Court Opinion

ID: 9724816
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:15:22.944286+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:06.458809
License: Public Domain

WOODS (Fred), J., J., Concurring.
—I concur in the judgment, but write separately to express dissatisfaction with the reasoning contained in the lead opinion under subparagraph I of the Discussion pertaining to third party liability of the broker for the tortious acts of an independent property appraiser.
I am of the opinion that there was sufficient evidence (slight) before the trier of fact to entitle appellant to the requested jury instruction on whether the appraiser was an agent of the broker or an independent contractor. The court erred in failing to give the requested instruction. I am convinced, however, from the facts demonstrated in this record that no different result would have been obtained had the requested jury instruction been given and accordingly find no reason to reverse or remand for new trial. (Jacobs v. Bozzani Motors, Ltd. (1952) 109 Cal.App.2d 681, 686-687 [241 P.2d 642]; 9 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (3d ed. 1985) Appeal § 350.) The evidénce of lack of independence on the part of the appraiser is overwhelming in this instance.
The seat of my dissatisfaction with the lead opinion on this issue is the expansiveness of the reasoning, which in my opinion, far exceeds the narrow *459question of whether the court erred in failing to give the requested instruction concentrating on the existence or nonexistence of an independent contractor status. The tenor of the lead opinion on this narrow issue is evangelistic in style and ventures into the world of dicta with an exceedingly broad brush. More importantly, the lead opinion fails to effectively focus on the paramount question in this case, namely, the issue of “independence.” “Independence” is the key ingredient to determining whether or not the appraisal contractor in this case is indeed an “independent” contractor. In my view, the lead opinion misses the target by concentrating inordinately on hypothetical factual analogies far removed from the case at bar to the emaciation of a discussion on the central question of “independence.”
The lead opinion would propel us toward a legal conclusion inadvisably close to one of absolute liability and insurance by the principal for the tortious acts of “independent” contractors devoid of due regard for the key element of “independence.” I do not perceive such a proposition to be the law nor indeed desirable.
Other than as stated, I concur in the judgment of the lead opinion.
Lillie, P. J., concurred.