Court Opinion

ID: 9724081
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:43:53.731988+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:55.176107
License: Public Domain

HOFFMAN, Judge,
concurring in result. I concur in result.
I do not agree that Indiana has adopted the doctrine of negligent hiring of an independent contractor.
Indiana follows the general rule that an individual is not liable for the acts or negligence of another unless the relationship of master and servant exists between them, and where an injury has been done by a party exercising an independent employment, the person employing that party will not be liable for injuries resulting from that party's wrongful acts or omissions. Perry v. Northern Ind. Public Serv. Co. (1982), Ind.App., 433 N.E.2d 44, 46. Therefore, a general contractor is not liable for injuries to employees of its negligent subcontractor. Lewis v. Lockard (1986), Ind.App., 498 N.E.2d 1024, 1027. Five exceptions to this general rule were originally enumerated in Scott Constr. Co. v. Cobb (1928), 86 Ind.App. 699, 159 N.E. 763:
"(1) Where the contract requires the performance of work intrinsically danger ous; (2) where a party is by law or contract charged with a specific duty; (8) where the act will create a nuisance; (4) where the act to be performed will probably cause injury to others unless due precaution is taken to avoid harm; and (5) where the act to be performed is illegal."
Id., at 703, 159 N.E. at 765.
I do not agree that Board of Commissioners of Wabash County v. Pearson (1889), 120 Ind. 426, 22 N.E. 134, stands for the proposition that Indiana has adopted the doctrine of negligent hiring of an independent contractor. See Detrick v. Midwest Pipe & Steel, Inc. (1992), Ind.App., 598 N.E.2d 1074, 1081. Rather, in Wabash the public corporation was charged with the specific duty of maintaining a safe bridge, and, therefore, Wabash more appropriately fits under the well-recognized exception pertaining to situations where a party is charged with a nondelegable duty by law or contract. See Wabash at 429, 22 N.E. at 185. In all other matters I concur.
SHIELDS, J., concurs.