Opinion ID: 853431
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Right to Discharge

Text: Thomas Beaty, the GKN supervisor at the batch plant, testified by way of deposition that if a driver was not performing his duties properly, he would give [the driver] three warnings. Supp. R. at 50. After giving a driver his first warning, Beaty would call Margie Starnes, the owner of Starnes Trucking, to let her know that he was having a problem with a particular driver and she should fix the problem. Supp. R. at 50-51. After giving a driver a third warning, Beaty would tell that driver that he was no longer needed at the construction site and he should get in touch with Margie. Supp. R. at 50. Beaty would then call Margie himself to inform her of the action taken. Id. Although Beaty did not have the authority to terminate Magness' employment with Starnes Trucking, he could terminate Magness' employment with GKN by telling Magness that he was no longer needed at the construction site and informing Margie of the action taken. Indeed, Beaty had previously discharged other Starnes Trucking employees in such a manner. Supp. R. at 48-49. In U.S. Metalsource, an employer-employee relationship was found to exist under similar facts. Although Metalsource [the general contractor] did not have the power to terminate [the plaintiff's] employment with Whiteford [the subcontractor], it could terminate his employment with Metalsource by calling a Whiteford supervisor and instructing him that it no longer wanted [the plaintiff] to deliver its steel. U.S. Metalsource, 649 N.E.2d at 685. This right of discharge factor weighs in favor of a conclusion that Magness was an employee of GKN.