Opinion ID: 1860539
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Baxter as Prime Contractor

Text: Finally, Sykes alleges that Baxter is a prime contractor for purposes of Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-9-402(a) (Supp.2007), which provides: Where a subcontractor fails to secure compensation required by this chapter, the prime contractor shall be liable for compensation to the employees of the subcontractor unless there is an intermediate subcontractor who has workers' compensation coverage. [3] The circuit court found this argument to be moot, and we affirm that ruling. A finding that Baxter qualified as a prime contractor for purposes of Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-9-402(a) would afford Sykes no relief at this stage, as he has elected to sue in tort. Section 402(a), which makes a prime contractor liable for compensation to employees of subcontractors who fail to secure compensation, is a workers' compensation statute that governs claims filed with the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission. Therefore, the argument is moot. Affirmed.