Peters, James v. A Clean Connection, LLC. , 2016 TN WC App. 6 ( 2016 )

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD
James Peters ) Docket No. 2015-02-0209
)
v. ) State File No. 49650-2015
)
Jonathan Mitchell d/b/a )
A Clean Connection, LLC, et al. )
)
)
Appeal from the Court of Workers’ )
Compensation Claims )
Brian K. Addington, Judge )
Affirmed as Modified and Remanded - Filed February 8, 2016
In this interlocutory appeal, the injured worker alleges suffering an injury to his foot
when he slipped off a ladder while working for a business that provides cleaning and
maintenance services to other businesses. He immediately reported the fall but did not
seek medical treatment until two months later. Although a panel of physicians was
provided, the employer declined to provide medical or disability benefits on the basis that
the injured worker was an independent contractor. The trial court determined that the
worker was an employee and ordered medical benefits. The employer has appealed.
Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision as modified.
Judge Marshall L. Davidson, III, delivered the opinion of the Appeals Board, in which
Judge David F. Hensley and Judge Timothy W. Conner joined.
Michael Haynie, Nashville, Tennessee, for the employer-appellant, A Clean Connection,
LLC
James Peters, Kingsport, Tennessee, employee-appellee, pro se
1
Factual and Procedural Background
James Peters, a resident of Sullivan County, Tennessee, alleges he sustained an
injury to his right foot on March 10, 2015, when he slipped and fell from a ladder. At the
time of his injury, Mr. Peters was supervising a cleaning crew at Aurora Casket Company
(“Aurora”), which had contracted with the employer, A Clean Connection, LLC
(“ACC”), to provide monthly cleaning services. As part of his duties at Aurora, Mr.
Peters was required to climb a scissor lift and use air hoses to blow sawdust off rafters.
On the date of the injury, he was working from the top rung of a ladder when he slipped
and fell. That same day, he informed Jonathan Mitchell, ACC’s owner, that he had fallen
and hurt his foot but was able to complete his duties.
In April 2015, Mr. Mitchell contacted Mr. Peters about returning to Aurora for the
monthly cleaning service. Mr. Peters supervised the April service and, at that time,
informed Mr. Mitchell he was having ongoing problems from his fall the previous month.
Mr. Mitchell suggested that he have his foot evaluated, but Mr. Peters did not seek
treatment at that time. Aurora cancelled the May 2015 cleaning service. Then, in June
2015, Mr. Mitchell sent Mr. Peters a text message informing him that he no longer
needed his services.
Mr. Peters first sought treatment for his foot injury at the Holston Valley Medical
Center on May 12, 2015. X-rays revealed no broken bones, and Mr. Peters was
diagnosed with a foot sprain. On June 29, 2015, Mr. Peters filed a petition seeking
medical and temporary disability benefits. Thereafter, ACC provided a panel of
physicians, and Mr. Peters selected Dr. Kent Lord from the panel. He saw Dr. Lord on
August 5, 2015 and again sometime in September 2015. Although the record contains a
vague suggestion that Dr. Lord may have recommended additional treatment in the form
of physical therapy, Mr. Peters testified that he has not sought the additional treatment
because he wanted to determine if he is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits before
incurring additional medical expenses.
Both Mr. Peters and Mr. Mitchell testified at the expedited hearing. The testimony
of Mr. Peters reflects his belief that he was an employee of ACC. He stated that he had,
in years prior to his injury, received a W-2, although he acknowledged receiving a 1099
for his work in 2014. Also, in addition to the monthly cleaning work at Aurora, Mr.
Peters testified that he performed other jobs for Mr. Mitchell, such as pressure washing
houses and buffing floors, and that it was his belief that these jobs were performed under
the auspices of ACC. The wage statement submitted reflects only the wages ACC paid
Mr. Peters for the monthly cleaning at Aurora. Mr. Peters agreed that the wage statement
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accurately reflects what he was paid for that job, though he testified that some portion of
his paycheck was withheld for workers’ compensation insurance.1
Mr. Peters also testified that Aurora provided most of the equipment used to clean
its facility. While Mr. Mitchell seldom came to Aurora to review or supervise the work,
Mr. Peters stated that he was told by Mr. Mitchell when and where to perform his job
duties and what tasks needed to be completed. He also acknowledged that he was
working thirty to forty hours a week for a third party performing construction work
during the period in which he suffered his foot injury.
For his part, Mr. Mitchell testified that ACC, which he and his wife co-own, does
not have any employees. He explained that there are several criteria he and his wife
follow regarding their business, such as “[t]ransportation . . . 1099, the way we tax—he’s
taxed—that’s one. The equipment—the client provides the equipment. Those are some
of the criteria.” Mr. Mitchell further testified that Mr. Peters was free to hire his own
workers and could refuse to accept an assignment. Mr. Mitchell stated that the equipment
necessary to perform the job at Aurora was provided by Aurora, although he did provide
masks and goggles to the cleaning crew. According to Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Peters was a
“crew leader” on the Aurora job and worked approximately five hours a month there, but
he was considered a “general laborer” on other jobs for ACC.
The trial court found that Mr. Peters was an employee of ACC and not an
independent contractor. The trial court also ordered ACC to authorize a return
appointment for Mr. Peters to be seen by Dr. Lord for a causation opinion. ACC
appealed.
Standard of Review
The standard of review to be applied by this Board in reviewing a trial court’s
decision is statutorily mandated and limited in scope. Specifically, “[t]here shall be a
presumption that the findings and conclusions of the workers’ compensation judge are
correct, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-
6-239(c)(7) (2014). The trial court’s decision must be upheld unless the rights of a party
“have been prejudiced because findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions of a
workers’ compensation judge:
1
Although the evidence is vague regarding deductions from Mr. Peters’ paychecks, we note that
employers are prohibited from deducting any portion of workers’ compensation insurance premiums from
an employee’s wages or salary. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-405(d)(1) (2015). If workers’ compensation
premiums were deducted from Mr. Peters’ paychecks, an election of workers’ compensation coverage
may have occurred even if he were deemed to be an independent contractor or subcontractor. See Tenn.
Code Ann. § 50-6-113(e) (2015); Presley v. Bennett, 860 S.W.2d 857 (Tenn. 1993). However, because
this issue has not been raised on appeal, we need not address it.
3
(A) Violate constitutional or statutory provisions;
(B) Exceed the statutory authority of the workers’ compensation judge;
(C) Do not comply with lawful procedure;
(D) Are arbitrary, capricious, characterized by abuse of discretion, or
clearly an unwarranted exercise of discretion;
(E) Are not supported by evidence that is both substantial and material
in the light of the entire record.”
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-217(a)(3) (2015). Like other courts applying the
standards embodied in section 50-6-217(a)(3), we will not disturb the decision of the trial
court absent the limited circumstances identified in the statute.
Analysis
Employee v. Independent Contractor
ACC asserts that the trial court erroneously found that Mr. Peters was an employee
rather than an independent contractor. ACC points out that Mr. Mitchell regarded Mr.
Peters as an independent contractor and that he received a 1099 rather than a W-2 for his
work in 2014. ACC also notes that Mr. Peters was working thirty to forty hours a week
for a third party when he injured his foot on March 10, 2015, and that Aurora, not ACC,
provided most of the equipment used to clean Aurora’s facility. In addition, ACC
contends that Mr. Peters was free to hire other workers and to work more than the hours
allotted to clean Aurora’s building.
To recover workers’ compensation benefits, a claimant must be an employee and
not an independent contractor.2 Bargery v. Obion Grain Co., 785 S.W.2d 118, 121
(Tenn. 1990). The courts have defined “independent contractor” as follows:
One who contracts to do a piece of work according to his own methods and
without being subject to the control of his employer, except as to the result
of the work, and who has the right to employ and direct the action of the
workmen independent of his employer, and free from any superior
authority in the employer to say how the specified work shall be done, or
what the laborers shall do as the work progresses; one who undertakes to
produce a given result without being in any way controlled as to the
methods by which he attains that result.
2
As noted above, an exception to this general rule is reflected in Tennessee Code Annotated
section 50-6-113(e), which provides a mechanism for subcontractors to elect workers’ compensation
coverage under a general contractor’s policy.
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Barker v. Curtis, 287 S.W.2d 43, 45 (Tenn. 1956). The legislature has also provided
guidance in this regard. The pertinent statute, Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-
102(12)(D)(i), provides:
In a work relationship, in order to determine whether an individual is an
“employee,” or whether an individual is a “subcontractor” or an
“independent contractor,” the following factors shall be considered:
(a) The right to control the conduct of the work;
(b) The right of termination;
(c) The method of payment;
(d) The freedom to select and hire helpers;
(e) The furnishing of tools and equipment;
(f) Self-scheduling of working hours; and
(g) The freedom to offer services to other entities[.]
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-102(12)(D)(i) (2015).
The factors listed in section 50-6-102(D)(i) are not absolutes that preclude an
examination of the parties’ working relationship as a whole. Masiers v. Arrow Transfer
& Storage Co., 639 S.W.2d 654, 656 (Tenn. 1982). Moreover, no single aspect of the
parties’ relationship is determinative, and in deciding whether a worker is an employee or
independent contractor, “the trier of fact must examine all relevant factors and
circumstances” of the relationship. Boruff v. CNA Ins. Co., 795 S.W.2d 125, 127 (Tenn.
1990). Once the existence of an employment relationship has been established, it is the
employer’s burden to prove that the injured worker was not an employee but an
independent contractor. Galloway v. Memphis Drum Serv., 822 S.W.2d 584, 586 (Tenn.
1991).
Of the factors identified in section 50-6-102(12)(D)(i), the right to control the
conduct of the work has been characterized as the most significant in determining
whether an injured worker is an employee or independent contractor. Galloway, 822
S.W.2d at 586. In this case, ACC instructed Mr. Peters where and when to report to
work. In addition, it provided him with a list of tasks Aurora had contracted with ACC to
perform. At the end of each service, either Mr. Mitchell or Mr. Peters, in his capacity as
jobsite supervisor, would review the list and ensure that each task had been completed.
Moreover, although section 50-6-102(12)(D)(i) identifies the scheduling of work hours as
an independent factor, it can be considered in the context of whether an employer or
contractor exercises control over the work. Here, ACC instructed Mr. Peters when to
appear to perform the cleaning service and how long the service should take. Although
the testimony at the expedited hearing reveals that Mr. Peters and the crew could take
longer to complete the tasks if necessary, ACC provided a timeframe within which Mr.
5
Peters and his co-workers were expected to complete the list of tasks assigned to them.
These facts support the existence of an employer-employee relationship.
The right of termination is likewise a significant factor in determining the nature
of the parties’ work relationship. As stated by the Tennessee Supreme Court, “[t]he
power of an employer to terminate the employment at any time is incompatible with the
full control of the work which is usually enjoyed by an independent contractor, and hence
is considered as a strong circumstance tending to show” an employment relationship.
Curtis v. Hamilton Block Co., 466 S.W.2d 220, 222 (Tenn. 1971). “Indeed, it has been
said that no single fact is more conclusive, perhaps, than the unrestricted right of the
employer to end the particular service whenever he chooses, without regard to the final
result of the work itself.” Id. Here, ACC demonstrated its right to terminate Mr. Peters
at will when Mr. Mitchell informed him via text message that his services were no longer
required. Mr. Peters had no control over the termination and no right to require ACC to
provide advance notice or comply with contractual terms typically associated with an
employer-independent contractor relationship. The ability to terminate a business
affiliation at will is consistent with the existence of an employer-employee relationship.
See Masiers, 639 S.W.2d at 656.
Regarding the method of payment, the parties agree that Mr. Peters was provided a
1099 for services performed in 2014. His uncontradicted testimony was that, in prior
years, he had received a W-2. He also testified that ACC withheld a certain amount from
his paycheck which he understood to be for workers’ compensation coverage. That
testimony was not fully developed, and Mr. Mitchell was not asked to address that
allegation, so it is unclear whether this was, indeed, some sort of withholding or if Mr.
Peters was mistaken in his belief that wages were being withheld specifically for
workers’ compensation insurance. Regardless, the proof does not address whether Mr.
Peters was paid on an hourly basis or on the basis of some other contractual measure,
such as the completion of the job. See Cromwell Gen. Contractor, Inc. v. Lytle, 439
S.W.2d 598, 601 (Tenn. 1969). Thus, there is insufficient information concerning the
method of payment or the agreement for compensation between the parties to find that
this factor weighs in favor of either side.
Mr. Mitchell testified that Mr. Peters was able to select and hire his own helpers.
However, there is no proof in the record that Mr. Peters was aware of this option, had
ever attempted to hire someone, or had ever requested that he be allowed to hire someone
in the fifteen years he worked for Mr. Mitchell. In fact, Mr. Mitchell testified that the
contract with Aurora required a five-person crew and that it had been necessary to replace
Mr. Peters when he believed Mr. Peters was unable to work. Such testimony is contrary
to a finding that the individuals working on this job were selected or employed by Mr.
Peters, that Mr. Peters could have selected a worker to take his place, or that he could
instruct the other workers to perform the job in his absence. Rather, it is clear that Mr.
Mitchell made the decision whether to hire or fire a worker. When Mr. Peters inquired
6
into the June 2015 monthly service at Aurora, Mr. Mitchell told him his services were no
longer needed as it “was a mandatory crew of five, so I had to plug somebody in.” These
circumstances likewise suggest an employee-employer relationship.
As to the furnishing of tools and equipment, there is no dispute that Aurora
furnished most of the equipment used to clean its facility. The scissor lift and air hoses
were the property of Aurora and were provided for use by the crew sent by ACC. While
ACC did not provide this equipment, presumably the agreement between ACC and
Aurora was that Mr. Peters and his co-workers could utilize the equipment as required to
accomplish the assigned tasks. Mr. Mitchell implied as much in his testimony. ACC did
provide necessary personal safety equipment, such as masks and goggles. Mr. Peters was
not required to supply his own materials or tools, a factor consistent with his being an
employee.
Finally, with respect to the freedom to offer services to other entities, the record is
clear that Mr. Peters was permitted to offer his services to other employers and did so.
However, this fact is of little significance when considered in the context of this case.
Aside from working for a third person, there is no evidence that Mr. Peters offered his
services to other employers on a regular basis, bid on other jobs, or considered himself to
be an independent contractor taking discrete projects as they were offered. Moreover, the
intermittent nature of the work for ACC on the Aurora job does not by itself render Mr.
Peters an independent contractor. It is undisputed that he had worked for ACC for
approximately fifteen years, indicating the existence of a long-standing employment
relationship.
Viewing these circumstances as a whole, we conclude that the record supports the
trial court’s finding that Mr. Peters would likely prevail at trial in establishing that he was
an employee of ACC and not an independent contractor when he injured his foot.
Medical Benefits
In its notice of appeal, ACC questions “[w]hether the Court erroneously found that
the employee was entitled to additional medical treatment when causation was not
established.” In its brief filed on appeal, however, the only issue raised is whether the
trial court erred in finding that Mr. Peters was an employee. The trial court’s ruling
regarding medical benefits is not mentioned. As stated by the Tennessee Supreme Court,
“[i]t is not the role of the courts, trial or appellate, to research or construct a litigant’s
case or arguments for him or her.” Sneed v. Bd. of Prof’l Responsibility of the Sup. Ct. of
Tenn., 301 S.W.3d 603, 615 (Tenn. 2010). At this point, there is no indication in the
record that the injury did not occur as described by Mr. Peters or that his condition is
attributable to some other cause. It is undisputed that Mr. Peters informed Mr. Mitchell
of the fall on the night it occurred and mentioned his increasing difficulties on other
occasions. Moreover, the medical records contain nothing to contradict Mr. Peters’
7
account of his injury or otherwise suggest that his complaints and diagnosis of foot sprain
are inconsistent with his reported mechanism of injury.
We do note, however, that the trial court ordered ACC to authorize a return
appointment for Mr. Peters with Dr. Lord for the purpose of obtaining a causation
opinion. Although an injured worker may have a statutory right to medical benefits
assuming the applicable proof requirements are met, there is no right to a causation
opinion as such. See generally Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 50-6-204, 50-6-239(d)(1); Tenn.
Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-17-.15 (2014). If a court determines that medical benefits are
appropriate, the court can order the initiation of such benefits and the parties may ask the
physician to address causation should they choose to do so. As we have previously
observed, it is each party’s responsibility to secure expert opinions or other evidence
necessary to meet any applicable burden of proof. Arciga v. AtWork Pers. Serv., No.
2015-02-0217, 2016 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *8-9 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp.
App. Bd. Feb. 2, 2016); Pool v. Jarmon D&Q Transp., No. 2015-06-0510, 2016 TN Wrk.
Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 1, at *9-10 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. Jan. 4, 2016). The
trial court’s order is modified accordingly.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we hold that the evidence does not preponderate against
the trial court’s decision at this interlocutory stage of the case. Nor does the trial court’s
decision violate any of the standards set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-
217(a)(3). Accordingly, the trial court’s decision is affirmed as modified. The case is
remanded for any further proceedings that may be necessary.
8
TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD
James Peters ) Docket No. 2015-02-0209
)
v. )
) State File No. 49650-2015
Jonathan Mitchell d/b/a )
A Clean Connection, LLC, et al. )
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Appeals Board’s decision in the
referenced case was sent to the following recipients by the following methods of service
on this the 8th day of February, 2016.
Name Certified First Class Via Fax Via Email Address
Mail Mail Fax Number Email
James Peters X X jpeters-1305@hotmail.com,
1812 Lamont Street
Kingsport, TN 37664
Michael L. Haynie X mhaynie@manierherod.com
Brian Addington, X Via Electronic Mail
Judge
Kenneth M. Switzer, X Via Electronic Mail
Chief Judge
Penny Shrum, Clerk, X Penny.Patterson-Shrum@tn.gov
Court of Workers’
Compensation Claims
Jeanette Baird
Deputy Clerk, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
220 French Landing Dr., Ste. 1-B
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: 615-253-0064
Electronic Mail: Jeanette.Baird@tn,gov