Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries has collected $105,477 from Lightfleet Corp. of Camas, allowing the state to deliver partial payments to seven former Lightfleet employees for unpaid wages dating back to 2008.
But Lightfleet, which is trying to attract new investment to its beamed-light method of connecting computer processors, still owes $112,113 on the unpaid wage claims, plus interest, penalties, and fees, the state agency said. That amount is growing, with interest that accrues at 1 percent per month, said L&I spokeswoman Elaine Fischer. The state has received one new claim, which is now under review, and queries from other former Lightfleet employees about how to file claims, she said.
Lightfleet Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Peers said the company still has 18 employees — himself included — who are receiving benefits but no pay. The company owes money to those workers and lesser amounts to many past employees who have not filed claims with the state, he said. At its peak, he said, Lightfleet had 53 employees.
Despite these daunting challenges, Peers said in an interview that he and other employees are trying to achieve market success with a technology that won a top Wall Street Journal award last year for innovation in computing systems. “We have several discussions going on with several major potential investors,” he said. “We are determined to get this done.”