Opinion ID: 1451217
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether transporting poultry was part of ConAgra's regular business

Text: In its motion for directed verdict, ConAgra also argued that the Drapers failed to provide sufficient evidence that poultry hauling was part of ConAgra's regular business, see § 220(2)(h), because it was in the business of raising, processing and selling poultry products. The Drapers respond, arguing that transportation of poultry is part of ConAgra's regular business because ConAgra's control over the transportation of the poultry is essential to the efficient operation of its business, and it exercised control over PST to ensure timely delivery of undamaged chickens to its processing plant. The factors pertaining to the nature of the worker's occupation and whether it is a part of the regular business of the employer comprise the relative nature of the work test, recognized in Sandy v. Salter, 260 Ark. 486, 541 S.W.2d 929 (1976). There, we adopted a test for examining the relationship between the worker's occupation and the regular business of the employer. This test requires the consideration of two factors: (1) whether and how much the worker's occupation is a separate calling or profession, and (2) what relationship it bears to the regular business of the employer. The more the worker's occupation resembles the business of the employer, the more likely the worker is an employee. Id. See also Ark. Transit, supra . Here, regarding the first factor of the test, ConAgra contracted with PST and another company, Broadwater, to haul its poultry rather than hiring its own employees to perform the task. ConAgra is a poultry company while PST is a trucking company. The contractors were required to furnish ConAgra proof of complete workers' compensation insurance coverage and general liability insurance. Regarding the second factor of the test, the sole purpose of PST was to provide trucks to ConAgra. PST had been in business, hauling poultry for ConAgra, for thirty-three years until the agreement between ConAgra and PST was terminated on June 1, 2003. Patterson testified that PST went out of business shortly after the agreement between it and ConAgra was terminated. Based on these facts, fair-minded people might reach different conclusions as to whether transporting poultry was part of ConAgra's regular business. See McMickle, supra . We have held that where the nature of the relation between employer and employee depends upon the meaning of a written instrument collaterally introduced in evidence, and the effect of such instrument depends, not only upon its construction, but also upon extrinsic facts and circumstances, the inferences of fact to be drawn from the instrument must be left to the jury. See Johnson Timber, supra . Here, we conclude that the facts and circumstances established by proof, when considered together, are sufficient to present questions of fact to be decided by the jury. Id. Therefore, we reject ConAgra's argument that the circuit court erred in ruling that PST's independent-contractor status was a jury question. Further, we hold that there was substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict that PST was not an independent contractor. If there is any substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict, we affirm. Id. As stated above, the control exerted by ConAgra regarding the manner in which PST protected the poultry coupled with the facts supporting the Drapers' argument that PST was not a separate business could lead a fair-minded person to find that PST was not an independent contractor. Thus, in viewing the evidence and all inferences most favorably to the Drapers, as we must do in the denial of a motion for a directed verdict, see Blankenship, supra , we hold that there was substantial evidence to support the jury's verdict. Accordingly, we affirm the circuit court's denial of ConAgra's motion for directed verdict.