Opinion ID: 2068313
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether a master-servant relationship existed between Okie Dokie and INK employees

Text: Although Anthony has put forth sufficient evidence for a reasonable fact-finder to find that his assailants were INK employees, he also must put forth sufficient evidence to allow a reasonable fact-finder to conclude that Okie Dokie is liable for the actions of INK employees. Generally, a company is not liable for the acts of its independent contractors. See Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth. v. L'Enfant Plaza Props., Inc., 448 A.2d 864, 868 (D.C.1982) (citation omitted). A company is liable for the actions of a contracted security guard, however, if it has a master-servant relationship with the security guard. Brown v. Argenbright Sec., Inc., 782 A.2d 752, 759 (D.C.2001) (citation omitted). To determine whether a master-servant relationship exists between Okie Dokie and employees of INK, the following factors must be considered: (1) the selection and engagement of the servant, (2) the payment of wages, (3) the power to discharge, (4) the power to control the servant's conduct, (5) and whether the work is part of the regular business of the employer. Safeway Stores, Inc. v. Kelly, 448 A.2d 856, 860 (D.C.1982) (citation omitted). The determinative factor is whether the employer has the right to control and direct the servant in the performance of his work and the manner in which the work is to be done.... and not the actual exercise of control or supervision. Id. (emphasis and citations omitted). We focus on this factor not only because it is the most important, but also because the evidence about the other factors is inconclusive. In analyzing an employer's right to control, we look to the ... relationship between the parties and the language of [the] agreement between them, if any. Beegle v. Rest. Mgmt., Inc., 679 A.2d 480, 485 (D.C.1996) (citation omitted). The language of an agreement is not, however, dispositive in characterizing the nature of the relationship between the parties. Schecter v. Merchs. Home Delivery, Inc., 892 A.2d 415, 423 (D.C.2006) (citations omitted). Here, the only agreement between Okie Dokie and INK in the record explicitly describes their relationship as an independent contractor relationship. Okie Dokie's right to control INK employees bears certain similarities to the level of control exhibited in Kelly by Safeway over security guards employed by a separate security agency, Seaboard, who worked at Safeway stores. The Safeway store manager had operational control over the guards, who worked under his general direction. Kelly, supra, 448 A.2d at 861. As in this case, Safeway paid for the guards' services in a monthly lump sum payment to Seaboard. Id. Although Harris served as a go-between, communicating between Okie Dokie and INK employees, Okie Dokie personnel were able to direct the actions of INK security guards in a variety of ways. Dream personnel would communicate with Harris or other INK personnel if someone was intoxicated or had been in an altercation and needed to be walked to their cars. INK guards dressed in a uniform manner because Barnes wanted it that way. Further, if Barnes noticed that an INK employee looked sloppy, he might ask the employee to improve his appearance. [3] Although it is a very close question, given all of these factors, we conclude that the evidence was sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether there was a master-servant relationship between Okie Dokie and the INK employees. [4] For that reason, the trial court erred in granting Okie Dokie's motion for summary judgment. Viewing the record in the light most favorable to Anthony shows that there are genuine issues of material fact concerning whether he was injured by INK security guards and whether there is a master-servant relationship between Okie Dokie and INK employees. Accordingly, the matter must be reversed and remanded for trial. Reversed and remanded.