help.