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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:72px; margin-right:24px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">United States of America</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:72px; margin-right:24px; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:72px; margin-right:24px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">1120 20th Street, N.W., Ninth Floor</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; margin-left:72px; margin-right:24px; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Washington, DC 20036-3457</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">SECRETARY OF LABOR,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Complainant,</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">v.</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">
								</span>OSHRC Docket No.<span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
									</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">19-0265</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">WARZALA CONSTRUCTION</span></p>
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							<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:center; "><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Respondent.</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; "><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">DECISION AND ORDER</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Attorneys and Law firms</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">For Complainant: Stephanie D. Adams, Esq., Trial Attorney, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor,<span>
					</span>Cleveland, OH</p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">For Respondent: Kevin P. Murphy, Esq.,<span>
					</span>Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, Ltd.,<span>
					</span>Warren, OH</p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">BEFORE: John B. Gatto, United States Administrative Law Judge</p>
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				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">I.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">INTRODUCTION</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">The United States Department of Labor, through its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), investigated the death of Scott Stone, a worker at the site of a waste transfer facility located in Warren, Ohio. Following that investigation, OSHA determined Stone was employed by Respondent, sole proprietor Richard<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>d/b/a<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>Construction<span><span></span>
					</span>(“Warzala”),<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref1" href="#ftn1">1</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>and issued two citations to<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>on January 29, 2019, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the “Act”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref2" href="#ftn2">2</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Citation 1 asserted<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>committed a serious<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref3" href="#ftn3">3</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1926.760(a)(1), one of OSHA’s fall protection standards. Citation 2 asserted<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>committed<span>
					</span>an<span><span></span>
					</span>other-than-serious violation of 29 C.F.R. § 1904.39(a)(1), for failing to report the death of an employee to OSHA within eight hours.<span>
					</span>After<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>timely contested the citations, the<span>
					</span>Complainant,<span><span></span>
					</span>Secretary<span>
					</span>of Labor<span>
					</span>filed a formal complaint with the Commission seeking an order affirming the citations<span><span></span>
					</span>and proposed penalties.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref4" href="#ftn4">4</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>A<span>
					</span>bench trial<span>
					</span>was held in Cleveland, Ohio.<span><span></span>
					</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The Court finds that at all relevant times<span>
						</span></span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was engaged in a business affecting commerce and was an employer within the meaning of sections 3(3) and 3(5) of the OSH Act.<span>
						</span></span>(Compl. ¶¶ 2(a), 3(a); Answer ¶¶ 2, 4;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Joint Status Report (“JSR”) ¶¶<span>
					</span>(c)(1)-(4)). Pursuant to Commission Rule 90, after hearing and carefully considering all the evidence and the arguments of counsel, the Court issues this Decision and Order<span><span></span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">as its findings of fact and conclusions of law</span>, which constitutes its final disposition of the proceedings.<span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">All arguments not expressly addressed have nevertheless been considered and rejected.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref5" href="#ftn5">5</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">F</span>or the reasons indicated<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">infra</span>, the Court<span>
					</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VACATES<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">the citation</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>without civil penalty assessment</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">s</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
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				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">II.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">BACKGROUND</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">A.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Warzala</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>is a sole proprietorship owned by Richard<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>whose principal place of business<span>
					</span>is located in<span><span></span>
					</span>Warren, Ohio. (JSR ¶<span>
					</span>(c)(2)).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>has been in the construction industry since 1985. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>80). Regular jobs for<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>include residential remodels and renovations, flooring, concrete work, and, at least at some point in the past, roofing. (Tr. 58, 61-62).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had at least<span>
					</span>two<span><span></span>
					</span>employees at the<span>
					</span>time relevant to this proceeding:<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>two “laborers” named Wally Weaver and Joe Bush.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref6" href="#ftn6">6</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>77-78).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>assigned Bush and Weaver tasks such as<span><span></span>
					</span>“clean[ing]<span>
					</span>up, unload[ing], basically whatever needed done labor-wise.”<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref7" href="#ftn7">7</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>77).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>paid both employees weekly at an hourly rate.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>55, 77-78).<span><span></span>
					</span>Weaver<span><span></span>
					</span>was paid $12<span><span></span>
					</span>an hour while<span>
					</span>Bush<span><span></span>
					</span>was paid $13<span><span></span>
					</span>an hour<span><span></span>
					</span>because he “was there a little longer.”<span><span></span>
					</span>(<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span>)<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>completed<span><span></span>
					</span>a W-2 for Bush and Weaver. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>55, 77).</p>
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				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">B.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Stone and<span>
					</span></span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Warzala</span></p>
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				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>met Stone at some point in 2018<span>
					</span>through a mutual friend. (Tr. 55). At the time, Stone was<span>
					</span>working<span><span></span>
					</span>at the friend’s house. (Tr. 55-56).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>asked the friend if Stone could work for other people. (Tr. 58). Stone thereafter started doing work for<span>
					</span>Warzala. (<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span>).<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>assigned Stone tasks<span>
					</span>similar to<span><span></span>
					</span>those he assigned his other “laborers,” Bush and Weaver, including raking, cleaning up, and other “odd jobs.”<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr.<span>
					</span>22,<span>
					</span>77).<span><span></span>
					</span>For example, in 2018,<span>
					</span>Stone<span>
					</span>assisted<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>with<span><span></span>
					</span>a bathroom remodel and<span>
					</span>a<span>
					</span>full residence remodel. (Tr. 58, 80-81).<span><span></span>
					</span>Stone did not require any tools or special expertise for the jobs assigned to him by<span>
					</span>Warzala. (Tr. 72).<span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Like he did for Bush and Weaver,<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>paid Stone<span>
					</span>weekly at a rate of $12 an hour. (Tr. 60, 71-72, 107). Because Stone did not have a driver’s license,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>also drove Stone to and from the<span>
					</span>sites of the<span>
					</span>various projects<span>
					</span>where he worked, dropping him off at 7:30 in the morning and picking him up at 3:30 in the afternoon. (Tr. 59).<span>
					</span>For<span>
					</span>Stone’s jobs with<span>
					</span>Warzala,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>knew how much to pay Stone each week because he drove him to each site and thus knew the number of hours he worked. (Tr. 75, 109-10).<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not withhold any taxes from Stone’s weekly paychecks, nor did he offer him any employment benefits. (Tr. 81-82, 106;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. R-E).<span><span></span>
					</span>Stone worked on other jobs with which<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had no involvement. For example,<span>
					</span>Stone<span><span></span>
					</span>had a gutter cleaning job in Austintown, Ohio and another<span><span></span>
					</span>job<span><span></span>
					</span>doing gutter cleaning and roof repair for an individual named Anthony<span>
					</span>Tountas. (Tr. 69-70, 89-91). Although<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>drove Stone to the job with<span>
					</span>Tountas, he did not do so for the job in Austintown. (<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span>).</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">C.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Environmental Transfer Building Project</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">The building where Stone’s death occurred is called the “Environmental Transfer Station” (“ETS”) and<span>
					</span>is located in<span><span></span>
					</span>Warren, Ohio. (Tr. 91;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-2,<span><span></span>
					</span>Ex. C-6, Ex. C-8). The building functions as a waste transfer facility, where the City of Warren and other entities<span><span></span>
					</span>bring their garbage to be loaded onto semi-trucks and hauled to a landfill. (Tr. 91). The building itself is owned by an individual named Gil<span>
					</span>Reiger, while an individual named Rick Jones runs the waste<span>
					</span>transfer business from the building. (<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span>).<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>has known Jones his whole life and frequently did construction work for him. (Tr. 62).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">At some point<span>
					</span>before 2018,<span>
					</span>Jones contacted<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>about replacing the metal roofing on the ETS. (Tr. 63;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-10).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>initially accepted the job, and<span>
					</span>Jones purchased the replacement<span>
					</span>roofing<span><span></span>
					</span>for it. (Tr. 63,<span>
					</span>93,<span>
					</span>96;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-9). However,<span><span></span>
					</span>for reasons unclear from the record,<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not do any work<span>
					</span>in furtherance of<span><span></span>
					</span>the roof replacement for about a year. (Tr. 63, 93).<span><span></span>
					</span>At some point<span>
					</span>thereafter<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>and Jones discussed the roof replacement,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>separately<span>
					</span>contracted with Jones to pour concrete at the ETS.<span>
					</span>(Tr. 61).<span>
					</span>Stone worked on this job with<span>
					</span>Warzala, as did an individual named Norman<span><span></span>
					</span>Miller. (Tr. 93-94).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>and Miller had an extensive history, having worked together on approximately 500 projects over six years. (Tr. 70-71).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not consider Miller to be an employee and<span><span></span>
					</span>completed<span><span></span>
					</span>a 1099 for him, rather than a W-2. (Tr. 80-83;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Ex. R-F).<span><span></span>
					</span>He did not extend any employment benefits to Miller. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>81-83).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">While doing<span><span></span>
					</span>the<span><span></span>
					</span>concrete work<span>
					</span>at the ETS<span>
					</span>with<span>
					</span>Warzala, Miller saw the metal roofing and inquired about the<span>
					</span>roof<span><span></span>
					</span>replacement<span><span></span>
					</span>job.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 93-94).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>told Miller he could “have the job,”<span>
					</span>but<span>
					</span>that he’d<span><span></span>
					</span>“have to take it and okay it with Rick Jones.” (Tr. 94).<span>
					</span>Thereafter,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>arranged a meeting with<span><span></span>
					</span>Jones and Miller to discuss the job. (Tr. 94).<span>
					</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The result of that meeting was a “handshake deal”</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">between<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and Jones</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>for Miller to take on the roof replacement job</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 40-41). Jones gave Miller a key to access the<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ETS<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">building. (</span><span style="font-style:italic; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">).</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>did not have a key or other access to the building. (Tr. 100).</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Jones supplied the metal decking to replace the roof as well as a scissor lift that was onsite to access the roof. (Tr. 43-44, 94). For his part,<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>provided a welder and a generator. (Tr. 43-44, 68, 97-98, 108-09). No payment arrangement for the roofing job was ever discussed at this meeting. (Tr. 43, 109)</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. After this initial meeting,<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>had no further involvement with the roofing job</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. He had no role in any payment<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">between Jones and Miller</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and did not set the schedule for Miller and Stone to work or complete the job</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">. (Tr.</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>95</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 100</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">After Miller had taken on the<span><span></span>
					</span>roofing job, Stone asked<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>if he<span>
					</span>also<span>
					</span>could also work on it.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref8" href="#ftn8">8</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 95).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>told Stone it was Miller’s job,<span><span></span>
					</span>and Stone<span><span></span>
					</span>would have to<span>
					</span>discuss it with him. (<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span>). Miller agreed to<span>
					</span>let<span><span></span>
					</span>Stonework<span><span></span>
					</span>on<span><span></span>
					</span>the job<span><span></span>
					</span>because he had “12 years in the roofing<span>
					</span>business.”<span><span></span>
					</span>(<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span>). As he did for Stone with his other jobs,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>drove Stone to the ETS<span><span></span>
					</span>on the days he worked there.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref9" href="#ftn9">9</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>102).</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">D.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">The Accident</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
					</span></span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">and OSHA Inspection</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">On the Friday after Thanksgiving in 2018, Stone and Miller were working on the roof of the ETS,<span><span></span>
					</span>tearing off the old metal roofing. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>96;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, p. 25<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref10" href="#ftn10">10</a></span>). Neither was wearing any form of fall protection. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>19-21;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, p. 25). At some point,<span>
					</span>“[r]ather<span><span></span>
					</span>than walking on the new metal<span>
					</span>roofing,<span><span></span>
					</span>which was being installed, [Stone] stepped out onto the old roofing. The old metal roofing was highly<span>
					</span>deteriorated[,] and he fell through to the concrete floor below[,]”<span>
					</span>a distance of nearly thirty feet. (Ex. C-1, p. 25). Stone<span>
					</span>died<span>
					</span>as a result of<span><span></span>
					</span>his fall. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>20-21, 72;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, pp. 52-60, 76-77). Miller called<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>to inform him of the accident. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>72).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not inform<span><span></span>
					</span>OSHA<span><span></span>
					</span>of Stone’s death. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>19, 32). However, an<span><span></span>
					</span>OSHA Compliance<span>
					</span>Officer’s father read Stone’s obituary and reported the<span><span></span>
					</span>accident<span><span></span>
					</span>to that<span>
					</span>Compliance<span>
					</span>Officer. (Tr. 32;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, pp. 76-77). That<span>
					</span>Compliance<span>
					</span>Officer<span><span></span>
					</span>then<span>
					</span>referred the case to<span>
					</span>the area<span>
					</span>OSHA<span><span></span>
					</span>office, which<span><span></span>
					</span>assigned<span>
					</span>Compliance<span>
					</span>Officer<span><span></span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>to investigate. (Tr. 32).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; widows:0; orphans:0; ">Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>investigated<span><span></span>
					</span>the worksite on December 3, 2018,<span><span></span>
					</span>accompanied by a representative<span>
					</span>from<span><span></span>
					</span>the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation<span><span></span>
					</span>(“BWC”). (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>32,<span>
					</span>33-34;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, pp. 24-25). The BWC representative measured the height of Stone’s fall, which<span>
					</span>was<span><span></span>
					</span>about 30 feet. (Tr. 19,<span>
					</span>24,<span>
					</span>33-34).<span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>interviewed Miller and Jones. (Tr. 30, 33-34).<span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>determined<span>
					</span>Stone had not been using any form of fall protection while working on the ETS roof. (Tr. 19-21;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, p. 25).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Because Stone’s obituary reported him to be an employee of<span>
					</span>Warzala,<span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>tracked down<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>for an interview. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>34;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, pp. 76-77).<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>told<span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>roofing<span>
					</span>job was Miller’s,<span>
					</span>not his. (Tr. 39;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, p. 25). Over the course of his interview, however,<span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>asked a series of questions concerning the<span>
					</span>work<span>
					</span>relationship between Stone and<span>
					</span>Warzala. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>19-20, 42-43;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, p. 25).<span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>ultimately determined Stone was<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee<span><span></span>
					</span>and recommended the issuance of<span>
					</span>the two citations<span>
					</span>at issue.<span>
					</span>(<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span>).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="page-break-before:page; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "></span> </p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">III.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
					</span></span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">ANALYSIS</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">The fundamental objective of the Act is to prevent occupational deaths and serious injuries.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Whirlpool Corp. v. Marshall</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 445 U.S. 1, 11 (1980). The Act “establishes a comprehensive regulatory scheme designed ‘to assure so far as possible safe and healthful working conditions’ for ‘every working man and woman in the Nation.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">’ ”</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Martin v. Occupational Safety & Health Review Comm'n</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 499 U.S. 144, 147 (1991) (</span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">quoting</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>29 U.S.C. § 651(b)). “The Act charges the Secretary with responsibility for setting and enforcing workplace health and safety standards.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">To achieve this purpose, the Act imposes two duties on an employer: a “general duty” to provide to “each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees,” </span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1)</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">; and a specific duty to comply with all applicable occupational safety and health standards promulgated under the Act.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">§ 654(a)(2)</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">. Pursuant to that authority, the standards at issue in this case were promulgated.<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">“The Secretary establishes these standards through the exercise of rulemaking powers.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>29 U.S.C. § 665. Meanwhile, the Commission is assigned to carry out adjudicatory functions under the Act and serves “as a neutral arbiter and determine whether the Secretary's citations should be enforced over employee or union objections.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cuyahoga Valley Ry. Co. v. United Transp. Union</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 474 U.S. 3, 7 (1985) (per<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">curiam</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Under the law of the Sixth Circuit where this case arose,<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref11" href="#ftn11">11</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>to establish a<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">violation</span><span><span></span>
					</span>of a<span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">health<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">or<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">safety<span>
						</span></span>standard under<span>
					</span>the Act,<span>
					</span>“the Secretary must show by a preponderance of the evidence that (1) the cited<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">standard</span><span><span></span>
					</span>applies to the facts, (2) the requirements of the<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_cosearchterm style_cosearchterm " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">standard</span><span><span></span>
					</span>were not met, (3) employees had access to the hazardous condition, and (4) the employer knew or could have known of the hazardous condition with the exercise of reasonable diligence.”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Carlisle Equip. Co. v. U.S. Sec’y of Labor & Occupational Safety</span>, 24 F.3d 790, 792 (6th Cir. 1994).<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>has<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">not contested any elements of the Secretary’s<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">prima facie<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">case. Rather,<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">its<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">case rests on its contention that Stone was not an “employee” as defined by the Act.<span>
						</span></span>(JSR ¶ (b)).</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">A.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Alleged Violations</span></p>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">1.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Citation 1</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Citation 1 alleges<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>violated 29 C.F.R. § 1926.760(a)(1)<span>
					</span>when its<span>
					</span>“employees engaged in steel erection activities were not protected from fall hazards as required. Employees were exposed to a fall of approximately 30 feet while engaged in metal roofing tear off and application.”<span><span></span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Compl</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., Ex. A.) </span>The cited standard<span>
					</span>mandates that “each employee engaged in a steel erection activity who is on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet (4.6 m) above a lower level shall be protected from fall hazards by guardrail systems, safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems or fall restraint systems.”<span>
					</span>29 C.F.R. § 1926.760(a)(1).</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">2.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Citation 2</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Citation 2 alleges<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>violated 29 C.F.R. § 1904.39(a)(1)<span>
					</span>when it<span>
					</span>“failed to report the fatality of an employee.”<span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Compl</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">., Ex. A.) </span>The cited standard<span>
					</span>mandates that<span>
					</span>“[w]ithin<span><span></span>
					</span>eight (8) hours after the death of any employee as a result of a work-related incident, you must report the fatality to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor.”<span><span></span>
					</span>29 C.F.R. § 1904.39(a)(1).</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-.635cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">B.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">Covered E</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">mployer</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As a condition precedent to citing<span>
					</span>Warzala, the Secretary must show<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>was an employer within the meaning of the Act.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See All Star Realty Co., Inc.</span>, 24 BNA OSHC 1356, 1358 (No. 12-1597, 2014) (“[T]he Secretary has the burden of proving that a cited company is the employer of the affected workers at the site”) (<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">citing Allstate Painting & Contracting Co.</span>, 21 BNA OSHC 1033, 1035 (No. 97-1631, 2005) (consolidated)).<span><span></span>
					</span>Here, the Act defines employer as “a person engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees.” 29 U.S.C. § 652(5).<span>
					</span>“Employee”<span>
					</span>is defined<span>
					</span>as “an employee of an employer who is employed in a business of his employer which affects commerce.” 29 U.S.C. § 652(6). As the Commission noted, this definition is “unhelpfully circular.”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Don Davis</span>, 19 BNA OSHC 1477, 1480 (No. 96-1378, 2001).<span><span></span>
					</span>“[W]hen Congress has used the term ‘employee’ without defining it, we have concluded that Congress intended to describe the conventional master-servant relationship as understood by common-law agency doctrine.”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cmty</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">. for Creative Non-Violence v. Reid</span>, 490 U.S. 730, 739-40 (1989).<span><span></span>
					</span>Thus,<span>
					</span>“[i]n determining whether the Secretary has established that a cited entity is the employer of the particular workers at issue, the Commission relies upon the test set forth in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company v. Darden</span>, 503 U.S. 318 (1992).”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sharon & Walter Constr., Inc.</span>, 23 BNA OSHC 1286, 1289 (No. 00-1402, 2010)).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">In<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span>, the Supreme Court held that<span>
					</span>“[i]n determining whether a hired party is an employee under the general common law of agency, we consider the hiring party's right to control the manner and means by which the product is accomplished.”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span>,<span>
					</span>503 U.S. at 323 (<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">quot</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ation omitted</span>).<span>
					</span>The<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Court held<span>
					</span>“[a]mong<span><span></span>
					</span>the other factors relevant to this inquiry are the skill required; the source of the instrumentalities and tools; the location of the work; the duration of the relationship between the parties; whether the hiring party has the right to assign additional projects to the hired party; the extent of the hired party's discretion over when and how long to work; the method of payment; the hired party's role in hiring and paying assistants; whether the work is part of the regular business of the hiring party; whether the hiring party is in business; the provision of employee benefits; and the tax treatment of the hired party.”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span>,<span>
					</span>503 U.S. at 323-24)<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">T</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">his “common-law test contains no shorthand formula or magic phrase that can be applied to find the answer, ... all of the incidents of the relationship must be assessed and weighed with no one factor being decisive.</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">”</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "> </span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">,<span>
						</span></span>503 U.S.<span>
					</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">at 324 (ellipsis in original)</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>(<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">quot</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">ation omitted</span>).</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">First, the Court finds that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not exercise so much control over the manner and means of<span>
					</span>Stone’s work at the<span>
					</span>ETS job<span><span></span>
					</span>as to render him an employee.<span>
					</span>The<span>
					</span>Secretary<span>
					</span>asserts that<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>“controlled all aspects of the [ETS] project, determining who would work on the project, the schedule for the work and the tools to be used.” (Sec’y’s Br. 8). The Court<span>
					</span>finds no merit in<span>
					</span>the Secretary’s assertion.<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>testified, without contradiction,<span><span></span>
					</span>that once Miller took over the job after meeting with Jones,<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had no further involvement in the day-to-day of the job. (Tr. 95, 100).<span>
					</span>The Secretary argues “[a]lthough<span><span></span>
					</span>Mr. Stone did not need direct supervision, Mr.<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>told him what to do, where to do it and he did it.” (Sec’y’s Br. 9).<span>
					</span>However, the portion of<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>testimony cited by the Secretary for this assertion was extremely general, and the line of questioning related only to the jobs for which Stone worked directly for<span>
					</span>Warzala. (Tr. 59-60).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">With regard to<span><span></span>
					</span>the ETS job,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>specifically testified that Stone had to make any arrangements with Miller, not<span>
					</span>Warzala. (Tr. 95).<span><span></span>
					</span>Indeed,<span>
					</span>Jones gave Miller, not<span>
					</span>Warzala,<span>
					</span>the key to access the ETS building and complete the work.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 66-67). When Stone approached<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>about possibly working on the ETS job,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>told him it was Miller’s job and Stone would<span>
					</span>have to<span>
					</span>ask him to work on it.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 95).<span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary cites no support in the record, and the Court finds none, for his assertion that “Miller was told by Mr.<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>to complete the transfer station job with Mr. Stone.” (Sec’y’s Br. 9).<span><span></span>
					</span>Thus, the Court does not find the record supports the level of control<span>
					</span>the Secretary<span><span></span>
					</span>alleges.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref12" href="#ftn12">12</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">The preponderant evidence establishes that while<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had initially contracted for the roofing job at the ETS building, this job was eventually given to Miller. (Tr. 39-41, 67-68, 94). After Miller took the job from<span>
					</span>Warzala,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had no further involvement in the project, including any supervision over Stone on the day-to-day of the project. (Tr. 95, 100).<span>
					</span>Thus,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>retained no “right to control the manner and means by which the ETS roofing job was accomplished.”<span><span></span>
					</span>This finding heavily weighs<span>
					</span>in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:0cm; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Turning next<span>
					</span>to the<span>
					</span>nonexhaustive<span><span></span>
					</span>list of twelve additional factors set forth in<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span>, the majority support the conclusion that Stone<span>
					</span>was an independent contractor. First, regarding<span>
					</span>“the skill required,”<span><span></span>
					</span>where a hired party provides highly specialized labor<span><span></span>
					</span>to a hiring party,<span>
					</span>this factor weighs in favor of independent contractor status.<span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weary v. Cochran,</span> 377 F.3d 522, 527 (6th Cir.<span><span></span>
					</span>2004).<span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>Here, there is no dispute that the work Stone was doing was not<span>
					</span>performing highly specialized work,<span>
					</span>mainly providing<span><span></span>
					</span>labor to remove the metal decking from the ETS roof.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 96;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Ex. C-1, p. 25). As the Secretary also points out, the other work Stone performed for<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>consisted of unskilled manual labor<span>
					</span>similar to<span><span></span>
					</span>the work performed by<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>two other<span>
					</span>employees,<span>
					</span>Bush,<span><span></span>
					</span>and Weaver. (Tr. 72, 77;<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span>Sec’y’s Br. 10).<span><span></span>
					</span>This factor<span>
					</span>weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Second, as to “the source of the instrumentalities and tools,”<span>
					</span>a<span><span></span>
					</span>hired party supplying<span>
					</span>all of<span><span></span>
					</span>his own tools<span>
					</span>supports his<span>
					</span>status as an independent contractor, but if the hiring party supplies or owns the tools, this<span><span></span>
					</span>factor<span><span></span>
					</span>favors finding<span><span></span>
					</span>the hired party is an employee.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing & Constr., Inc. v. Sec’y of Labor</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 580 F.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">App’x</span><span style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>357, 361 (6th Cir. 2014) (unpublished)</span><span><span></span>
					</span>(citing<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Trs</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">. of Resilient Floor Decorators Ins. Fund<span>
						</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">v.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>A & M Installations, Inc.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; ">,</span> 395 F.3d 244, 250 (6th Cir.<span><span></span>
					</span>2005)).<span><span></span>
					</span>As the Secretary correctly points out, for most of the work Stone did<span><span></span>
					</span>for<span>
					</span>Warzala,<span><span></span>
					</span>like<span>
					</span>cleaning up or unloading materials,<span><span></span>
					</span>few specialized tools were required. For the ETS<span><span></span>
					</span>roofing<span><span></span>
					</span>job<span><span></span>
					</span>in particular,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>admitted to supplying at least two pieces of equipment<span><span></span>
					</span>necessary to complete the work:<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>a generator and a welder.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>20, 43-44, 68, 97-98, 108-09).<span>
					</span>Ultimately, Miller and Stone used their own generator. (Tr. 97-98).<span><span></span>
					</span>On the other hand, the<span>
					</span>replacement roofing was supplied by<span><span></span>
					</span>Jones, who also supplied<span><span></span>
					</span>a forklift necessary to complete the work.<span>
					</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">(Tr. 43-44, 94).</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Thus, on balance, this factor weighs more heavily toward the conclusion that S</span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">tone<span>
						</span></span><span style="background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">was an independent contractor than toward the conclusion that he was an employee.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As to the third factor, “the location of the work,”<span>
					</span>when a hired party regularly reports to a site owned or controlled by the hired party, or the hiring party otherwise controls the location of the work to be performed, this factor weighs in favor of finding the hired party is an employee.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 361<span><span></span>
					</span>(citing<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weary</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; ">,</span> 377 F.3d<span>
					</span>at<span><span></span>
					</span>526–27). Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not own or control the ETS worksite.<span>
					</span>The building itself was owned by an individual named Gil<span>
					</span>Reiger, while<span><span></span>
					</span>Jones<span>
					</span>ran the waste transfer business from the building. (Tr. 91). For the roofing job, only<span><span></span>
					</span>Miller had<span>
					</span>a key to access the worksite.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 40-41, 100).<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not assign Stone to work at the ETS; rather,<span>
					</span>Stone<span>
					</span>arranged with Miller to work there.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 95).<span><span></span>
					</span>This finding weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">On the other hand, the fourth factor, “the duration of the relationship between the parties,” appears to militate toward employee status<span>
					</span>in light of<span><span></span>
					</span>Stone’s<span>
					</span>relationship with<span>
					</span>Warzala, since evidence of an indefinite duration favors employee status rather than independent contractor status. <span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Absolute Roofing</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; ">, 580 F.<span>
						</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; ">App’x</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 351</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; "><span><span></span>
						</span>(</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; ">citing</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span>FM Home Improvement,</span> 22 BNA OSHC 1531,<span>
					</span>1538<span><span></span>
					</span>(No. 08-0452,<span>
					</span>2009)<span><span></span>
					</span>(ALJ)).<span><span></span>
					</span>As the Secretary points out,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>met Stone sometime in 2018 and hired him for several projects throughout that year. (Sec’y’s Br. 11).<span>
					</span>This factor weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As to the fifth factor, “whether the hiring party has the right to assign additional projects to the hired party,”<span>
					</span>a<span><span></span>
					</span>hiring party’s right to assign additional projects is indicative of the hired party’s status as an employee.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 362.<span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary argues that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had the right to assign additional duties based largely on<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>testimony that<span>
					</span>“he<span>
					</span>told [Stone] what to do and he would do it.”<span>
					</span>(Sec’y’s Br.<span>
					</span>9).<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>testimony on this point was heavily influenced by the framing of the question<span>
					</span>when<span>
					</span>he was<span>
					</span>asked, “You told [Stone] what to do and he would do it?” And<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>responded, “Correct.” (Tr. 60).<span>
					</span>However, there is nothing in the record to indicate Stone was required to accept the jobs<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>offered<span>
					</span>him.<span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cf. Absolute<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 362 (finding this factor indicated employee status where hired party received daily job assignments and could be moved around jobsites for the same employer);<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">see also<span>
						</span></span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Sharon & Walter Constr.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; ">,<span>
						</span></span>23 BNA OSHC 1286,<span>
					</span>1289<span><span></span>
					</span>(No. 00-1402,<span>
					</span>2010) (finding in part that a worker was an employee because the company required him to report back to headquarters for additional assignments if he finished his work before the end of his shift).<span><span></span>
					</span>In fact,<span><span></span>
					</span>at the time of the accident,<span>
					</span>Stone was working on at least one other job in Austintown, Ohio,<span>
					</span>with which<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had no apparent connection at all.<span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref13" href="#ftn13">13</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 89-91, 102).<span><span></span>
					</span>As to the ETS job specifically,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did not assign this job to Stone; rather, he<span>
					</span>referred<span>
					</span>Stone to<span><span></span>
					</span>Miller<span><span></span>
					</span>if he wanted the job.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 95).<span><span></span>
					</span>This finding weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Sixth, we look to “the extent of the hired party's discretion over when and how long to work”<span>
					</span>since an “independent contractor ... has complete authority over when and how long to work” while an employee’s hours are controlled by his employer.”<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 362.<span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary argues that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had control over Stone’s hours because he drove him to and from<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>various worksites and used this to calculate his hours for payment each week. (Sec’y’s Br. 8, 14). As to the ETS job itself, the Secretary further asserts that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>controlled Stone’s hours because<span>
					</span>(1)<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>told Jones the job would only be done on weekends and<span><span></span>
					</span>(2)<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>drove<span>
					</span>Stone<span><span></span>
					</span>to and from the ETS site on the days he worked there. (<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span><span></span>
					</span>at 10).<span>
					</span>The Court<span>
					</span>finds no merit in<span>
					</span>the Secretary’s<span>
					</span>arguments. Since<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>was not paying Stone for his work on the ETS<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 95), the Court does not find it particularly relevant as to how<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>kept track of Stone’s hours for the projects<span>
					</span>that<span>
					</span>Stone<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">was</span><span><span></span>
					</span>working for<span>
					</span>Warzala. While<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>did indicate to Jones that Miller and Stone would only be working on the ETS roofing job on weekends, he also testified that on those days he had no control over when or how many hours the two<span>
					</span>actually worked. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>95-100). This is not the sort of control over<span>
					</span>an employee’s<span>
					</span>hours contemplated by<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span>.<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Cf. Weary</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-style:normal; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-style:normal; ">,</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>377 F.3d at 527 (finding in part that, because the hired party controlled his hours and was “free to take vacation at his leisure and did not report his hours to anyone,” the hired party was an independent contractor).<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>Further,<span>
					</span>the Court finds no merit in<span>
					</span>the Secretary’s assertion<span>
					</span>that<span>
					</span>when<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>drove Stone to and from the ETS site on the days he worked there,<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>had<span>
					</span>control over Stone’s hours on those days.<span><span></span>
					</span>This finding weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As to the seventh factor, “the method of payment,”<span>
					</span>payment<span>
					</span>on a commission basis is indicative of<span>
					</span>a hired party’s status as an independent contractor while a set hourly rate weighs in favor of employment status.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 363.<span>
					</span>With regard to<span><span></span>
					</span>this factor, the Secretary emphasizes that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>paid Stone weekly at a rate of $12 an hour for his work. (Sec’y’s Br.<span><span></span>
					</span>13-14). While this may have been true of some of the work Stone performed for<span>
					</span>Warzala, there is simply no evidence to rebut<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>testimony that this payment arrangement did not apply to the ETS roofing job. (Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>95, 100).<span>
					</span>This finding weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As to<span>
					</span>the eighth factor, “the hired party's role in hiring and paying assistants,”<span>
					</span>a<span><span></span>
					</span>hired party’s ability<span>
					</span>and<span><span></span>
					</span>discretion to hire and fire his own assistants is indicative of independent contractor status, whereas a hired party’s<span><span></span>
					</span>lack of authority to hire or fire anyone is indicative of employee status.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 381<span><span></span>
					</span>(citing<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weary,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>377 F.3d at 527).<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>There was no evidence adduced to suggest<span>
					</span>Stone<span>
					</span>was allowed to<span><span></span>
					</span>hire<span>
					</span>or fire assistants<span><span></span>
					</span>or had any authority to do so.<span><span></span>
					</span>This<span><span></span>
					</span>factor<span><span></span>
					</span>weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As to the ninth and tenth factors, “whether the work is part of the regular business of the hiring party” and “whether the hiring party is in business,”<span>
					</span>where a hiring party is in business and<span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>hired party's<span>
					</span>work<span>
					</span>is part of the hiring party’s regular business, this<span><span></span>
					</span>factor<span><span></span>
					</span>favors a finding that the<span>
					</span>worker<span>
					</span>is an employee.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Weary</span>, 377 F.3d<span>
					</span>at 528.<span>
					</span>There is no material dispute that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>was generally in the business of construction or that<span>
					</span>many of the tasks Stone performed on behalf of<span>
					</span>Warzala, like helping with home remodels,<span><span></span>
					</span>were part of<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>regular business<span><span></span>
					</span>of construction work. While<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>disputes<span><span></span>
					</span>he was in the business of roofing,<span><span></span>
					</span>which was the work being performed at the ETS, and<span>
					</span>he<span>
					</span>testified he<span>
					</span>did not typically engage in roofing activities, he also testified that it was work he had done in the past. (Resp’t’s<span><span></span>
					</span>Br. ¶¶ 4, 43;<span>
					</span>Tr.<span><span></span>
					</span>62-62, 99).<span><span></span>
					</span>Indeed, he had originally accepted the ETS roofing job from Jones before ultimately giving it to Miller. (Tr. 63, 93, 96). Thus, the Court finds roofing was part of<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>regular business.<span><span></span>
					</span>These<span><span></span>
					</span>factors<span><span></span>
					</span>weighs<span><span></span>
					</span>in favor of finding Stone was an employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">As to the eleventh factor, “the provision of employee benefits,”<span>
					</span>provision of employee benefits is indicative of a<span>
					</span>hired party’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee status.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 361.<span><span></span>
					</span>The Secretary has not<span>
					</span>rebutted<span><span></span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>testimony that he provided no employee benefits to Stone.<span><span></span>
					</span>(Tr. 81-82).<span><span></span>
					</span>This finding weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.<span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">The twelfth, and final, additional factor from the<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span><span><span></span>
					</span>list is “the tax treatment of the hired party.”<span>
					</span>An employer’s tax treatment of a<span>
					</span>hired party<span><span></span>
					</span>as an independent contractor (by filing a form 1099 instead of a<span><span></span>
					</span>W-2)<span>
					</span>also<span>
					</span>weighs against finding the<span>
					</span>party<span><span></span>
					</span>is an employee.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Absolute Roofing</span>, 580 F.<span>
					</span>App’x<span><span></span>
					</span>at 361.<span>
					</span>The Secretary does not dispute<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>evidence that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>treated Stone as an independent contractor for tax purposes.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See<span>
						</span></span>Ex.<span>
					</span>R-E.<span>
					</span>However, the Secretary does<span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span>argue that<span>
					</span>“Mr.<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>simply issued a 1099 to Mr. Stone after his death in an effort to deny an employment relationship.” (Sec’y’s Br. 14). The only evidence the Secretary cites in support of this assertion is the following exchange at<span>
					</span>trial<span>
					</span>between<span><span></span>
					</span>Compliance<span>
					</span>Officer<span><span></span>
					</span>Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>and the Secretary’s attorney:</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; ">Q<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Did you ask Mr.<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>how Mr. Stone was paid?</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; ">A<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Yes.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; ">Q<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Do you recall the response?</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:144px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-right:48px; ">A<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>I believe he said he had given him checks a few times and he was paid hourly depending on what work he was doing.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; ">Q<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Did you ask Mr.<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>if he had issued a 1099 for Mr. Stone?</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; ">A<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>I did.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:96px; margin-right:48px; ">Q<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>And what<span>
					</span>was<span><span></span>
					</span>his response?</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; margin-left:144px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-right:48px; ">A<span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>I would have to<span>
					</span>refer back<span><span></span>
					</span>to my notes, but I don’t think he had completed one.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; ">(Tr. 21). Grakauskas<span><span></span>
					</span>then read from his notes that<span>
					</span>Warzala<span><span></span>
					</span>“never had him fill out a 1099” but he “did give him his Social for the end of the year.” (Tr. 22).<span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">The<span>
					</span>Court finds no merit in the<span>
					</span>Secretary’s assertion that<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>issuance of a 1099 for Stone was done “in an effort to deny an employment relationship”<span>
					</span>and<span><span></span>
					</span>his implicit assertion that the timing of<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>issuance of a 1099 for Stone was somehow irregular.<span>
					</span>Under the Internal Revenue Code, “[i]n connection with payments to ‘independent contractors,’ employers only have to send annual information returns, on Form 1099 to the workers and on Forms 1096 and 1099 to the IRS, indicating the income paid [to the independent contractor] during the year.”<span>
					</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">Hosp. Res. Pers., Inc. v. United States,</span> 68 F.3d 421, 424 (11th Cir. 1995).<span><span></span>
					</span>Forms 1099 and 1096 are required when the “salaries, wages, commissions fees, and other forms of compensation for services<span>
					</span>rendered<span>
					</span>aggregat[es] $600 or more.” 26 C.F.R. § 1.6041–1(a)(1)(i)(A).<span>
					</span>Thus, there<span><span></span>
					</span>is nothing<span>
					</span>unusual about filing a 1099 after the end of a calendar year.<span><span></span>
					</span>Additionally, the Court notes that the payments reflected in Stone’s 1099 did not reflect any payments made for the ETS job. (Tr. 82).<span><span></span>
					</span>This finding weighs in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">Lastly,<span>
					</span>the Court<span>
					</span>considers<span><span></span>
					</span>the “economic realities” of the relationship between Stone<span>
					</span>and<span>
					</span>Warzala.<span>
					</span><span style="font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; ">See Wilde</span>, 15 F.3d at 105. Most aspects of this issue have already been addressed in the discussion above, but<span>
					</span>the Court<span>
					</span>further notes<span><span></span>
					</span>the lack of any leave or vacation policy and observes<span><span></span>
					</span>that<span>
					</span>the Secretary proffered no evidence that<span>
					</span>the<span>
					</span>working relationship<span>
					</span>could<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>be terminated at will by either party.<span>
					</span>Both of these<span><span></span>
					</span>factors weigh in favor of independent contractor status.</p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">IV.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
					</span></span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">CONCLUSION</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; text-indent:1.27cm; ">In summary, then, on the general issue of control,<span>
					</span>this factor<span>
					</span>weighs heavily in favor of finding Stone was<span>
					</span>not<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.<span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">Of the twelve additional </span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_Emphasis style_Emphasis " style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-style:italic; font-size:12.5pt; ">Darden</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; "> factors,</span><span><span></span>
					</span>seven<span>
					</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">count in favor of independent contractor status</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>and five<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">count toward employee status</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">Finally, to the limited extent that the economic realities of S</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">tone’s</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>working relationship with<span>
						</span></span>Warzala<span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; ">are not reflected in the analysis of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span><span style="font-size:12.5pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:12.5pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>factors, they support the view that he was an independent contractor.</span><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><a name="ftnref14" href="#ftn14">14</a></span><span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>The Court therefore<span>
					</span>concludes<span><span></span>
					</span>Stone<span>
					</span>was an independent contractor, and<span>
					</span>therefore,<span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span>the<span><span></span>
					</span>Secretary has failed to establish by a preponderance of evidence<span>
					</span>that<span>
					</span>Stone was<span>
					</span>Warzala’s<span><span></span>
					</span>employee.<span><span></span>
					</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Accordingly,</span><span><span></span>
					</span></p>
			</div>
			<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_ListParagraph style_ListParagraph " style="margin-left:72px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; margin-left:48px; text-indent:-1.27cm; margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:center; ">
				<span style="font-weight:bold; padding-right:20px;">V.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">ORDER</span></p>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT<span>
						</span></span>both citations<span><span></span>
					</span>are<span><span></span>
					</span><span style="font-weight:bold; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">VACATED</span><span><span></span>
					</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">and no civil penalt</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">ies are<span>
						</span></span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">assessed</span>.</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; "><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; ">SO</span><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
						</span>ORDERED</span><span style="color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">.</span><span style="font-weight:bold; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:bold; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; margin-left:240px; text-indent:1.27cm; "><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;">/s/</span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span><span style="text-decoration:underline ;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; text-decoration:underline ;"><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1.5; margin-left:240px; text-indent:1.27cm; ">First Judge John B. Gatto</p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_NoSpacing style_NoSpacing "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">Dated: </span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">November 1</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">6</span><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; ">, 2020<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_NoSpacing style_NoSpacing "><span style="font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman; color:#000000; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-family:Calibri; font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; "><span style="mso-tab-count:1">  </span>Washington, D.C.<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<hr/>"
      <div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn-1" href="#ftnref-1"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; ">
					<a name="ftn0" href="#ftnref0"></a> </p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn1" href="#ftnref1"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">1 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>In Ohio, “[a] sole proprietorship has no legal identity separate from that of the individual who owns it.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Patterson v. V & M Auto Body</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">, 589 N.E.2d 1306, 1308 (Ohio 1992).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn2" href="#ftnref2"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">2 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Secretary of Labor has assigned responsibility for enforcement of the Act to OSHA and has delegated his authority under the Act to the Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health, who heads OSHA. See Order No. 4–2010 (75 FR 55355), as superseded in relevant part by 1–2012 (77 FR 3912). The Assistant Secretary has redelegated his authority to OSHA’s Area Directors to issue citations and proposed penalties.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>29 C.F.R. §§ 1903.14(a) and 1903.15(a). The terms “Secretary” and “OSHA” are used interchangeably herein.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn3" href="#ftnref3"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">3 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The Act contemplates various grades of violations of the statute and its attendant regulations— “willful”; “repeated”; “serious”; and those determined “not to be of a serious nature” (referred to by the Commission as “other-than-serious”). 29 U.S.C. § 666. A serious violation is defined in the Act; the other grades are not.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>29 U.S.C. § 666(k).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn4" href="#ftnref4"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">4 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Attached to the Complaint and adopted by reference w</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">ere</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>the citation</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at issue (</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Compl</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">., Ex. A). Commission Rule 30(d) provides that “[s]</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">tatements</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>in a pleading may be adopted by reference in a different part of the same pleading or in another pleading or in any motion. A copy of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes.” 29 C.F.R § 2200.30(d). </span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn5" href="#ftnref5"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">5 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>If any finding is in truth a conclusion of law, or if any stated conclusion is in truth a finding of fact, it shall be deemed so.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn6" href="#ftnref6"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">6 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>also testified that his niece, and possibly his wife, had some involvement in the operations of the company, like handling payroll. (Tr. 77). However, they were not paid for these services. (</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">)<span>
						</span></span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn7" href="#ftnref7"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">7 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>did not testify specifically as to the duties he assigned to Bush, but it appears he held a similar position with the company as Weaver. (Tr. 78).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText ">
					<a name="ftn8" href="#ftnref8"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">8 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>According to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">, Stone was a “hustler” and was “always looking for extra stuff to do.” (Tr. 95).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn9" href="#ftnref9"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">9 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Normally this would be on weekends when<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>did not do his own construction work. (Tr. 94, 105-06). However, the accident occurred on the Friday after Thanksgiving while<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was working on another job. (Tr. 96).</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn10" href="#ftnref10"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">10 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Citations to specific pages in Complainant’s Exhibit 1 are to the Bates number.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn11" href="#ftnref11"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">11 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>The employer or the Secretary may appeal a Commission order to the federal court of appeals for the circuit in which the violation allegedly occurred or where the employer has its principal office, and the employer also may appeal to the District of Columbia Circuit.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>29 U.S.C. §§ 660(a) and (b). Here, the violation occurred in Ohio, in the Sixth Circuit, where<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala’s</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>office is also located.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">See</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>29 U.S.C. § 660(b). The Commission has held that “[w]here it is highly probable that a case will be appealed to a particular circuit, the Commission generally has applied the precedent of that circuit in deciding the case— even though it may differ from the Commission’s precedent.”<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Kerns Bros. Tree Serv.</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">, 18 BNA OSHC 2064, 2067 (No. 96- 1719, 2000). The Court therefore applies the precedent of the Sixth Circuit in deciding the case where it is highly probable that the case would be appealed.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn12" href="#ftnref12"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">12 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Although the Secretary cites in support of his position<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Loomis Cabinet Co.</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">, 15 BNA OSHC 1635 (No. 88-2012),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">aff’d<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">20 F.3d 938, 942 (9th Cir. 1994),<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Loomis</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>does not compel a different conclusion. In<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Loomis</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">, the Commission applied its own “economic realities” test, not the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>factors.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">See Loomis Cabinet Co.</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">, 15 BNA OSHC at 1637. Indeed, the Commission expressly declined to apply the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">factors, noting only that it would have reached the same result under the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>test as it did under its economic realities test.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Id.</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>at 1638 n.9. In any event, the degree of control of the employer in<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Loomis</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>was far more significant than the record demonstrates here, as the Court’s analysis of the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>factors demonstrates<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">infra</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p class="style_Normal style_Normal style_FootnoteText style_FootnoteText " style="text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn13" href="#ftnref13"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">13 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Although t</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">he Secretary argues<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>“had no evidence to substantiate</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">” its<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">claim that Stone took on jobs from companies other than<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">(Sec’y’s Br. 13)</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">, it is the Secretary’s burden to prove an employer-employee relationship and he offered no evidence to refute<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; ">’s</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:10pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>testimonial evidence.</span></p>
			</div>
			<div>
				<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; line-height:1; text-align:justify; ">
					<a name="ftn14" href="#ftnref14"><span class="style_DefaultParagraphFont style_DefaultParagraphFont style_FootnoteReference style_FootnoteReference " style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">14 </span></a><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">The Secretary<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">also proffered</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>Stone’s o</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">bituary, which<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">stated he was<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">“a roofer and construction worker for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">[.]</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">” (Ex. C-1, p. 77). However, labels carry little weight in determining a hired party’s status as an employee.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Loomis Cabinet Co. v. Occupational Safety & Health Rev. Comm’n</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">, 20 F.3d 938, 942 (9th Cir. 1994).</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>T</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">he Court<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">therefore<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">give</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">s</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">little<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">weight to<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">Stone’s o</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">bituary</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">also<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">proffered</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>a decision from the Ohio BWC<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">concluding that<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">for purposes of worker’s compensation benefits Stone was not<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">Warzala’s</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span>employee</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; "><span><span></span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">(Ex. R-H)</span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">, which the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">Court<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">does not find relevant since<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">the factors relied on to determine whether a worker is an employee for<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">Ohio<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">worker’s compensation benefits are not coterminous with the<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Darden<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; color:#212121; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">factors.<span>
						</span></span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; font-style:italic; ">Bostic v. Connor</span><span style="font-size:11pt; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-size:11pt; ">, 524 N.E.2d 881 (Ohio 1988).</span></p>
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