Angela R. Huff Individually v. Southern States Somerset Cooperative, Incorporated ( 2021 )


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  •                  RENDERED: AUGUST 13, 2021; 10:00 A.M.
    TO BE PUBLISHED
    Commonwealth of Kentucky
    Court of Appeals
    NO. 2019-CA-1524-MR
    ANGELA R. HUFF, INDIVIDUALLY;
    AND AS EXECUTRIX OF THE
    ESTATE OF DAVID W. HUFF                                           APPELLANTS
    APPEAL FROM MERCER CIRCUIT COURT
    v.              HONORABLE DARREN W. PECKLER, JUDGE
    ACTION NO. 17-CI-00194
    SOUTHERN STATES SOMERSET
    COOPERATIVE, INCORPORATED                                            APPELLEE
    OPINION
    AFFIRMING IN PART,
    REVERSING IN PART,
    AND REMANDING
    ** ** ** ** **
    BEFORE: COMBS, KRAMER, AND L. THOMPSON, JUDGES.
    COMBS, JUDGE: Appellant, Angela Huff, individually and as Executrix of the
    Estate of David W. Huff, appeals from an order of the Mercer Circuit Court which
    held that the Appellee, Southern States Somerset Cooperative, Incorporated, was
    entitled to up-the-ladder immunity under the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation
    Act, KRS1 Chapter 342. After our review, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and
    remand.
    David W. Huff was employed by Southern States Cooperative, Inc.
    On August 4, 2016, Mr. Huff was killed on his employer’s premises at its
    Harrodsburg location while operating a Willmar Wrangler 4500 front-end loader
    which overturned.2
    On August 2, 2017, Angela Huff, individually and as Executrix of the
    Estate of David Huff (Huff), filed a complaint in Mercer Circuit Court asserting
    claims of product liability, breach of warranty, failure to warn, and negligence
    against the Defendants, AGCO Corporation and Cargill, Incorporated, which Huff
    alleged had designed, marketed, manufactured, sold, and distributed the front-end
    loader.
    On August 25, 2017, Defendants AGCO and Cargill filed a joint
    notice removing the case to the United States District Court for the Eastern District
    of Kentucky. On September 1, 2017, Defendant Cargill filed a motion to dismiss
    for failure to state a claim. Cargill attached a report from the Kentucky Labor
    1
    Kentucky Revised Statutes.
    2
    Mr. Huff’s employer, Southern States Cooperative, Inc., is not a party to this case. The
    Appellee, Southern States Somerset Cooperative, Incorporated, is a separate entity that was the
    original purchaser of the subject front-end loader.
    -2-
    Cabinet Occupational Safety and Health Program (Kentucky OSH),3 which had
    conducted an inspection due to the fatality.
    The Kentucky OSH report reflects that the accident occurred on
    August 4, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. Mr. Huff was operating a Willmar Wrangler 4500
    articulated front-end loader and was filling an order of fertilizer at his employer’s
    Harrodsburg store when the loader tipped over, pinning Mr. Huff underneath and
    causing his death. According to the report, the Appellee, Southern States Somerset
    Cooperative, Incorporated (Somerset), was the original purchaser of the front-end
    loader and had sold it to Mr. Huff’s employer in 2002.4
    Huff then filed an amended complaint in federal District Court joining
    Somerset as a defendant. Huff identified Somerset as a Virginia business entity
    based upon a report from the Kentucky Secretary of State. Huff alleged that
    Somerset was negligent in maintaining the Willmar Wrangler 4500 used by David
    Huff. In its answer and Rule 7.1(a) corporate disclosure, Somerset stated that it is
    incorporated in Virginia with its principal place of business in Somerset, Kentucky.
    3
    A copy of the Kentucky OSH report is attached as Exhibit “C” to Defendant Cargill’s
    memorandum in support of its May 21, 2018, motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s amended complaint
    filed in Mercer Circuit Court (Record on Appeal (ROA) at 85).
    4
    At page 2, footnote 1 of its Appellee’s Brief, Somerset clarifies that it purchased the loader as a
    new piece of equipment in 2000 and that it owned it until 2007 – not 2002 as erroneously
    reported.
    -3-
    Somerset filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the claims against it
    are barred by the exclusive remedy provision of the Kentucky Workers’
    Compensation Act. Huff filed a motion for remand based upon lack of subject
    matter jurisdiction. By opinion and order dated May 8, 2018, the federal District
    Court explained as follows:
    Huff’s intent in filing the amended complaint was
    not to defeat diversity jurisdiction. . . . Huff did not seek
    remand until . . . Somerset filed its answer and corporate
    disclosure statement stating that its principal place of
    business was in Kentucky.
    Huff v. AGCO Corp., No. 5:17-CV-354-KKC, 
    2018 WL 2113195
    , at *4 (E.D. Ky.
    May 8, 2018) (ROA at 239-40).
    The District Court concluded that joinder was appropriate and granted
    Huff’s motion to remand based on newly discovered lack of diversity. It also
    denied all remaining motions as moot and remanded the case to the Mercer Circuit
    Court.
    On May 29, 2018, Defendant Somerset filed a motion to dismiss or, in
    the alternative, for summary judgment in the Mercer Circuit Court on the ground
    that the claims that Huff asserted against it are barred by the exclusive remedy
    provisions of the Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Act (KWCA), KRS Chapter
    342. In its supporting memorandum, Somerset explained that it is a member-
    owned local cooperative. Somerset argued that it “is a ‘contractor,’ who
    -4-
    contracted with Southern States Cooperative (a ‘subcontractor’) for the provision
    of management and accounting services; accordingly, it is entitled to up the ladder
    immunity” under KRS 342.690. Somerset submitted the affidavit of Anne
    Clingenpeel, Vice President of Retail Operations of Mr. Huff’s employer, Southern
    States Cooperative, Inc., which provides in relevant part:
    3. Southern States Cooperative, Inc. owns and operates
    the Southern States retail store and land located in
    Harrodsburg, Kentucky, including the premises on which
    the August 4, 2016 incident occurred. . . . Harrodsburg is
    not a separate legal entity; it is one of the 13 locations
    Southern States Cooperative operates in the state of
    Kentucky. Southern States Cooperative, Inc. secured
    workers’ compensation coverage for its own employees,
    and a true and accurate copy of the declarations pages
    reflecting said coverage is attached as Exhibit A.
    4. At the time of the subject incident, August 4, 2016,
    David Huff was employed by Southern States
    Cooperative, Incorporated. . . . At the time of the
    accident, David Huff worked . . . as a General Manager –
    Retail, acting as general manager for six retail stores
    located in Harrodsburg, Campbellsville, Danville,
    Stanford, Liberty and Frankfort.
    5. Southern States Cooperative, Inc. has relationships
    with sixty member-owned local cooperatives (“Local
    Cooperatives”), including [Somerset], in which Southern
    States Cooperative, Inc. provides services and supplies to
    the Local Cooperatives.
    6. At the time of the subject incident, August 4, 2016,
    the relationship between Southern States Cooperative,
    Inc. and [Somerset] was governed by the management
    agreement entered into on May 10, 1948, a true and
    accurate copy of which is attached as Exhibit C. . . .
    -5-
    7. Pursuant to Exhibit C, Southern States Cooperative,
    Inc. obtained workers[’] compensation insurance for
    [Somerset] through Southern States Insurance Exchange,
    as it did for each Local Cooperative. A true and accurate
    copy of the declarations pages applicable to the
    workers[’] compensation coverage in place for
    [Somerset] on August 4, 2016 is attached as Exhibit D.
    8. Pursuant to its management agreements with the
    Local Cooperatives (including [Somerset]), Southern
    States Cooperative, Inc., managed the business affairs of
    the Local Cooperatives and provided services and
    supplies to the Local Cooperatives, including
    management supervision, training, assistance with local
    meetings and membership relations, publicity,
    engineering, marketing, the payments of dividends, and
    the procurement of supplies and commodities. Southern
    States Cooperative, Inc. received a fee for these services
    from the Local Cooperatives. Southern States
    Cooperative, Inc. also procured insurance coverage,
    including workers’ compensation coverage, for and on
    behalf of the Local Cooperatives. Moreover, all capital
    for each of the Local Cooperatives is obtained from
    Southern States Cooperatives, Inc. on the basis of an
    open account or negotiable notes.[5]
    (ROA at 152-54) (underline original).
    On June 19, 2018, Huff filed a response to Somerset’s motion and
    argued that the motion should be treated as one for summary judgment and that
    genuine issues of fact existed which precluded summary judgment as a matter of
    law. Huff argued that Somerset failed to provide any information or proof as to the
    5
    The management agreement, Exhibit “C,” was filed under seal.
    -6-
    nature of its business, or any proof that Mr. Huff performed any work for
    Somerset. Additionally, she noted that the accident did not occur on Somerset’s
    premises.
    On July 23, 2018, the trial court nevertheless entered an order
    granting Somerset’s motion for summary judgment, stating as follows:
    At the time of the accident, the decedent Mr. Huff was an
    employee of Southern States Cooperative and served as
    general manager for six retail locations of Southern
    States. The accident occurred on the premises of the
    Harrodsburg retail location, which is owned and operated
    by Southern States Cooperative and was one of the stores
    Huff managed.
    In addition to the thirteen store locations operated
    by Southern States Cooperative, certain store locations are
    operated by member-owned local cooperatives like
    [Somerset]. For stores operated by local cooperatives,
    Southern States Cooperative has management contracts in
    place . . . .
    In its motion to dismiss, [Somerset] argues that it is
    entitled to workers[’] compensation immunity pursuant to
    KRS 342.690(1). . . .
    . . . General Electric Co. v. Cain, 
    236 SW3d 579
     (Ky.
    2007), . . . holds that, in order for a defendant to quali[f]y
    for workers’ compensation immunity via the up-the-
    ladder defense, same must provide 1) proof that it secured
    workers[’] compensation coverage; and 2) proof that it is
    a contractor as defined in KRS 342.610(2). The Court in
    Cain held that immunity would apply if the work
    performed was “customary, usual, normal, or performed
    repeatedly and which the business or a similar business
    would perform or be expected to perform.”
    -7-
    ...
    In the instant action, this [c]ourt finds more than sufficient
    evidence that there was workers[’] compensation
    coverage. In addition to the policy provided by the
    defendants, the record indicates that the decedent’s spouse
    received a proposed settlement of workers[’]
    compensation benefits through Southern States Insurance
    Exchange.[6] With regard to the proof that [Somerset] was
    a contractor of Southern States Cooperative, the
    management agreement and the affidavit of A.
    Clingenpeel clearly shows that [Somerset] meets the
    definition of “contractor” under Kentucky law.
    On July 25, 2018, the Defendants AGCO and Cargill filed a notice
    again removing the case to federal court.
    On August 1, 2018, Huff filed a notice of appeal to this Court from
    the Mercer Circuit Court’s order of July 23, 2018. On March 21, 2019, Huff filed
    a motion to dismiss that appeal.7 By an order entered on May 14, 2019, in Huff v.
    6
    Exhibit 4 to Somerset’s memorandum in support of its motion to dismiss/for summary
    judgment is a copy of an unexecuted Workers’ Claims Agreement as to Compensation/ Form
    110-F which reflects the Defendant/Employer is Southern States Cooperative, the Insurer is
    Southern States Insurance Exchange, and that the injury/fatality occurred on August 4, 2016, at
    1027 North College Street, Harrodsburg, Kentucky, which is listed as mailing address for the
    Defendant/Employer. The description of the occurrence is “Decedent was operating a front-end
    loader when it overturned pinning Decedent underneath it.” (ROA at 175).
    7
    In her motion to dismiss the earlier appeal to this Court, Huff explains that she filed it out of an
    abundance of caution after Defendants Cargill and AGCO again filed a notice removing the case
    to federal court. Thus, Huff had no avenue of relief because she was not a party to the federal
    court action. On August 13, 2018, this Court entered a show cause order as to why the appeal
    should not be dismissed as premature. The matter was subsequently passed to the merits panel.
    Then on March 13, 2019, the United States District Court entered an order again remanding the
    case to Mercer Circuit Court, which regained jurisdiction over the matter in its entirety. (ROA at
    429-31).
    -8-
    Southern States Somerset Cooperative, Incorporated, No. 2018-CA-001185, this
    Court granted Huff’s motion. (ROA at 411). We dismissed the appeal as
    interlocutory because the order granting summary judgment did not contain the
    requisite finality language.
    On July 12, 2019, Huff filed a notice of service of discovery requests
    to the defendants in Mercer Circuit Court, including interrogatories, requests for
    production, and a request for admissions to Somerset.
    On July 15, 2019, Somerset filed a motion pursuant to CR8 54.02
    requesting that the circuit court make final and appealable its July 23, 2018, order
    dismissing Huff’s claims against it.
    On August 7, 2019, Somerset filed a motion for a protective order
    pursuant to CR 26.03 regarding Huff’s discovery requests. Somerset argued that
    although the order dismissing the claims against it was not yet final and
    appealable, the discovery requests were not proper because Somerset was no
    longer a party to whom interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for
    admission could be directed.
    On August 9, 2019, Huff filed a response objecting to Somerset’s
    motion to make the July 23, 2018, order final and appealable. On August 12, 2019,
    Somerset filed a reply.
    8
    Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure.
    -9-
    On September 9, 2019, the circuit court entered an order granting
    Somerset’s motions as follows in relevant part:
    [T]he [c]ourt having reviewed the written record, heard
    arguments of counsel, and being otherwise sufficiently
    advised;
    IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as
    follows:
    1. The July 23, 2018 [o]rder dismissing the claims
    against [Somerset] is hereby final and appealable, as
    there is no just reason for delay;
    2. [Somerset’s] Motion for Protective Order is hereby
    SUSTAINED.
    On October 8, 2019, Huff filed a notice of appeal to this Court from
    the circuit court’s orders of July 23, 2018, and September 9, 2019.
    Huff first argues that the circuit court erred in certifying the order of
    July 23, 2018, as final and appealable. CR 54.02(1) provides as follows:
    When more than one claim for relief is presented in an
    action, whether as a claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, or
    third-party claim, or when multiple parties are involved,
    the court may grant a final judgment upon one or more
    but less than all of the claims or parties only upon a
    determination that there is no just reason for delay.
    The judgment shall recite such determination and
    shall recite that the judgment is final. In the absence
    of such recital, any order or other form of decision,
    however designated, which adjudicates less than all the
    claims or the rights and liabilities of less than all the
    parties shall not terminate the action as to any of the
    claims or parties, and the order or other form of decision
    is interlocutory and subject to revision at any time before
    the entry of judgment adjudicating all the claims and the
    rights and liabilities of all the parties.
    -10-
    (Emphasis added.)
    As Somerset notes, this is not a case where a judgment was made final
    as a matter of routine. The issue was addressed in Somerset’s motion, in Huff’s
    response, and in Somerset’s reply. The circuit court’s July 23, 2018, order
    disposed of all claims Huff asserted against Somerset. The circuit court
    determined that there was no just reason for delay. The September 9, 2019, order
    contained the requisite recitals and made the July 23, 2018, order final and
    appealable pursuant to CR 54.02. We find no abuse of discretion. Christie v. First
    Am. Bank, 
    908 S.W.2d 679
    , 681 (Ky. App. 1995) (“[W]e see no reason to reverse
    such a certification where the trial court has made a ‘determination that there is no
    just reason for delay.’ CR 54.02. The trial court has broad discretion in such
    matters.”). Thus, we reject Huff’s contention that the circuit court erred in making
    the order of July 23, 2018, final and appealable. We affirm with respect to this
    issue.
    Huff next argues that reversal and remand are warranted on the
    merits.9 She contends that although Somerset nominally filed its motion to dismiss
    9
    As Somerset notes at page 7 of its Appellee’s Brief, Huff relies upon deposition testimony
    which is not properly in the record on appeal. Somerset explains that the corporate
    representative’s deposition was taken by the remaining Defendant AGCO in October 2019, after
    Somerset’s dismissal. We agree, and therefore, we have not considered any reference to this
    deposition testimony in Huff’s Brief.
    -11-
    pursuant to CR 12.02, the motion should instead be treated as one for summary
    judgment. We agree.
    Because the trial court considered matters outside the
    pleadings, however, we shall review its decision as
    though it were a summary judgment. CR 12.03; Old
    Mason’s Home of Kentucky, Inc. v. Mitchell, [
    892 S.W.2d 304
     (Ky. App. 1995)]. Because summary
    judgments involve no fact finding, this Court reviews
    them de novo, in the sense that we owe no deference to
    the conclusions of the trial court. As did the trial court,
    we ask whether material facts are in dispute and whether
    the party moving for judgment is clearly entitled thereto
    as a matter of law. Under this state’s rules of practice,
    summary judgments are to be granted cautiously; they
    are appropriate only when it appears impossible for the
    non-movant to prove facts establishing a right to relief or
    release, as the case may be. Steelvest, Inc. v. Scansteel
    Service Center, Inc., [
    807 S.W.2d 476
     (Ky. 1991)].
    Blevins v. Moran, 
    12 S.W.3d 698
    , 700-01 (Ky. App. 2000).
    In the case before us, the circuit court granted Somerset’s motion to
    dismiss after determining that Mr. Huff’s employer had secured the payment of
    workers’ compensation benefits – a fact which is not in dispute – and that
    Somerset has met the definition of “contractor” under Kentucky law. However, we
    are persuaded that the analysis and reasoning of the court misconstrued the law at
    this juncture.
    At the time of his death, Mr. Huff was performing work for his
    employer, Southern States Cooperative, Inc., on his employer’s premises at its
    Harrodsburg location. In fact, nothing in Ms. Clingenpeel’s affidavit or the 1948
    -12-
    management agreement upon which the circuit court relied suggests that Mr. Huff
    ever performed any work for Somerset anywhere – much less on Somerset’s
    premises.
    We find the reasoning in McMillen v. Ford Motor Company, No.
    3:07-CV-309-S, 
    2009 WL 5169871
    , at *1 (W.D. Ky. Dec. 20, 2009), applicable
    and instructive. The facts are as follows:
    Ford Motor Company operates a facility called the
    Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP). For the past decade, it has
    been party to a “construction commodity management”
    (CCM) contract with Abel Construction Company.
    Under this arrangement, Abel provides construction and
    maintenance work at the KTP on a non-bid basis for
    projects worth less than $1 million. Pursuant to this
    agreement, Abel has designated Comstock as an “alliant
    partner”–one of two electrical subcontractors hired to
    perform work at the KTP under the CCM contract.
    Comstock and Abel each maintain a permanent
    construction trailer on KTP premises. Comstock
    employed McMillen as an electrician; at the relevant
    times his job title was Superintendent. He maintained an
    office in the Comstock trailer at the KTP and did
    virtually all of his work for Comstock at the Ford site.
    
    Id. at *1
    .
    McMillen was on Ford’s KTP premises reviewing a new project.
    After meeting with Abel Construction’s vice-president to discuss the project,
    McMillen stayed to take notes to prepare a price proposal. When McMillen was
    finished, a co-worker offered him a ride out of the plant on a motorized cart.
    McMillen was injured when he was a struck on the head by a high-speed roll-up
    -13-
    door. McMillen sued Ford for negligence in maintaining the door and its safety
    features. He had already received Kentucky workers’ compensation benefits from
    the workers’ compensation carrier for his employer, Comstock. The federal
    District Court discussed the applicable Kentucky law with respect to Ford in some
    detail:
    The exclusiveness provision, KRS 342.690(1),
    provides: “If an employer secures payment of
    compensation as required by this chapter, the liability of
    such employer under this chapter shall be exclusive and
    in place of all other liability of such employer to the
    employee . . . .” Because McMillen has undisputedly
    received workers’ compensation benefits through
    Comstock’s insurance policy, this statute would bar him
    from recovery in tort if Ford is considered his
    “employer.”
    As to this question, KRS 342.690(1) goes on to say
    that “the term ‘employer’ shall include a ‘contractor’
    covered by subsection (2) of KRS 342.610, whether or
    not the subcontractor has in fact[ ] secured the payment
    of compensation.” In turn, KRS 342.610(2) defines a
    contractor as a “person who contracts with another . . .
    [t]o have work performed of a kind which is a regular or
    recurrent part of the work of the trade, business,
    occupation, or profession of such person.”
    The courts have read these sections together as
    forming the basis for the “up the ladder” defense: “an
    entity ‘up the ladder’ from the injured employee and who
    meets all the qualifications of a ‘contractor’ under KRS
    342.610(2) is entitled to the immunity provided by KRS
    342.690.” Davis v. Ford Motor Co., 
    244 F. Supp. 2d 784
    , 786 (W.D. Ky. 2003) (citing Goldsmith v. Allied
    Bldg. Components, Inc., 
    833 S.W.2d 378
    , 381
    (Ky.1992)). But a contractor may only assert this
    -14-
    defense if it was potentially liable under the workers’
    compensation scheme; without such potential liability,
    there is no sense in extending “up the ladder” protection.
    See KRS 342.690(1); KRS 342.610(2). The question,
    then, is whether McMillen qualified as a statutory
    employee of Ford at the time of his injury.
    
    Id. at *4
    .
    The court explained that McMillen was employed by Comstock as an
    electrician and superintendent. Comstock was contracted by Abel, which had been
    hired by Ford under a management contract to provide certain services on a non-
    bid basis. McMillen spent more than 99% of his time with Comstock at Ford’s
    KTP and had an office in a trailer on Ford’s premises. As an electrician for
    Comstock, McMillen worked almost exclusively on Ford projects.
    However, at the time of the accident, it appears that
    McMillen had been working for Comstock itself, and not
    for Ford. Before getting into Reed’s golf cart and driving
    out the door, he had been evaluating a proposed worksite
    in preparation for writing up a bid. Before Comstock
    undertook any work on the project, it was required to
    submit the bid to Abel, which then used it to craft its own
    proposal to Ford. Ford then had the option to accept or
    reject the quoted terms.
    ...
    While McMillen acted for workers’ compensation
    purposes as a Ford employee during much of his time
    with Comstock, he was not doing so at the time of his
    injury. The critical issue is which of these roles matters
    to this litigation. Is it more important that he was
    frequently a Ford “employee,” or that he was not acting
    as one at the time in question?
    -15-
    . . . Ford did contract with Comstock to have work
    performed, but McMillen’s injury occurred while he was
    performing work for Comstock itself, and not (at least,
    not directly) for Ford. The language of KRS 342.610
    does not specify how to address this situation.
    
    Id. at *5
    . The District Court explained that it took some guidance from Davis,
    supra,10 and concluded that:
    It matters, that is, exactly what an employee is doing at
    the relevant time. What is important is whether the
    plaintiff can rightly be considered an “employee” of the
    defendant at the time he is injured. If so, the plaintiff can
    recover workers’ compensation benefits without proof of
    fault, and the defendant is protected from suit. If not, the
    defendant is vulnerable in tort.
    ...
    [W]e think Kentucky law limits the up-the-ladder
    defense to injuries sustained during work performed in
    the service of the entity seeking to assert the defense.
    No-fault workers’ compensation benefits are available
    only for a “work-related traumatic event or series of
    traumatic events.” KRS 342.[0]011(1) (emphasis added).
    Courts have interpreted “work-related” narrowly to mean
    10
    Davis worked for the Budd Company, which pressed roof panels for Ford trucks in
    accordance with Ford’s specification. Ford supplied the shipping racks to transport the
    completed panels. Davis was injured while closing a shipping rack which had jammed. After
    receiving workers’ compensation benefits from Budd, Davis filed a negligence action against
    Ford. Ford moved for summary judgment, asserting that it was an up-the-ladder contractor under
    KRS 342.610. The Court concluded that it was not, noting that the injury happened at Budd, not
    at Ford, in connection with the manufacture of goods, not the rendition of services. “Naturally,
    different scenarios could produce different results.” Davis, 
    244 F. Supp. 2d at 790
    .
    -16-
    “arising out of and in the course of employment.”
    Seventh St. Rd. Tobacco Warehouse v. Stillwell, 
    550 S.W.2d 469
    , 470 (Ky. 1976). “The rule is that
    compensation is not recoverable for injuries sustained by
    reason of a cause independent of and unconnected with
    the work of employment because such injuries are not
    brought about by conduct growing out of and incident to
    the employment.” Chesser v. Louisville Country Club,
    Inc., 
    313 S.W.2d 410
    , 411 (Ky. 1958) (citing Hayes
    Freight Lines, Inc., v. Burns, 
    290 S.W.2d 836
     (Ky.
    1956)). McMillen's injuries were not related (except
    very tenuously through the bidding process) to any work
    done for Ford, and Ford consequently was not
    responsible for his statutory benefits. Instead, he
    recovered those benefits from Comstock, the company
    that actually employed him at the time of his injury. But
    because the plaintiff’s injuries do not qualify for no-fault
    benefits from Ford, Ford also does not qualify to assert
    that it is immune from suit.
    
    Id. at *6-7
    . (Emphases added.)
    For the same reasons, we conclude that in the case before us, the
    Mercer Circuit Court erred in granting Somerset’s motion for summary judgment
    on grounds of immunity under KRS Chapter 342. Mr. Huff was not performing
    any work for Somerset at the time of his death; rather, he was working for his
    “own and only” employer Southern States Cooperative, Inc., on his employer’s
    premises in Harrodsburg. Thus, we conclude that Somerset does not qualify to
    assert that it is immune from suit, and we reverse the circuit court’s order granting
    summary judgment.
    -17-
    Huff also seeks reversal of the circuit court’s September 9, 2019,
    protective order. Somerset responds that the issue was not preserved because Huff
    did not raise it in her prehearing statement. We agree. The issue is not properly
    before us. Sallee v. Sallee, 
    142 S.W.3d 697
    , 698 (Ky. App. 2004) (“Since that
    issue was not raised either in the prehearing statement or by timely motion seeking
    permission to submit the issue for ‘good cause shown,’ CR 76.03(8), this matter is
    not properly before this court for review.”).
    Accordingly, we AFFIRM the decision of the trial court in its order of
    September 9, 2019, electing to certify the order of July 23, 2018, as final and
    appealable. However, we REVERSE the order of the Mercer Circuit Court
    granting summary judgment in favor of Somerset and REMAND for further
    proceedings consistent with this Opinion.
    ALL CONCUR.
    BRIEFS FOR APPELLANTS:                      BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:
    William D. Nefzger                          Kevin W. Weaver
    Louisville, Kentucky                        Ernest H. Jones, II
    Jamie Wilhite Dittert
    Lexington, Kentucky
    -18-