APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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02C01-9508-CC-00227

02C01-9508-CC-00227

Originating Judge:John Franklin Murchison
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/17/96
02C01-9504-CC-00114

02C01-9504-CC-00114
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/17/96
Gary Reatherford v. Lincoln Brass Works, Inc.

01S01-9504-CV-00058
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Plaintiff was doing construction work at the Lincoln Brass Works facility, moving the employee break room from one side of the building to another, when a nail flew into his right eye, requiring several surgical procedures and resulting in total permanent loss of vision in the eye. The trial judge found that he was a statutory employee of Lincoln Brass Works and held the company liable for 1 percent permanent disability to plaintiff's right eye. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. The only issue before us is the status of the plaintiff for workers' compensation insurance purposes. The plaintiff contends, and the trial judge held, that he was a statutory employee and Lincoln Brass Works was a principal contractor (statutory employer) under TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-113. Lincoln Brass Works contends plaintiff was either an independent contractor or a casual employee. Under TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-113(a), "A principal, or intermediate contractor, or subcontractor shall be liable for compensation to any employee injured while in the employ of any of the subcontractors of the principal, intermediate contractor, or subcontractor and engaged upon the subject matter of the contract to the same extent as the immediate employer," (commonly referred to as a "statutory employer"). This court has consistently held that where a business enterprise undertakes to act as its own principal contractor and contracts directly with a subcontractor for various phases of construction on its own premises, the business enterprise is subject to liability imposed by the Workers' Compensation Act. Acklie v. Carrier, 785 S.W.2d 355 (Tenn. 199). Lincoln Brass asserts the construction workers were independent contractors rather than statutory employees under TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-113(a). The factors to be considered in determining whether a relationship to the principal was that of employee or independent contractor include: (1) the right to control the conduct of 2
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge John K. Byers
Originating Judge:Hon. William B. Cain
Wayne County Workers Compensation Panel 05/17/96
02C01-9404-CC-00082

02C01-9404-CC-00082

Originating Judge:John Franklin Murchison
Henderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/17/96
01A01-9510-CH-00481

01A01-9510-CH-00481

Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/17/96
01A01-9601-CH-00030

01A01-9601-CH-00030

Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/17/96
01A01-9510-JV-00474

01A01-9510-JV-00474

Originating Judge:Andrew J. Shookhoff
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/17/96
01A01-9510-JV-00479

01A01-9510-JV-00479

Originating Judge:Andrew J. Shookhoff
Davidson County Court of Appeals 05/17/96
02C01-9309-CC-00201

02C01-9309-CC-00201

Originating Judge:Jon Kerry Blackwood
Court of Criminal Appeals 05/17/96
02C01-9409-CC-00193

02C01-9409-CC-00193
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/17/96
Gary Reatherford v. Lincoln Brass Works, Inc.

01S01-9504-CV-00058
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Plaintiff was doing construction work at the Lincoln Brass Works facility, moving the employee break room from one side of the building to another, when a nail flew into his right eye, requiring several surgical procedures and resulting in total permanent loss of vision in the eye. The trial judge found that he was a statutory employee of Lincoln Brass Works and held the company liable for 1 percent permanent disability to plaintiff's right eye. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. The only issue before us is the status of the plaintiff for workers' compensation insurance purposes. The plaintiff contends, and the trial judge held, that he was a statutory employee and Lincoln Brass Works was a principal contractor (statutory employer) under TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-113. Lincoln Brass Works contends plaintiff was either an independent contractor or a casual employee. Under TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-113(a), "A principal, or intermediate contractor, or subcontractor shall be liable for compensation to any employee injured while in the employ of any of the subcontractors of the principal, intermediate contractor, or subcontractor and engaged upon the subject matter of the contract to the same extent as the immediate employer," (commonly referred to as a "statutory employer"). This court has consistently held that where a business enterprise undertakes to act as its own principal contractor and contracts directly with a subcontractor for various phases of construction on its own premises, the business enterprise is subject to liability imposed by the Workers' Compensation Act. Acklie v. Carrier, 785 S.W.2d 355 (Tenn. 199). Lincoln Brass asserts the construction workers were independent contractors rather than statutory employees under TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-113(a). The factors to be considered in determining whether a relationship to the principal was that of employee or independent contractor include: (1) the right to control the conduct of 2
Authoring Judge: Senior Judge John K. Byers
Originating Judge:Hon. William B. Cain
Wayne County Workers Compensation Panel 05/17/96
02A01-9502-CH-00025

02A01-9502-CH-00025

Originating Judge:Dewey C. Whitenton
Fayette County Court of Appeals 05/16/96
01C01-9506-CC-00166

01C01-9506-CC-00166
Sequatchie County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/16/96
01A01-9506-JV-00262

01A01-9506-JV-00262

Originating Judge:W. Nowlin Taylor
Bedford County Court of Appeals 05/15/96
01A01-9508-CH-00365

01A01-9508-CH-00365

Originating Judge:Allen W. Wallace
Court of Appeals 05/15/96
03A01-9509-CH-00318

03A01-9509-CH-00318
Carter County Court of Appeals 05/14/96
01C01-9704-CR-00129

01C01-9704-CR-00129
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 05/13/96
03S01-9501-CH-00008

03S01-9501-CH-00008
Supreme Court 05/13/96
03S01-9502-CH-00018

03S01-9502-CH-00018
Supreme Court 05/13/96
03S01-9508-CC-00096

03S01-9508-CC-00096

Originating Judge:Leon C. Burns, Jr.
Supreme Court 05/13/96
01S01-9503-CC-00035

01S01-9503-CC-00035
Supreme Court 05/13/96
03S01-9410-CR-00106

03S01-9410-CR-00106

Originating Judge:Douglas A. Meyer
Supreme Court 05/13/96
03S01-9508-CC-00096

03S01-9508-CC-00096

Originating Judge:Leon C. Burns, Jr.
Supreme Court 05/13/96
03S01-9502-CV-00015

03S01-9502-CV-00015
Supreme Court 05/13/96
03S01-9410-CR-00106

03S01-9410-CR-00106
Supreme Court 05/13/96