Opinion ID: 1350115
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Negligent Deprivation of Worker's Compensation.

Text: Contrary to A & H's claim, we find that the issue of negligent deprivation of workers' compensation has been preserved. In the amendment to his pleadings, Downs alleged that A & H knew that Crase did not have workers' compensation insurance. Downs further alleged that A & H required Crase and its employees to perform work on the house knowing that Crase did not have insurance. He urges the combination of the knowledge and actions of A & H constituted a negligent deprivation of workers' compensation benefits. He asks damages in an amount equivalent to the workers' compensation he would have received for his injuries if Crase had carried proper insurance. In this state, the right to workers' compensation is purely statutory. Caylor v. Employers Mut. Casualty Co., 337 N.W.2d 890, 893 (Iowa App.1983). Although the workers' compensation statute is to be liberally construed in favor of the worker, the statute is not to be expanded by reading something into it that is not there. Cedar Rapids Community School Dist. v. Cady, 278 N.W.2d 298 (Iowa 1979). What is not there, which Downs wants us to read into the statute, is what is present in many other states' workers' compensation schemes: the imposition of workers' compensation liability upon general contractors to employees of uninsured subcontractors. See, e.g., 1C A. Larson, Workmen's Compensation Insurance §§ 49.10-49.15 (1990); 81 Am.Jur.2d Workmen's Compensation § 171 (1976); 99 C.J.S. Workmen's Compensation § 107 (1958). Because we are bound by the statute, we are precluded from recognizing a cause of action allowing an employee of an uninsured subcontractor to recover workers' compensation benefits from the general contractor, who is not the employer. The decision to recognize or create such a cause of action belongs to the legislature, and it is theirs alone. Downs further argues that A & H tortiously interfered with his right to receive workers' compensation benefits. In support of this contention, Downs cited Clark v. Figge, 181 N.W.2d 211 (Iowa 1970) (tortious interference with a business relationship); Springer v. Weeks & Leo Co., 429 N.W.2d 558 (Iowa 1988) (tortious interference with contract of employment), and other cases following the reasoning set forth in Springer. See Springer v. Weeks & Leo Co., 475 N.W.2d 630, 632 (Iowa 1991) (appeal after remand; listing cases). The district court was correct in stating that, [w]hile Springer and Niblo [ v. Parr Manufacturing, Inc., 445 N.W.2d 351 (1989) ] deal with Workers' Compensation law and the rights of an employee thereunder, they are not, as plaintiff contends, authority for the imposition of a duty upon a general contractor to insure that a subcontractor possesses Workers' Compensation insurance coverage. Under the current statutory scheme, Downs had a right to bring an action at law against Crase to recover damages. See Iowa Code § 87.21. A & H has in no way interfered with that right. The court's granting of the amendment and then deciding the issue on summary judgment was proper.