Opinion ID: 1313063
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: schweitzer's employee status

Text: The existence of an employer-employee relationship is essential in establishing the nature and scope of the relief to which an employee is entitled for his or her work-related injury. Anthony v. Pre- Fab Transit Co., 239 Neb. 404, 476 N.W.2d 559 (1991). Whether an employer-employee relationship exists must be decided on the facts of each case. See, Tompkins v. Raines, 247 Neb. 764, 530 N.W.2d 244 (1995); Marlow v. Maple Manor Apartments, 193 Neb. 654, 228 N.W.2d 303 (1975). Nebraska district courts have, in numerous instances, examined the existence of employee status for workers' compensation purposes in actions brought initially in district court in which the plaintiff has sought damages for injuries. See, e.g., P.A.M. v. Quad L. Assocs., 221 Neb. 642, 380 N.W.2d 243 (1986). In the instant case, Schweitzer seeks damages pursuant to the petition she filed in the district court. Based on her petition, Schweitzer admits that she is an employee of Red Cross and Shrine Temple and that Red Cross was her direct employer pursuant to the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act (the Act) provisions found in chapter 48. An admission made in a pleading on which trial is had is more than an ordinary admission. It is a judicial admission and constitutes a waiver of all controversies so far as an adverse party desires to take advantage of it, and therefore it is a limitation of the issues. Radecki v. Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co., 255 Neb. 224, 583 N.W.2d 320 (1998); Whalen v. U.S. West Communications, 253 Neb. 334, 570 N.W.2d 531 (1997); Sands v. School Dist. of City of Lincoln, 7 Neb.App. 28, 581 N.W.2d 894 (1998). In this regard, we note that in her deposition testimony, Schweitzer reiterated her claim that she was a Red Cross employee injured in the course of performing her employment duties, and similarly, in her appellate brief, Schweitzer insists that she is an employee of Red Cross and Shrine Temple. In the instant case, in support of their motions for summary judgment, Red Cross and Shrine Temple presented judicial admissions and offered evidence designed to establish that Schweitzer was an employee of Red Cross and by admission, an employee of Shrine Temple. However, both Red Cross and Shrine Temple denied in their respective answers that Schweitzer was an employee and affirmatively alleged that she was a volunteer. Thus, the record regarding Schweitzer's employment status was in conflict. Given the factual dispute in the record, for purposes of evaluating its exercise of jurisdiction, the trial court did not explicitly find that Schweitzer was an employee, but nevertheless treated Schweitzer as having employee status under the Act. Thus, simply for purposes of reviewing the district court's order noting that [i]nasmuch as the plaintiff has based her cause of action on the theory that she was an employee of the Red Cross and that her injury occurred in the course of such employment and of evaluating the district court's legal conclusion that it lacked jurisdiction, we treat Schweitzer as an employee for workers' compensation purposes. The Act is an employee's exclusive remedy against an employer for an injury arising out of and in the course of employment. Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 48-101 and 48-109 (Reissue 1998); Kaiser v. Millard Lumber, 255 Neb. 943, 587 N.W.2d 875 (1999); Daniels v. Pamida, Inc., 251 Neb. 921, 561 N.W.2d 568 (1997). Thus, an employee cannot normally maintain a negligence suit against his or her employer regarding an injury arising out of and in the course of employment; his or her sole remedy is a claim for workers' compensation, and all disputed workers' compensation claims shall be submitted to the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-161 (Reissue 1993). Absent any other allegations, a determination of employee status under the Act is ordinarily sufficient for the district court to end its analysis and dismiss a purported negligence suit. However, Schweitzer argues that notwithstanding the fact that her negligence suit is based upon an injury arising out of and in the course of employment, she may maintain her suit in district court because she alleged that Red Cross and Shrine Temple did not maintain workers' compensation insurance to cover her injury. Although Red Cross and Shrine Temple denied the allegation that they lacked appropriate insurance, there is no evidence one way or the other on this issue. Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-145(3) (Reissue 1993) provides in pertinent part: Every employer who fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with the conditions [regarding the maintenance of insurance] shall be required to respond in damages to an employee for personal injuries.... Such damages may be sought in district court. Thus, working on the assumption that Schweitzer has employee status, the resolution of the issue of whether Red Cross and Shrine Temple maintained proper insurance is determinative of whether Schweitzer may continue to pursue a negligence suit in district court.