Opinion ID: 2234055
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Duty Theories Asserted by Van Fossen.

Text: It must be noted at the outset that Ann never visited the power plant. Accordingly, Van Fossen's claim on appeal that MidAmerican and IPL owed Ann a duty is not based on the well-established special duty of possessors of real estate to protect non-trespassers against dangerous conditions on real estate. See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 343, at 215-16 (1965). Instead, Van Fossen claims MidAmerican and IPL are liable as the employer of an independent contractor. Although the general rule is that the employer of an independent contractor is not liable for physical harm caused to another by an act or omission of the contractor or his servants, id. § 409, at 370, Van Fossen contends several exceptions to this rule apply in this case. Specifically, Van Fossen relies on exceptions found in the second Restatement sections 413, 416, and 427 for work likely to create a peculiar unreasonable risk of physical harm unless special precautions are taken and for work involving a special danger inherent in the work. In addition, Van Fossen contends MidAmerican and IPL owed Ann a general common-law duty to warn of the risks associated with exposure to asbestos. We will discuss each of Van Fossen's duty theories in turn.