Court Opinion

ID: 9587824
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:26:44.283921+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:38:34.044258
License: Public Domain

Caplan, Judge:
While I concur in the result reached in the decision of this case on the ground that the trial court erred in admitting parol evidence designed to contradict or alter the written contract of insurance, I am unable to agree, in view of the evidence adduced at the trial, that the defendant was entitled to a directed verdict. The decision holds, as a matter of law, that Bertha Smith was, at the time of her injury, an employee of the plaintiff, thereby bringing her within the exclusion set out in the insurance policy. I am of the firm opinion that the evidence does not warrant such peremptory holding.
As related in the majority opinion, it is the general rule that where evidence pertaining to whether one is an independent contractor or an employee is conflicting or, if not conflicting, more than one inference can be derived therefrom, the question is one of fact for jury determination, but where the facts are such that only one reasonable inference can be drawn therefrom, the question is one of law for the court to decide. In view of this general rule, it becomes pertinent to consider the elements which determine whether one is an independent contractor or an employee and to examine the testimony in relation thereto.
Perhaps the most important element to be considered in this regard, and the one principally relied upon in the *122decision, is the right to exercise control over the person hired to do the work. The following questions propounded to Evelyn Leighty and the answers thereto given by her bear heavily on this matter:
“Q. Did you have any particular understanding with her what time she would go to work?
“A. She would go to work when we got there, I assume, since I brought her.
“Q. Did you tell her she had to start to work at a certain time?
“A. No.
“Q. Did you tell her what time she would quit for lunch?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Did you tell her how many minutes or hours she would have off for lunch?
“A. No.
“Q. Did you tell her what time she would have to quit in the afternoon?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Did you tell her what she would have to wear—
“A. No, sir.
“Q. (Continuing) — while in the office?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Did you tell her how she would have to do the work?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Did you exercise any degree of supervision over her whatsoever?
“A. No, except I was there if she needed me, and, no, I wasn’t in the room with her and I didn't tell her how to do anything, no.”
*123I believe that this testimony tends to show that the plaintiff did not have the right to control Bertha Smith in a manner that would classify her as an employee. At any rate, the evidence lends itself to more than one inference and, in my opinion, was properly submitted to the jury.
Another element pertinent to this question is the manner in which the person was to be paid for the work done. It is my belief that the following testimony given by witness Leighty shows a relationship of independent contractor rather than that of master and servant:
“Q. Did you carry her on the payroll as one of the employees?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. Did you withhold social security?
“A. No.
“Q. Did you withhold withholding tax?
“A. No, sir.
“Q. How was she to be paid?
“A. Six dollars a day.
“Q. And when would you pay her?
“A. At the end of the day.
“Q. And was she a regular employee of Dr. Spencer?
“A. No, sir.
* * $
“Q. And as I understand you, you paid her for the day?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Six Dollars a day?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And for what period of time was she working — was she to work in order to earn the six dollars?
*124“A. Until she finished and she knew what she was to do, and when she finished.
“Q. Suppose she had worked only an hour and you wouldn’t have paid her six dollars for that?
“A. I never gave it any thought and she was slower than that and she never finished in an hour and I suppose until she had finished and if it bad ran an hour, six dollars an hour. •
“Q. And if she hadn’t finished that day, I assume you would have had her back the following day to finish the job?
“A. Yes, sir, for something else. Yes, sir.”
This evidence certainly creates an inference from which a jury may determine that Bertha Smith was to be paid for the specific job and was therefore hired on a contractual basis. She was to receive $6.00 for washing the walls. If she could finish that job satisfactorily in one hour she would receive six dollars. If it took her a day or two days she would still receive six dollars.
“In determining whether the relationship between parties is that of independent contractor or master and servant the measure of compensation is important, for where it is based upon time the workman is usually a servant, and where it is based upon a lump sum for the task he is usually a contractor.” 9 M. J., Independent Contractors, Section 8. It occurs to me that the evidence conclusively shows that Bertha Smith was to be paid a lump sum for a specific task.
In the syllabus of Hicks v. Southern Ohio Quarries Co., 116 W. Va. 748, 182 S. E. 874, the Court said': “In a case involving the relationship of independent contractor, although the facts may be undisputed, the issue should be submitted to the jury and not decided by the court as a matter of law unless the facts are such as would justify but one reasonable inference.” See also 9 M. J., Independent Contractors, Section 11.
*125In my opinion the testimony in this case reflects a contractual relationship rather than that of employer and employee. Even if it falls short of that, the facts are such that they would justify more than one reasonable inference. I believe, therefore, that the trial court properly submitted this question to the jury and I respectfully disagree with the decision in this regard.
I am authorized by Judge Calhoun to say that he concurs with the views expressed herein.