Court Opinion

ID: 9727039
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:18:13.373188+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:33.049906
License: Public Domain

LEWIS, J., Dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. There are no facts concerning the terms of the contractual arrangement between the Union-Tribune *1088Publishing Company and Elaine Doucette which are in dispute. The only question is whether a contract with those undisputed terms make an employer-employee relationship or an independent contractor relationship. That question appears to me to be a question of law. To treat it as a question of fact for a jury would permit a jury in one case to conclude the contract creates an employer-employee relationship and in the next case to conclude the same contract creates an independent contractor relationship. What the majority are saying is that courts have been unable to agree on the correct legal conclusion to be drawn from facts like these, so we should let a jury decide and whichever way they decide, that will be all right. I believe the trial judge relied correctly on Fleming v. Foothill-Montrose Ledger (1977) 71 Cal.App.3d 681 [139 Cal.Rptr. 579], and I would affirm.
Respondent’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied November 20, 1986. Panelli, J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.