Albright, Byron v. Hercules HVAC Pads, Inc.

2018 TN WC 129
CourtTennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims
DecidedAugust 17, 2018
Docket2018-01-0109
StatusPublished

This text of 2018 TN WC 129 (Albright, Byron v. Hercules HVAC Pads, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Albright, Byron v. Hercules HVAC Pads, Inc., 2018 TN WC 129 (Tenn. Super. Ct. 2018).

Opinion

TENNESSE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS

AT CHATTANOOGA Byron Albright, ) Docket No.: 2018-01-0109 FILED Aug 17, 2018 Employee, ) 02:20 PM(CT) V. ) WORKERS COMPENSATION Hercules HVAC Pads, Inc., ) State File No.: 11611--2018 EAI Employer, ) And ) Hartford Ins. Co. of the Midwest, ) Judge Thomas Wyatt Carrier. ) )

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS

This Court conducted an Expedited Hearing on August 14, 2018, on Byron Albright’s request for medical and temporary benefits. The central issue was whether Mr. Albright was an employee or independent contractor of Hercules HVAC Pads, Inc. (Hercules) when injured. For the reasons below, the Court holds that Mr. Albright was Hercules’ employee and awards him medical benefits.

History of Claim

Mr. Albright suffered injuries when he fell on Hercules’ premises. He asserted that Hercules hired him as an hourly employee, while Hercules was adamant that Mr. Albright worked as an independent contractor at his insistence.

Before seeking work at Hercules, Mr. Albright worked as a janitor earning $9.50 per hour. His search for a higher-paying job led him to Hercules in October 2017, where he completed an application and spoke to Hercules’ owner, Phil Lynch. Mr. Lynch offered him $12 per hour to work on several projects. He testified he offered the work to Mr. Albright because he previously observed him to be an honest and skilled worker while working for a contractor of Hercules.

The testimony differed as to the particulars of Mr. Albright’s work status. Mr. Albright testified he asked for employment instead of contract work because of prior tax

1 issues. Mr. Lynch differed, testifying that Mr. Albright specifically asked to work as a contractor. He stated he knew Mr. Albright did not have a contractor’s license and could not afford to hire an accountant to complete the necessary paperwork to operate as a contractor, and thus asked him three times to work as an employee. Each time, Mr. Albright insisted on working as a contractor; thus, Mr. Lynch acquiesced and hired him in that capacity. Mr. Lynch paid Mr. Albright $12 per hour and did not withhold taxes or Social Security from his paycheck or pay its share of Social Security taxes.’

Mr. Albright injured his left shoulder and foot, back, and head on November 9, 2017, when he fell from a platform while attaching a chain hoist to an elevator shaft. An ambulance transported him to Erlanger Medical Center, with Mr. Lynch following.

At Erlanger, Mr. Albright underwent numerous radiological tests, which indicated a concussion and dislocations of his left shoulder and left toe. The emergency records did not address work restrictions or his capacity to work.

On December 12, Mr. Albright saw primary care physician Dr. Michael McCoy on instructions from the emergency room doctor. Mr. Albright gave a history that “he fell about 20 ft.” and his girlfriend added that he passed out and fell at home two days before the visit. After an examination, Dr. McCoy noted that Mr. Albright’s left shoulder was in a sling due to dislocation and his left foot was splinted for a metatarsal fracture. Dr. McCoy prescribed medication and made an orthopedic referral. Mr. Albright returned a month later, reporting left-shoulder and left-arm pain that he stated began after a “[f]all . . . 20 feet from ceiling in warehouse.” Dr. McCoy did not address Mr. Albright’s work status during either visit.

On January 30, 2018, Mr. Albright saw orthopedist Dr. Daniel Doty complaining of continuing pain and dysfunction in his left shoulder and arm. After reviewing a left- shoulder x-ray, Dr. Doty wrote:

It is clear that he suffered from acute traumatic rotator cuff tear [that is] massive after his fall at work. In the recovery [he] developed severe adhesive capsulitis which is now limiting his passive range of motion. I ordered an MRI to evaluate . . . the size of the tear[,] the amount of retraction and atrophy of his muscle[,] and for evaluation . . . of possible fixation of his tendons. He does have options to restore his overhead function[;] preferably this would be a rotator cuff tendon repair if possible.

Due to insufficient funds, Mr. Albright has not undergone the MRI or surgery. Dr. Doty did not address his work status.

"Hercules later provided Mr. Albright a 1099 for tax purposes. 2 On February 5, 2018, Mr. Albright saw Dr. Jesse Doty (Dr. J. Doty) for left-foot pain. Dr. J. Doty ordered an x-ray and diagnosed “CC joint degenerative change with likely anterior process calcaneus fracture.” They discussed surgical and injection options for treatment. Again, lack of funds prevented Mr. Albright from undergoing treatment. He reported continuing but reduced pain when he saw Dr. J. Doty again on May 7. This doctor did not address Mr. Albright’s work status on either visit.

Most of the evidence introduced at the Expedited Hearing concerned the mechanics of Mr. Albright’s employment status. Mr. Albright testified that he punched in and out at a timeclock, as did Hercules’ employees. Mr. Lynch explained that, at first Mr. Albright kept up with his own hours, but Mr. Lynch did not trust the number of hours Mr. Albright gave him. Afterward, Mr. Lynch decided that Mr. Albright would use the timeclock to document his hours. Mr. Albright testified he could leave Hercules’ premises during the work day if he punched out.

Mr. Albright testified that Mr. Lynch or Hercules’ manager, Turk Garzone, directed his work. He stated that, on the day of hire, Mr. Lynch directed him to put a metal roof on a building and accompanied him onto the existing roof to show him what needed to be done. Mr. Albright added that Mr. Lynch prepared a list of projects for him to complete, and when he finished a project, he asked Mr. Garzone what to do next. Mr. Lynch stated that he made Mr. Albright aware of several projects, but he did not direct his method of work or the order of completion of the projects. Mr. Garzone testified that he showed Mr. Albright a list of projects whenever Mr. Albright finished a project.

Mr. Albright stated that Hercules supplied all the materials needed to perform the jobs he completed, and Mr. Lynch authorized him to obtain help from Hercules’ employees to complete any work he could not perform himself. Mr. Lynch agreed that Hercules paid for the necessary materials because he knew Mr. Albright could not obtain credit to buy the materials himself. He also testified that he authorized Mr. Albright to use Hercules’ employees on its projects, but he required Mr. Albright to obtain permission from him in advance. Mr. Lynch testified that “[Mr. Albright] had the expertise, and I had the labor” to perform the work.

Mr. Albright wore his own tool belt at work containing basic tools such as a hammer and tape measure. He explained, however, that Hercules provided power equipment, ladders, and chain hoists to complete the assigned projects. Mr. Lynch testified Hercules allowed Mr. Albright to use its tools as needed.

Mr. Lynch testified that he told Mr. Albright he could arrive at work at whatever time he chose. However, Mr. Albright stated Mr. Lynch actually told him he could arrive a little later than the other Hercules employees when he worked on the roof because the roof was wet during the early morning hours. Mr. Garzone testified that Mr. Albright

3 arrived at work at 8:00 a.m. instead of the normal starting time of 7:00 a.m. as approved by Mr. Lynch. Mr. Lynch testified he permitted Mr. Albright to work after Hercules’ normal quitting time as long as someone with a key was on site. He would not permit Mr. Albright to work on site alone.

Mr. Garzone testified that Mr. Lynch told him he “hired” Mr. Albright, but stated that Mr. Albright “works for me.” Mr.

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Related

§ 50-6-102
Tennessee § 50-6-102(11)(D)

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2018 TN WC 129, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/albright-byron-v-hercules-hvac-pads-inc-tennworkcompcl-2018.