# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls

For the Eig hth Circu it

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _

No. 1 3- 17 51

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Eug en e Ch ew, Jr.

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff

Dav id Mark Dun can ; Nan cy Dun can , wife o f Dav id Mark Dun can

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff s - Ap pe ll an ts

Dan ie l Ch as e Hos ki ns ; Whi tn ey Dale Hos ki ns

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff s

v.

Am eri can Greet in gs Co rp or at io n

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll ee

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No. 1 3- 19 66

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _
Eug en e Ch ew, Jr.

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

Dav id Mark Dun can ; Nan cy Dun can , wife o f Dav id Mark Dun can

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff sDan ie l Ch as e Hos ki ns ; Whi tn ey Dale Hos ki ns

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff s - Ap pe ll an ts

v.

Am eri can Greet in gs Co rp or at io n

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an t - Ap pe ll ee

__ __ __ __ __ __
App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s - J on es bo ro

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Jan ua ry

13 , 20 14
Fil ed : J un e 1 2, 2 01 4

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN an d S HEPHERD, Circ ui t J ud ge s, an d WEBBER, Dis tri ct 1

Ju dg e.

__ __ __ __ __ __

SHEPHERD, Cir cu it Ju dg e.

Dav id Dun can , Eug en e Ch ew, an d Dan ie l Hos ki ns (th e pl ai nt iff s)

, em pl oyees

of Osc eo la Mu ni ci pa l Lig ht & Po wer (OMLP), br ou gh t a ne gl ig en ce su it ag ai ns t

Am eri can Greet in gs Co rp or at io n. The di st ric t co ur t gr an te d Am eri can Greet in gs ’s 2

m ot io n fo r su m

m ary jud gm en t, an d t he pl ai nt iff s ap pe al ed . W e aff

irm.

The Hon or ab le E. Ri ch ard W eb be r, Sen io r Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Ju dg e fo r th e 1

East ern Dis tri ct of M is so ur i, s it ti ng by des ig na ti on

.

The Hon or ab le Bri an S. Mi ll er, Ch ie f Uni te d St at es Dis tr i c t J u d g e fo r th e 2

East ern Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s.

-2

-I.

On Sep te m

be r 23

, 20 09

, an Am eri can Greet in gs em pl oyee n o t i c e d th at a

st in ge r ou ts id e Am eri can Greet in gs ’s Osc eo l a , Ark an sa s faci li ty was lo os e an d

3

no ti fie d th e faci li ty’ s m ai nt en an ce su pe rv is or of th e pr ob le m

. Am eri can Greet in gs ’s

m ai nt en an ce s up erv is or no ti fie d B il ly G rif fin , OM LP’s e le ct ric al m an ag er. Griff in

t h e n c a l l e d Dav id Dun can an d di rect ed Dun can an d hi s crew to m eet hi m at th e

Am eri can Greet in gs faci li ty. W he n Dun can an d hi s crew arri ve d, th ey were m et by

Grif fin an d Lan ce Co ll in s, who was Am eri can Greet in gs ’s m ai nt en an ce m an ag er an d

was al so a tra in ed el ec t r i c i an

. Grif fin an d Co ll in s were di sc us si ng why Am eri can

Greet in gs ’s pl an t h ad no t l os t p owe r be cau se of t he lo os e st in ge r.

Grif fin in st ru ct ed Dun can to ret rie ve a vo lt m et er fro m hi s tru ck so th e crew

co ul d read th e tra ns fo rm er’s vo lt ag e. Grif fin ret ur n e d wit h a vo lt m et er th at ha d a

sa fet y rat in g of on ly 1,0 00 vo lt s. W he n Grif fin ap pr oa ch ed th e tra ns fo rm er, th e

tra ns fo rm er’s ex te rio r an d in te rio r do or s were op en

. The tra ns fo rm er was de si gn ed 4

wit h two do or s, a n o u t e r , e x te rio r do or an d an in ne r, fla sh -g ua rd ba rri er do or

. The

m an uf act ur er na m ep la te

, whi ch in di cat ed th e tra ns fo rm er ’ s vol ta ge , w as af fi xe d to th e

in si de of t he ex te rio r do or . The n am ep la te in di cat ed th at th e in co m in g, or pr im ary,

vo lt ag e was 13 ,80 0 vo lt s an d th e ou tg oi ng , o r se co nd ary, v o l t a g e , was 4,1 60 vo lt s.
The in ne r do or was pa in te d red an d warn ed “ da ng er h i gh vo lt ag e.” Bec au se th e

tra ns fo rm er do or s were op en , th e pl ai nt iff s were un ab le to read th e m a n u f a c t u r er’s

na m ep la te whe n th ey ret ur ne d w i t h th e vo lt m et er. Afte r ret ur ni ng , Dun can as ke d

In la y m an ’s te rm s, a st in ge r is an el ect ric al li ne ru nn in g fro m a ut il it y po le to 3

a t r a n s f o r mer

. The tra ns fo rm er st ep s do wn hi gh vo lt ag e el ect ric it y to lo w vo lt ag e el ect ric it y

.

The pa rti es di sa gr ee as to who op en ed th e do or s, th ou gh th e pa rti es ag ree th at 4

a sp eci al iz ed so ck et wren ch was n eed ed to op en th e in ne r do or

.

-3

-Grif

fin an d Co l l i n s i f th ey were go in g to tu rn of f th e flo w of el ect ric it y to th e

tra ns fo rm er. Co ll i n s s ho ok hi s he ad no , an d Dun can pr oc eed ed to ap pr oa ch th e

se co nd ary-sid e of th e tra ns fo rm er wit h th e in ad eq ua te vo lt m et er. By ap pr oa ch in g th e 4,1 60 -v ol t tra ns fo rm er wit h a 1,0 00 -v ol t vo lt m et er, Dun can crea te d an arc fla sh th at

in jure d th e pl ai nt iff

s. The pl ai nt iff

s kn ew th at th e tra ns fo rm er was en erg iz ed an d ha d

be en tra in ed to m eas ur e vo lt ag e. Des pi te kn owl ed ge of th e po te nt ia l ris ks in vo lv ed

, Dun can in co rrec tl y be li ev ed th at th e tra ns fo rm er he ap pr oa ch ed ha d a to ta l vo lt ag e

of 48 0 v ol ts be cau se ot he r tr an sf or m ers in th e are a h ad th e lo wer l ev el vo lt ag e.

The pl ai nt iff

s fil ed th is di ve rs it y su it ag ai ns t Am eri can Greet in gs in th e Uni te d

St at es Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r th e East ern Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s. See 28 U.S.C. § 13 32

. The
pl ai nt iff s al le ge d th at Am eri can Greet in gs ’s ne gl ig en ce, in pa rti cu la r, Am eri can

Greet in gs ’s fai lu re to pr op erl y la be l it s el ect ric al syste m an d warn th e pl ai nt iff s of th e

un iq ue na tu re of its tra ns fo rm ers , cau se d Dun can ’s in co rrec t ass um pt io ns ab ou t th e

se co nd ary tra ns fo rm er’s vo lt ag e. Am eri can Greet in gs res po nd ed th at pu rs ua nt to th e

Ark an sa s Su pr em e Co ur t’s ho ld in g in Ja ck so n v. Pet it Je an Elec tri c Co -o p., 60 6

S.W .2d 66 (Ark

. 19 80 ), it owe d no du ty to warn th e pl ai nt iff s, who were ex pe rie nc ed

el ect ric al co nt ra c t o r s , of th e da ng ers of el ect ric it y an d th e ris k of arc fla sh whe n

im pr op er eq ui pm en t is us ed

. The di st ric t co ur t ag reed wit h Am eri can Greet in gs th at

Pet it Je an co nt ro ll ed an d gr an te d Am eri can Greet in gs ’s su m m ary jud gm en t m ot io n.
The pl ai nt iff

s ap pe al ed th e d is tri ct co ur t’s fi na l ju dg m en t. See 28 U.S.C. § 1 29 1.

II.

A.

W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t an d it s in te rp ret at io n

of st at e la w de no vo , co ns id eri ng th e fact s in t h e l i g h t m os t fav or ab le to th e

no nm ov in g pa rty. See Rai ne s v. Safe co In s. Co

., 63 7 F.3 d 87 2, 87 4- 8 5 (8 th Ci r.

20 11 ). W e wil l affi rm th e di st ric t co ur t’s gr an t of su m m ary jud gm en t if “ th ere is no

ge nu in e di sp ut e as to an y m at eri al fact a n d t he m ov an t is en ti tl ed to jud gm en t as a

m at te r of la w.” Fed

. R. Ci v. P. 56 (a )

. B e c a u s e w e are a fed eral co ur t si tt in g in

-4

-di ve rs it y , we ap pl y th e su bs ta nt iv e la w of th e fo ru m st at e. See E-Sh op s Co rp

. v. U.S.

Ban k N a t ’l Ass ’n, 67 8 F.3 d 65 9, 66 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 12 ). Here, al l pa rti es ag ree th at

Ark an sa s la w ap pl ie s to th is cas e. As su ch

, “ [w]e a r e b o u n d by de ci si on s of th e

Ark an sa s Su pr em e Co ur t as to th e m ean in g of Ark an sa s l aw.” See Cu rti s Lum be r

Co ., In c. v. La. Pac. Co rp

. , 6 1 8 F

. 3d 76 2, 77 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 10 ). W he n th e Ark an sa s

Su pr em e Co ur t ha s no t ad dr es se d an is su e, we m us t pr ed ic t wha t ru le th e co ur t wou ld

ad op t an d m ay lo ok to th e Ark an sa s Co ur t of App eal s fo r gu id an ce in th is ta sk

. See

id .; Do e v . Bax te r Heal th care Co rp ., 38 0 F .3d 39 9, 4 07 (8t h C ir. 2 00 4)

.

“ Und er Ark an sa s la w, in or de r to pr ev ai l on a cl ai m of ne gl ig en ce, th e pl ai nt iff

m us t pr ov e [1 ] th at th e de fen da nt owe d a du ty to th e pl ai nt iff

, [2 ] th at th e de fen da nt

br each ed th at du ty, an d [3 ] th at th e br each was th e pr ox im at e cau se of th e pl ai nt iff ’s

in juri es

. ” See Yan m ar Co

. v. Sl at er, 38 6 S.W .3d 43 9, 44 9 (Ark

. 20 12 ). “ [T]he

qu es ti o n o f w h a t d ut y , if an y , is owe d a pl ai nt iff al le gi ng ne gl ig en ce is al way s a

qu es ti on of la w a n d n e v e r o ne fo r th e jury.” Id .; D.B. Grif fin W areh ou se , In c. v.

San de rs (Gri ffi n I), 98 6 S.W .2d 83 6, 83 9- 41 (Ark

. 19 99 ). If, as a m at te r of la w, th e
de fen da nt owe d th e pl ai nt iff no du ty, th en “ th e n e g li ge nc e co un t is de ci de d as a

m at te r of la w, and su m

m ary jud gm en t . . . i s ap pr op ria te .” Grif fin I, 98 6 S.W .2d at

84 0. W he th er th e de fen da nt br each ed it s du ty to th e pl ai nt iff is a qu es ti on of fact fo r

th e jury to re so lv e. See C at le tt v. St ewart , 80 4 S .W .2d 69 9, 7 02 (Ark . 19 91 ).

The ch arac te ris ti cs of th e pa rti es an d th e ci rcu m st an ces of th ei r en co un te r m ay

tri gg er a un iq ue du ty th at im po s e s a di st in ct st an da rd of care th at de pa rts fro m th e typic al st an da rd of o rd in ary car e. See Kowal sk i v. Ro se Dru gs of Da rd an el le , Inc

., 37 8 S.W .3d 10 9, 11 4- 15 (Ark

. 20 11 ); Cl ark v. Tran sc on

. In s. Co

., 19 7 S.W .3d 44 9,

45 3- 55 (Ark

. 20 04 ). One in st an ce of a un iq ue st an da rd of care , reco gn iz ed by th e

Ark an sa s Su pr em e Co ur t in Pet it Je an , ap pl ie s to an “ em pl oyer of an i nd ep en de nt

co nt ract or ,” who “ owe s a co m m on la w du ty to th e co nt ract or ’s em pl oyees to ex erci se

or di na ry care fo r th ei r sa fet y a n d t o warn ag ai ns t an y hi dd en da ng ers or un us ua ll y
ha zard ou s co nd it io ns .” See 60 6 S.W .2d at 68

. The se du ti es , ho wev er, whi ch are

-5

-an al og ou s to th os e a pr em is es own er owe s a bu si ne ss in vi te e, do “ no t co nt em pl at e a
du ty to warn of ob vi ou s ha zard s whi ch are an in te gr al pa rt of th e wor k th e co nt ract or

w a s h ire d to pe rfo rm .” Id .; Gor do n v. Mat so n, 43 9 S.W .2d 62 7, 62 9 (Ark

. 1 9 6 9 )

. Fi na ll y , th e Pet it J e a n c ou rt reco gn iz ed th at whe n th e em pl oyer of th e in de pe nd en t

co nt ract or ex erci se s co nt ro l ov er th e co nt ract or , t h e e mplo y er of th e in de pe nd en t

co nt ract or m

us t ex erci se th at co nt ro l wit h reas on ab le care

. See Pet it Je an Elec tri c Co

op ., 60 6 S.W .2d at 68 -6 9; se e al so W il li am s v. Nuc or -Yam at o St eel Co

., 88 6 S.W .2d

58 6, 5 87 -8 8 (Ar k. 1 99 4)

.

Ark an sa s co ur ts ha ve ap pl ie d th e pr in ci pl es art ic ul at ed in Pet it Je an to a va rie ty

of ci rcu m st an ces

. I n P e t i t Je an , th e Ark an sa s Su pr em e Co ur t reas on ed th at an
el ect ric al co op erat iv e th at hi red a co ns tru ct io n co m pa ny to reb ui ld el ect ric al li ne s ha d

no du ty “ to is ol at e or de -en erg iz e it s li ne s or t o w a r n em pl oyees of [th e] el ect ric al

co nt ract or th at th e wor k as co nt ract ed fo r wou ld be da ng ero us if no t do ne pr op erl y .”

Pet it Je an Elec tri c Co -o p., 60 6 S.W .2d at 68

. The Ark an sa s Su pr em e Co ur t

reaf fir m ed it s Pet it J e a n ho ld in g in St ol tz e, reject in g th e pl ai nt iff ’s at te m pt to

di st in gu is h Pet it Je an by cl ai m in g th at he was no t qu al ifi ed to wor k aro un d en erg iz ed

el ect ric al li ne s. See St ol tz e v. Ark

. Vall ey Elec

. Co -o p., 12 7 S.W .3d 46 6, 47 6- 77
(Ark

. 20 03 ). The co u rt reas on ed th at th e pl ai nt iff ’s em pl oyer, an in de pe nd en t

co nt ract or hi red by t he de fen da nt , r et ai ne d th e res po ns ib il it y to in fo rm th e pl ai nt iff

of th e da ng ers in vo lv ed wi t h t h e pl ai nt iff ’s li ne of wor k. See id

. Ark an sa s co ur ts

ha ve ap pl ie d th e Pet it Je an st an da rd to ris ks ot he r th an th os e as so ci at ed wit h

el ect ric it y , in cl ud in g th e ris k th at a ro of er wou ld fal l t h ro ug h a sk y li gh t, se e D.B.

Grif fin W areh ou se , In c. v. San de rs (Gri ffi n II), 76 S.W .3d 25 4, 26 1- 62 (Ark

. 20 02 );

Cren sh aw v. Ark

. W areh ou se , In c. , 3 79 S.W .3d 51 5, 51 6- 17 (Ark

. Ct

. App

. 20 10 ),

an d th e ris k th at a co m

m erci al pa in te r wou ld be hi t by a car whe n pa in ti ng an en tra nc e

to a res id en ti al su bd iv is io n, se e Cu lh an e v. Oxf or d Ri dg e, LLC, 36 2 S

. W. 3 d 3 2 5,

32 7, 3 29 -3 0 (Ar k. Ct . App . 20 09 ).

-6

-The pl ai nt iff s co nt en d th at th e st an da rd s art ic ul at ed in Pet it Je an do no t ap pl y

to th is ap pe al be c a u s e ( 1 ) OMLP ha d no fo rm al

, writ te n co nt ract wit h Am eri can

Greet in gs an d ( 2 ) F ed eral an d Ark an sa s reg ul at io ns ha ve im po se d an al te rn at iv e

st an da rd of c are o n Am eri can Greet in gs . W e d is ag ree.

Fi rs t, Pet it Je an ap pl ie s to th is cas e de sp it e th e ab se nc e of a writ te n co nt ract

. The pl ai nt iff

s at te m pt to di st in gu is h th is cas e fro m Pet it Je an an d ot he r in de pe nd en t

co nt ract or cas es be cau se th os e cas es ha ve t ypi cal ly m ad e refe ren ce to writ te n

co nt ract s. See e.g ., St ol tz e, 12 7 S.W .3d at 47 6- 77 ; Pet it Je an Elec tri c C o

- o p

. , 6 06

S.W .2d at 6 8. Th e co nt ract s’ si gn ifi can ce in t he se cas es , ho wev er, i s t ha t t he y m ay

im po se sp eci al du ti es up on a de fen da nt , see Pet it Je an Elec tri c Co -o p., 60 6 S.W .2d

at 68 -6 9, or po te nt ia ll y refl ect a de fen da nt ’s “ rig ht of co nt ro l” ov er th e co nt ract or , se e

St ol tz e, 12 7 S.W .3d at 47 3- 74

. So m e cas es , su ch as Grif fin I, 98 6 S.W .2d at 83 8- 40

, ha ve om it te d an y di sc us si on of th e writ te n co nt ract al to ge th er. The writ te n co nt ract s

m ay m em or ia li ze or cl ari fy th e em pl oyer-in de pe nd en t co nt ract or rel at io ns hi p cen tra l

to Pet it Je an , b ut su ch rel at io ns hi ps m ay al so ari se th ro ug h co nd uc t, se e Howar d v.
Dall as Mo rn in g News, In c., 91 8 S.W .2d 17 8, 18 2- 83 (Ark

. 19 96 ). The arra ng em en t

b e t w een OMLP an d Am eri can Greet in gs , th ou gh so m ewh at un iq ue , is no t 5

si gn ifi can tl y di st in gu is ha bl e fro m th e rel at io ns hi p co nt em pl at ed by Pet i t Je an : an

in de pe nd en t co nt ract or cal le d up on t o p e r fo rm a sp eci al iz ed ta sk th at in vo lv ed

ob vi ou s h azar ds

.

Seco nd

, th e Occu pa ti on Safe ty an d Heal th A dm ini strat io n (OSHA) reg ul at io ns

an d th e Ark an sa s st at ut es an d reg ul a t i o ns th at th e pl ai nt iff s ci te fai l to im

po se an

al te rn at iv e du ty on Am eri can Greet in gs

. Tho ug h a vi ol at io n of an OSHA reg ul at io n

The reco rd in di cat es th at OMLP co nv ey ed th e tra ns fo rm ers at i s s u e to 5

Am eri can Greet in gs in 20 07 as pa rt of an eco no m ic in cen ti ve pa ck ag e whe n Am eri can Greet in gs m ov ed to Osc eo la

. See J.A. 32

, 27 0- 71

. Peri od ic al ly, Am eri can Greet in gs wou ld cal l OMLP to fix m in or is su es rel at ed to th e el ect ric al li ne s, su ch as bl own fus es . See J .A. 36 3.

-7

-m ay be rel ev an t ev id en ce of whe th er Am eri can Greet in gs br each ed a du ty it m ay ha ve

owe d th e pl ai nt iff

s, se e Dun n v. Bri m er, 5 3 7 S

. W.2d 16 4, 16 5- 66 (Ark

. 19 76 ), th e

reg ul at io ns do no t in de pe nd en tl y crea te pr iv at e rig ht s of act io n or im po se al te rn at iv e
du ti es on de fen da nt s. See So li s v. Su m m it Co nt ract or s, In c., 55 8 F .3d 81 5, 8 28 -2 9
(8 th Ci r. 20 09 ); se e al so 2 9 U .S.C. § 65 3( b) (4 ) (“ Not hi ng in th is ch ap te r sh al l be

co ns tru ed to . . . en la rg e or di m in is h or affe ct in an y ot he r m an ne r th e co m

m on law

or st at ut or y rig ht s, du ti es , or li ab il it ie s of em pl oyers an d em

pl oyee s un de r an y la w
wit h res pe ct to i n

ju r i e s , d i se as es , or de at h of em pl oyees ari si ng ou t of

, or in th e

co ur se of

, em pl oym en t.”) ; Koc h v. Nor th po rt Heal th Serv s. of Ark

., LLC, 20 5 S.W .3d

75 4, 76 6 (Ark

. 20 05 ) (rea so ni ng th at a fed eral reg ul at io n di d no t pr ov id e th e “ rel ev an t

st an da rd of care ” bu t, no ne th el es s, co ul d st il l se rv e as “ ev id en ce o f t h e t yp es of

co ns id erat io ns th at sh ou ld be ar on th e reas on ab le pe rs on ”). Si m il arl y , Ark an sa s 6

co ur ts ha ve be en he si ta nt to pe rm it Ark an sa s s ta tu te s an d reg ul at io ns to ex pa nd

co m m on la w cau se s of act io n, se e Cen t. Okl a. Pi pe l i n e , In c. v. Hawk Fi el d Serv s., LLC, 40 0 S.W .3d 70 1, 71 1 (Ark

. 20 12 ); Kowal sk i, 37 8 S.W .3d at 11 8- 19

, an d on ly

do so whe n face d with cl ear leg is la ti ve in te nt

. See Sha nn on v. W il so n, 94 7 S.W .2d

34 9, 35 6- 58 (1 9 97 ). The pl ai nt iff s ha ve fai le d to id en ti fy an y Ark an sa s st at ut es or

reg ul at io ns th at cl earl y im po se du ti es on pe rs on s in th e po s i ti on of Am eri can

Greet in gs , m

uc h le ss a n Ark an sa s cas e su pp or ti ng th ei r cl ai m th at Am eri can

Greet in gs owed th em

an alt ern at iv e d ut y

.

Sat is fie d th at th e pr in ci pl es se t fo rth in Pet it Je an an d it s pro ge ny co nt ro l th is

cas e, we no w app ly Peti t J ean

.

B.

Thi s cas e fit s wit hi n th e no -d ut y ru le art ic ul a t e d b y P e t i t Je an , an d th us th e

p l ai nt iff s’ ne gl ig en ce cl ai m fai ls

. The pl ai nt iff s were in de pe nd en t co nt rac t o r s

W e ex pr es s no op in io n on whe th er Am eri can Greet in gs was an “ em pl oyer” as 6

th e te rm is us ed in OSHA’ s re gu la ti on s.

-8

-b r o u gh t to Am eri can Greet in gs ’s faci li ty by th ei r su pe rv is or to pe rfo rm el ect ric a l

wor k. The pl ai nt iff

s, m uc h li ke th e pl ai nt iff

s in St ol tz e a nd Pet it Je an , were

ex pe rie nc ed el ect ric al wor ke rs , who un de rs to od th e ob vi ou s ris ks of el ec tri ci ty

in he ren t in th ei r pr of

es si on

. See St ol tz e, 12 7 S.W .3d at 46 9, 47 6; Pet it Je an Elec tri c

Co -o p., 60 6 S.W .2d at 68

. Mo reo ve r, th e pl ai nt iff s’ in juri es , m uc h li ke th e pl ai nt iff

s’

in juri es in St ol tz e an d Pet it Je an , aro se be cau se of th e da ng ero us na tu re of el ect ric al

wor k. Evi de nc e of Am eri can Greet in gs ’s al le ge d fai lu re to ap pl y be st sa fet y pr act ic es

an d it s fai lu re to de en erg iz e th e tra ns fo rm er do es no t gi ve ris e to a m at eri al qu es ti on

of fact be cau se th es e act io ns di rect ly rel at e to th e ob vi ou s, core ha zard an el ect ric al

ut il it y wor ke r face s— th e da ng er of el e c t r ic it y whe n ap pr oa ch ed wit h im pr op er

eq ui pm en t. See P e t i t J e a n Elec tri c Co -o p., 60 6 S.W .3d at 68

. The pr in ci pl es

e s t a b l i s h ed in Pet it Je an ack no wled ge th at th e co nt ract or is be st ab le to as se ss th e
ob vi ou s ris ks in he ren t in th e co nt ract or ’s ch os en tra de

. Here, th e pl ai nt iff s ha d y ears

of ex pe rie nc e wor ki ng wit h OMLP, un de rs to od th e da ng er o f a p p r oa ch in g a

tra ns fo rm er wit h in co m

pa ti bl e eq ui pm en t, an d ha d be en tra in ed to m eas ur e vo lt ag e.

Mo reo ve r, as em

pl oyees of OMLP, th e pl ai nt iff s were co m

pe ns at ed fo r wor ki ng in

a fi el d t ha t i nv ol ve d t he in he ren t ri sk s o f el ect ric it y

.

Fu rth er, be cau se Am eri can Greet in gs di d n o t ex erci se co nt ro l ov er th e pl ai nt iff s’ wor k, Am eri can Greet in g s a c q ui red no ad di ti on al du ti es

. W it ho ut a

co nt ract m em or ia li zi ng th e pa rti es ’ rig ht s an d ob li ga ti on s, we an al y ze th e pa rti es ’

co nd uc t to de te rm in e whe th er Am eri can Greet in gs ret ai ne d co ntr ol ove r the pla int iff s.

See Nuc or -Yam at o St eel Co

., 88 6 S.W .2d at 58 7. In th ei r effo rt to sh ow co nt ro l, th e pl ai nt iff s rely on Co ll in s’s deci si on to ke ep po wer flowi ng to th e tra ns fo rm er. Thi s
si ng le fact is in su ffi ci en t to sh ow Am eri can Greet in gs ex erci se d co n t r o l o v e r th e pl ai nt iff s an d th e wor ks it e. The pl ai nt iff s, w h o were em

pl oyees of OMLP, were
cal le d to Am eri can Greet in gs ’s faci li ty by th ei r OMLP m an ag er Grif fin

, who was

pr es en t at th e faci li ty whe n th ey a r r i v e d

. Grif fin di rect ed Dun can to ret rie ve th e

vo lt m et er, an d G rif

fin di rect ed Dun can to ch eck th e vo lt ag e of th e tra ns fo rm er.
Tho ug h Co ll in s al le ge dl y de te rm in ed th at th e po wer sh ou ld no t be tu rn ed of f, Dun can

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-te st ifi ed th at Grif fin was pr in ci pa ll y res po ns ib le fo r th e pl ai nt iff s an d th at Grif

fin was
ul ti m at el y th e bo ss

. J.A. 72

, 79

. In su m , th e pl ai n t i f f s were un de r th e co nt ro l of

Grif fin

, who d i r e ct ed th e m ean s, m et ho ds

, an d de ta il s of th e pl ai nt iff s’ wor k, no t

Am eri can Greet in gs

. See Nuc or -Yam at o St eel Co

., 88 6 S.W .2d at 58 7- 88 (rea so ni ng

th at th e em

pl oyer of an in de pe nd en t co nt ract or m us t do m or e th an m ak e su gg es ti on s

or reco m m en da ti on s or pr es cri be al te rat io ns or de vi at io ns in or de r to ret ai n co nt ro l);

Dav is v. Lin gl Co rp ., 64 1 S.W .2d 27

, 29 (Ark

. 1 9 8 2 ) ( r eas on in g th at no ne of th e

ge ne ral co nt ract or de fen da nt s “ ret ai ne d th e rig ht or un de rto ok to co nt ro l or su pe rv is e

th e m an ne r in whi ch ” t h e pl ai nt iff wor ke d an d th eref or e co ul d no t be li ab le fo r th e pl ai nt iff ’s in

juri es ); a cco rd Koch Refi ni ng Co . v. Ch ap a, 11 S.W .3d 15 3, 1 56 (Tex

. 19 99 ) (p er cu ria m) ( “E ve ry pr em is es own er m us t ha ve so m e la ti tu de to te ll it s

in de pe nd en t co nt ract or s wha t to do

, in ge n e r a l t e rm s, an d m ay do so wit ho ut

be co m in g s ub

ject t o l ia bi li ty.”).

Fi na ll y , th is cas e do es no t in vo lv e Am eri can Greet in gs ’s ge ne ral du ty to warn

of la te nt or hi dd en da ng ers

. Acco rd in g to th e pl ai nt iff s, Pet it Je an im

po se d up on

Am eri can Greet i n g s a d u t y to warn of la te nt da ng ers

. The pl ai nt iff s as se rt th at th e

ha zar d s t h e t ran sf

or m er po se d were hi dd en or la te nt be cau se Am eri can Greet in gs

fai le d to pr op erl y la be l th e tra ns fo rm er, th e tra ns fo rm er do or s were op en an d bl oc ki ng

th e warn in g la be ls

, an d th e tra ns fo rm ers were arr a n ge d in a un iq ue m an ne r. In th e
ab st ract

, th e pl ai nt iff

s are co rrec t th at an em

pl oyer of an in de pe nd en t co nt ract or owe s

a du ty to warn of la te nt or hi dd en da ng ers

. The pl ai nt iff s, ho wev er, m is co ns tru e th e

sc op e of th is du ty, whi ch do es n o t e n co m pa ss an ob li ga ti on to warn of th e la te nt

ch arac t e r i st ic s of an ob vi ou s ha zard th at ari se s be cau se of th e na tu re of th e

co nt ract or ’s wor k. In Grif fin II, whi ch in vo lv ed a wro ng fu l-d eat h su it br ou gh t by th e
wid ow of a ro of

in g co nt ract or who fel l th ro ug h a ro of sk y li gh t an d di ed

, th e pl ai nt iff

pr es en te d te st im on y at tri al th at on e of th e ro of ’s sk y li gh ts was ro tt in g. Grif fin II, 76

S.W .3d at 26 1- 63

. The pl ai nt iff cl ai m ed th at acco rd in g to Pet it Je an th is was a hi dd en

or la te nt ha zar d

. O n ap pe al

, ho wev er, th e Ark an sa s Su pr em e Co ur t reas on ed th at

te st im on y ab ou t th e ro tt in g sk y li gh t was “ irr el ev an t” be cau se th e sk y li gh t pr es en te d

-1 0-an ob vi ou s dan ge r, ev en if asp ect s of the sk y li gh t (i.e

., th at it was ro tt in g) rem ai ne d

hi dd en . Id. at 26 3.

Here, t h e r i sk of wor ki ng aro un d el ect ric it y , sp eci fic al ly th e ris k th at an arc

fla sh wou ld oc cu r if a tra ns fo rm er was ap pr oa ch ed wit h im pr op er eq ui pm en t, was an
ob vi ou s ri sk in he ren t i n t he pl ai nt iff s’ wo rk . Th ou gh so m e d et ai ls ab ou t Am eri can

Greet in gs ’s t ran sf

or m ers m ay

ha ve be en hi dd en , l ik e th e al le ge d ro tt in g sk y li gh t in

Grif fin II, th e ul ti m at e ha zard th e tra ns fo rm er po se d was ob vi ou s, an d th e co nt ract or s

ret ai ne d th e ul ti m at e res po ns ib il it y to as s e s s t h es e ris ks

. See id

. at 26 3; se e al so

Cren sh aw, 37 9 S.W .3d at 51 7 (“ The sk y li gh ts m ay ha ve in fact be en hi dd en to so m e

ex te nt

, bu t th e da ng er o f fal li ng th ro ug h th em was an ob vi ou s on e in li gh t of th e [p la int iff] ro of

er’s kn owl ed ge th at th os e sk y li gh ts ex is te d. ”)

. T he tr an sf or m er be ca m e

ha zard ou s t o th e pl ai nt iff s bec au se th ey en ga ge d with it in th e co ur se of th ei r wor k.

Am eri can Greet in gs di d no t ex erci se co nt ro l ov er th e pl ai nt iff s an d acco rd in gl y ha d

li m it ed ab il it y to en su re th at th e pl ai nt iff s perf or m ed th ei r wor k safe ly. In st ead

, th e

pa rty in co nt ro l of th e pl ai nt iff s, th ei r em

pl oyer OMLP, was res po ns ib le fo r

ov ers eei ng th e p la in ti ffs

.

To co nc lu de

, Am eri can G r e e t i n g s owe d th e pl ai nt iff s no du ty to warn of th e
well -k no wn ha zard of ap pr oa ch in g a ch arg ed tra ns fo rm er wit h im pr op er eq ui pm en t.

Lik ewis e, be cau se th e na tu re of t h e p la in ti ffs ’ wor k ne ces sa ril y im pl ic at ed th es e
ob vi ou s ha zard s, Am eri can Greet in gs owe d no du ty to ex erci se or di na ry care fo r th e pl ai nt iff s’ sa fet y

. Bec au se th e pl ai nt iff s ha ve fai le d to de m on st rat e th at Am eri can

Greet in gs owed th em

a du ty, th ei r ne gl ig en ce cl ai m s fa il as a m at te r of law.

III.

Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we affi rm th e di st ric t co ur t’s g r a n t of su m m ary jud gm en t i n fa vo r of

Am eri can Greet in gs

.

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