Opinion ID: 2623509
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Borrowed Servant Theory

Text: [¶ 19] Franks contends that Justin Browning was borrowed by IPC's agent, Jack Andregg, to perform unloading duties usually controlled by Andregg and, under the borrowed servant theory, all Appellees are now liable for Justin's negligence. Appellees contend that Franks is improperly raising this issue for the first time on appeal; however, in her brief in opposition to summary judgment, Franks specifically cited to the provision in the Restatement (Second) of Agency § 227 which governs borrowed servant. We will, therefore, consider the issue. Appellees also contend that the law prohibits an employee from serving two employers at the same instant and because Franks has accepted a settlement from A-1 on the theory that Browning was its employee, judicial estoppel does not permit her to now assert differently. In reply, Franks contends that any consideration of a settlement agreement to resolve this specific issue would be improper and then she quotes the settlement agreement as proof that she reserved the issue of whose employee Browning was at the time of the accident. We need not decide the propriety of either parties' actions since we have determined that Appellees exercised no control over Browning's actions in unloading casing and, therefore, under the relevant law, we can decide as a matter of law that Browning was not a borrowed servant of any of the Appellees. See Franks v. Olson, 975 P.2d 588, 594 (Wyo.1999). [¶ 20] According to the borrowed servant doctrine, when one employer provides an employee to another employer, the employee becomes the borrowed servant of the second employer for that particular transaction. If the second employer exercises control over the borrowed servant, the second employer assumes liability for the activities of that borrowed employee, and the original employer is not liable for any of that employee's conduct. Blessing v. Pittman, 70 Wyo. 416, 251 P.2d 243, 246-47 (1952); 27 Am.Jur.2d Employment Relationship § 462 (1996). In determining which employer must assume liability, the court looks to the dual factors of who controls the employee and whose business the employee is furthering at the time of the accident. Blessing, 251 P.2d at 247. Under our law, however, the primary test to establish the existence of employment is the right of control of the alleged employer. Claims of Naylor, 723 P.2d 1237, 1240 (Wyo.1986) ( quoting Fox Park Timber Co. v. Baker, 53 Wyo. 467, 84 P.2d 736, 743 (Wyo.1938)). Franks, 975 P.2d at 593. The factor of whose business the employee was furthering is not helpful in this case. A-1's business consisted of providing personnel to perform work for IPC. When Browning was engaged in the performance of his duties at the well site, he necessarily was furthering and doing the business of both employers. See id. (citing Blessing, 251 P.2d at 247). Under these circumstances, the primary test to apply is the right of control test. Franks contends that the right of control test supports her position because IPC was responsible for unloading casing and Andregg controlled Browning as he used the backhoe to unload. Our preceding discussion has determined that the evidence does not establish these facts and, under that right of control test, Browning was A-1's employee and not a borrowed servant.