Court Opinion

ID: 9596118
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:46:12.390036+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:32.401507
License: Public Domain

*431ALMA WILSON, Justice,
concurring specially:
I agree with the majority opinion that tort immunity in 85 O.S.1981, § 12 shields only those principal employers who bear workers’ compensation liability under 85 O.S.1981, § 11. The restricted “necessary and integral” test adopted today relieves hirers of independent contractors, other than principal employers, of unwarranted secondary workers’ compensation liability exposure and secures the constitutional right of access to our courts to persons injured by tortious hirers of independent contractors, other than principal employers. The restricted “necessary and integral” test preserves the employers’ workers’ compensation liability imposed under § 11, the exclusivity of the employers’ workers’ compensation liability declared by § 12, and the employees’ election and coordination of remedies required by § 44.
Accordingly, I concur specially.