Case Name: JACOBSON v. WEIDMAN LUMBER CO.
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1929-03-29
Citations: 246 Mich. 189
Docket Number: Docket No. 9, Calendar No. 33,904
Parties: JACOBSON v. WEIDMAN LUMBER CO.
Judges: North, C. J., and Fead, Fellows, Clark, McDonald, Potter, and Sharpe, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 246
Pages: 189–190

Head Matter:
JACOBSON v. WEIDMAN LUMBER CO.
Master, and Servant — Workmen’s Compensation Act — Independent Contractor.
One who with three others contracted with a lumber company for the clearing and grading of part of a roadbed for a logging railway at a certain price per foot, and in performing the work was master of his own time, was an independent contractor, and the fact that the work was subject to inspection by the company as it progressed, with direction conforming to its proper completion, and the furnishing of tools and a team by it, did not change the relation to that of master and servant.
As to whether independent contractor is an employee within the meaning of workmen’s compensation act, see annotation in L. R. A. 1916A, 118, 247; L. R. A. 1917D, 148; L. R. A. 1918F, 206.
Certiorari to Department of Labor and Industry.
Submitted January 9, 1929.
(Docket No. 9, Calendar No. 33,904.)
Decided March 29, 1929.
Magnus Jacobson presented his claim for compensation against the Weidman Lumber Company for an accidental injury in defendant’s employ. From an order awarding’ compensation, defendant and the State Accident Fund, insurer, bring certiorari.
Reversed, and order vacated.
Derham & Derham, for appellants.
Thomas J. Landers (Cadigan & Cadigan, of counsel), for appellee.

Opinion:
Wiest, J.
Plaintiff was awarded compensation for the loss of an eye, and defendants review the holding of the department of labor and industry by certiorari, claiming that plaintiff was an independent contractor, and, in any event, has not lost an eye.
If plaintiff was an independent contractor, defendants are not liable. Defendant lumber company was constructing a bed for a logging railway and plaintiff, together with three companions, going about the country taking such jobs for their mutual benefit, took the job of clearing and grading about 1,300 feet of the way at $13 per 100 lineal feet, and were to each pay $1 pér day for board and lodging at the lumber company's camp. The first day, while plaintiff was working on the job with his companions, a chip from a tree he was chopping struck his right eye. Plaintiff received treatment, and, at the time of the hearing before the deputy commissioner, his injury had healed with a retention of 10 to 20 per cent, vision in the eye.
We have many times defined what constitutes an independent contractor, and need not repeat what we have said on the subject. Plaintiff was master of his own time in performing the work of producing the ultimate result calling for the agreed compensation to himself and companions. Inspection of the work by defendant lumber company as it progressed, with direction conforming to its proper completion, and the furnishing of tools and a team by defendant lumber company, did not change the relation to that of master and servant. The rule applied in Odle v. Charcoal Iron Co., 217 Mich. 469; and Donithan v. Michigan Iron & Chemical Co., 227 Mich. 609, governs this case.
The award is vacated, with costs to defendants.
North, C. J., and Fead, Fellows, Clark, McDonald, Potter, and Sharpe, JJ., concurred.