IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ROBERT BAYLY, : Claimant Below-Appellant, : C. A. No. S24A-05-002 CAK v. : On Appeal from Industrial : Accident Board Decision dated April 30, : 2024, IAB No. 1513116
RED HOUSE MOTORS, : d/b/a BAYLY’S GARAGE, :
Employer Below-Appellee. :
Submitted: April 8, 2025 Decided: May 6, 2025
On Appeal from the Industrial Accident Board
REVERSED
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Elissa A. Greenberg, Esquire, Elzufon Austin & Mondell, PA, 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1700, Wilmington, DE 19801, Attorney for Claimant-Appellant.
Geoffrey S. Lockyer, Esquire, Tybout, Redfearn & Pell, 501 Carr Road, Suite 300, Wilmington, DE 19899, Attorney for Employer/Carrier-Appellee.
KARSNITZ, R.J. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
This is an appeal from a decision dated April 30, 2024 (the “Decision”) of the
Delaware Industrial Accident Board (the “Board”), which dismissed a Petition to
Determine Compensation Due dated April 3, 2023 (the “Petition”) filed by Claimant-
Below, Robert Bayly (“Appellant”) after accepting a claim made by Federated
Reserve Insurance Company (“Carrier”) that Appellant was not covered under a
workers’ compensation policy issued by Carrier to Employer-Below, Red House
Motors, d/b/a Bayly’s Garage (“Employer”). (Either Carrier or Employer may be
referred to herein as “Appellee”).
Appellant filed the Petition seeking compensation under the Delaware
Workers’ Compensation Act (the “WCA”) for injuries sustained during a workplace
assault. On October 2, 2023, Carrier filed a Motion to Dismiss the Petition (the
“Motion to Dismiss”) on the grounds that Appellant was precluded from receiving
benefits for his injuries as a sole proprietor because he did not elect coverage for
himself.1 Litigation before the Board was bifurcated to address the coverage issue
apart from the merits. Both parties presented their full evidence on the coverage issue
at a Board hearing held on April 24, 2024. In its Decision, the Board granted the
Motion to Dismiss. On May 28, 2024, Appellant timely appealed the Decision to
this Court.
1 Under 19 Del. C. § 2308(b) and 19 Del. C. § 2306(b), both as discussed more fully herein. 2 On November 26, 2024, Appellant filed his Opening Brief. On February 6,
2025, Appellee filed its Answering Brief. On February 21, 2025, Appellant filed his
Reply Brief. I held oral argument on April 8, 2025. This is my decision on appeal.
FACTS
Appellant is the sole proprietor of Employer. On June 16, 2021, while
working at Employer, Appellant was assaulted by a temporary employee. He
sustained serious injuries including, but not limited to, the loss of eyesight in his left
eye, a broken jaw, a fractured rib, neck injuries, and facial numbness.
There is no factual dispute that, at the time of the work accident, Employer
was insured under a workers’ compensation policy issued by Carrier covering
workplace injuries of Appellant’s employees (“Employees”). The workers’
compensation policy covering Employer was part of a comprehensive insurance
package which Appellant purchased from Carrier in 2008. The insurance package
automatically renewed each year including, inter alia, the workers’ compensation
policy covering Employer. Carrier sent audit forms annually to Appellant so that
Carrier could adjust the amount of Appellant’s premiums for the policies in the
package. The audit forms properly identified Appellant as a sole proprietor but
instructed him to regard himself as an Employee. The audit forms also asked for all
Employees’ gross salaries. Appellant’s accountant provided the requested financial
information for the audit to Carrier. Appellant’s wife was a salaried Employee of
3 Employer, but Appellant was not.2 As a sole proprietor, he took draws against the
business instead of a salary.3 Therefore, the audit forms’ instructions did not request
inclusion of Appellant’s income.
Carrier was aware of Appellant's sole proprietor status when the package of
policies was purchased. Nowhere in the insurance policies or in the annual audits did
Carrier inform Appellant that he was uninsured for workers’ compensation benefits
for his own workplace injuries.
Since initiating his policies with Carrier in 2008, Appellant had never filed a
workers’ compensation claim until the accident in question. The only prior claim
involved property damage to his building. When Appellant reported his work
accident to Carrier, Carrier informed him that he was not covered, issued him a
partial refund for his workers’ compensation premiums in the amount of $3,085.96,
and cancelled his workers’ compensation policy.
THE BOARD HEARING
The dispute in this case stems from Carrier’s claim that coverage under the
Employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy did not extend to Appellant as
the sole proprietor of Employer. Carrier argued at the Board hearing that that
Appellant, as a sole proprietor, failed to elect workers’ coverage for himself under 19
2 Transcript of the April 24, 2024, Board Hearing, at 47, 54-57. 3 Id. 4 Del. C. § 2308(b). Carrier stated that, if a sole proprietor wants to be covered under
his business’ workers’ compensation policy, he does not have to purchase an
additional workers’ compensation policy. However, Carrier’s internal procedure for
extending coverage to a sole proprietor requires the sole proprietor to (1) inform his
authorized insurance agent that he affirmatively elects coverage, and (2) complete a
prescribed form. In this case, argued Carrier, nothing in the record indicated that
Appellant had informed it of an election for coverage, and there was no election form
in the record completed by Appellant.
Carrier relied on the testimony of its insurance analyst that Appellant never
elected coverage for himself as sole proprietor. The analyst did not see any written
documentation in the file about Appellant’s workers’ compensation coverage
expectations. But he confirmed that, to ensure personal coverage, Appellant had to
inform his agent that he wished to be covered and complete a form required by the
Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau (“DCRB”). The analyst said it was Carrier’s
responsibility to send Appellant this form.
Appellant testified that he expressly told an authorized insurance agent of
Carrier that he wanted such personal coverage for himself as sole proprietor. In
selecting the insurance policies, Appellant stated that he relied on information and
representations made by an insurance agent authorized by Carrier to sell its insurance
products. However, the whereabouts of that particular agent are now unknown, and
5 he was unavailable to provide testimony or other evidence at the Board hearing. The
Board found as a matter of fact that Appellant did not elect coverage.
Carrier sold Appellant an Executive Professional Liability (“EPL”)
insurance policy (the “EPL”). The EPL was contained in Appellant’s insurance
package which contained multiple policies, including the workers’ compensation
policy. Appellant testified that he thought the EPL provided the personal/sole
proprietor workers’ compensation coverage he had requested. However, if strictly
construed as written, the EPL only covered Appellant in the event of kidnapping,
invasion of property, carjacking, or child abduction. These are very limited
workplace events compared to the broader workplace events covered by the WCA.4
The EPL nonetheless contemplates the consequences of injuries sustained at work,
and the benefits under the EPL included compensation for lost wages, medical
treatment expenses, and permanent impairment, which look very much like benefits
under the WCA and a workers’ compensation policy.
In its Decision, the Board granted the Motion to Dismiss Appellant’s Petition
after finding that: (1) Appellant was an experienced businessperson who was aware
that he needed to elect workers’ compensation coverage for himself but had not
done so, and (2) the workers’ compensation policy unambiguously did not cover
4 Moreover, as Appellant points out, the EPL had little practical utility for a small businessperson in Sussex County.
6 Appellant.
ORAL ARGUMENT
During oral argument, the parties set forth many of the arguments they made
in their appeal papers. However, Carrier/Appellee made a key concession during
oral argument that is central to my decision in this case: although Appellant as a sole
proprietor must affirmatively elect personal coverage under a workers’
compensation insurance policy, that election does not have to be in writing or on a
prescribed Carrier or DCRB form, but may be an oral statement to the Carrier’s
agent.5 Carrier did not make this concession before the Board. The reason I find this
concession so important is that the Board in its Decision was not clear as to whether
it imposed a requirement that the election be in writing. The Board commented on
this issue several times.
On page one of the Decision in describing Carrier’s argument the Board said:
[Carrier] argues that [Employer] employs a few employees and obtained a workers’ compensation insurance policy as required by Delaware, but [Appellant] never elected to obtain coverage for himself and never completed a sole proprietor coverage endorsement to the policy … (Emphasis supplied)6
In its summary of Carrier’s insurance expert’s testimony, the Board attributed
the following to him:
5 Transcript of April 8. 2025 Oral Argument, page 26, lines 2 – 21. 6 If Carrier was arguing that the completion of a written form was required, the argument was at odds with its position at oral argument. 7 [Appellant] needed to elect to be included in the coverage and then fill out a form that [Carrier] would have provided to him if he elected to be included based upon the DCRB underwriter’s manual. (Emphasis supplied)7
Finally, in its own Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the
Board said:
[Appellant] was aware that he needed to elect workers’ compensation coverage for himself as a sole proprietor and have it included in an endorsement but did not actually elect to do so or even send an internal email to [Carrier] or his insurance agent stating that he wanted to be covered. (Emphasis supplied)
Although the Board never explicitly stated that Appellant’s election had to
be in writing, the implication is there. The Board did not express the standard it
used. Carrier presented evidence to the Board that the DCRB manual required a
written form to elect coverage. Now it concedes that, under Delaware law, a sole
proprietor need not make the election in writing.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The appeal before me is on the record of the proceedings before the Board.8
M y review is limited. I review the decision of the Board solely to determine whether
there is substantial competent evidence in the record to support the Board's findings
7 Again, to me this testimony is contrary to the position taken by the Carrier at oral argument. 8 29 Del. C. §10142. 8 and whether its decision is free from legal error.9
I do not determine questions of credibility or make my own factual findings.10
I view the facts in the light most favorable to the Board.11 A ruling of the Board will
not be disturbed on appeal unless it is based clearly on unreasonable or capricious
grounds. The "Court gives significant weight to the [Board] regarding its application
of legal principles in the specialized context of our state's workers’ compensation
scheme, because the [Board] has the occasion to give life to that scheme on a weekly
basis in the many cases that come before it."12 However, there are limited
circumstances in which I may challenge the Board’s factual findings.
In Application of Delaware Racing Ass’n, 213 A.2d 203 (Del. 1965), the
Court of Chancery held an appraisal proceeding to value the stock of the Delaware
Steeplechase and Race Association for short-form merger purposes. Dissenting
shareholders appealed, arguing that every appeal is in effect a rehearing on both law
and fact, and that it is the duty of the appellate court to review all the evidence and
draw its own factual conclusions from the evidence independently of the findings
below. Our Supreme Court disagreed, stating:
9 Johnson v. Chrysler Corp., 213 A.2d 64, 66 (Del. 1965); General Motors Corp. v. Freeman,164 A.2d 686, 688 (Del. 1960); General Motors Corp. v. Jarrell, 493 A.2d 978, 980 (Del. Super 1985). 10 Id. 11 Chudnofsky v. Edwards, 208 A.2d 516,518 (Del. 1965). 12 Berry v. MIRTA QSR KNE LLC, 2021 WL 626944 (Del. Super. Feb. 16, 2021) citing Christiana Care Health Services v. Davis, 197 A.3d 391, 395 (Del. 2015). 9 In substance, the rule as to scope of review is as it has always been, that it is our duty to review the evidence to test the propriety of the findings below. When the evidence consists primarily of depositions, documents, or the report of a master or appraiser, we may make our own conclusions, if the requirement of doing justice requires it and if the findings below are clearly wrong. Furthermore, when we are concerned with findings arising from deductions, processes of reasoning, or logical inferences, it is our duty to review them and, if the requirement of doing justice requires it and if the findings below are clearly wrong, then to draw our own inferences and reach our own conclusions. This is not to say, however, that we may ignore the findings below. On the contrary, when they are supported by the record and are the product of an orderly and logical deductive process, we, in the exercise of judicial restraint, accept them, even though independently we might have reached opposite conclusions.
Certain it is that in every appeal we do not approach its decision as though we were trial judges facing the duty of determining facts initially. We search the record solely for the ultimate purpose of determining whether or not error in fact or law was committed below.
The Court affirmed the valuation of the Chancery Court below.
In Levitt v. Bouvier,13 investors brought an action against individual defendant
and a corporation for liability for fraud and misrepresentation. After a bench trial,
this Court rendered judgment for the investors against the individual but in favor of
the corporation. The individual defendant appealed and the investors cross-appealed.
In reviewing the trial judge’s findings of fact and affirming the decision below, the
Supreme Court held:
The trial judge made findings of fact. His findings were based upon consideration of the documentary evidence and the testimony and
13 287 A.2d 671 (Del. 1972). 10 credibility of “live” witnesses. In a nonjury case in which a Superior Court Judge sits as the finder of fact, an appeal from his decision is upon both the law and the facts. In such an appeal this court has the authority to review the entire record and to make its own findings of fact in a proper case. In exercising our power of review, we have the duty to review the sufficiency of the evidence and to test the propriety of the findings below. We do not, however, ignore the findings made by the trial judge. If they are sufficiently supported by the record and are the product of an orderly and logical deductive process, in the exercise of judicial restraint we accept them, even though independently we might have reached opposite conclusions. It is only when the findings below are clearly wrong and the doing of justice requires their overturn that we are free to make contradictory findings of fact.14
Levitt was ratified by the Supreme Court in Levin v. Smith,15 a complex dispute about
the impression of a trust on real property between family members. The Court stated:
In reviewing the factual findings of a trial judge, this Court may review the entire record and, when the findings of the court below are clearly wrong and the doing of justice requires their overturn ... we are free to make contradictory findings of fact. Here, after careful review of the record, we hold that the findings of fact and the inferences and deductions which the Trial Judge drew therefrom are clearly wrong and that justice requires a different result.16
The Court reversed and remanded with directions to the trial court to enter judgment
in favor of appellant.
I review these cases because (1) the Board failed to articulate the standard it
used (whether a writing was required), and (2) the Board’s factual findings are
14 Id. at 673 [Citations omitted]. 15 513 A.2d 1992 (Del. 1986). 16 Id. at 1301 [Citation omitted].
11 inconsistent with a reasonable review of the evidence.
As discussed more fully below and based on my review of the known facts
in this case, I find that the findings of the Board are not sufficiently supported by the
record and are not the product of an orderly and logical deductive process. In my
view, the findings of the Board are clearly wrong and the doing of justice requires
their overturn, so I am free to make contradictory findings of fact.
ANALYSIS
As a threshold matter, an issue was raised by the parties on appeal regarding
the interrelationship of two provisions of the WCA, 19 Del. C. § 2308(b) and 19 Del.
C. § 2306(b).
19 Del. C. § 2308(b) provides:
Sole proprietors … are not included within this chapter, but such sole proprietor … may elect coverage in accordance with § 2306 of this title.
19 Del. C. § 2306(b) provides:
In all cases where an employer not subject to this chapter carries insurance to insure the payment of compensation to the employees, then in any and all such cases such employer and employees shall come under this chapter, and all of the provisions thereof, with the same force and effect as in cases where an employer is subject to this chapter.
It is undisputed in this case that Appellant had been paying workers’ compensation
insurance premiums to cover his Employees. The dispute centers on whether he
properly elected to cover himself personally under the WCA. 12 Appellee argues that Appellant is not eligible to receive workers’
compensation benefits for his injuries as a sole proprietor since he failed to elect
coverage for himself pursuant to 19 Del. C. § 2308(b). Appellee further argues that
Appellant is not eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits for his injuries
solely because of carrying workers’ compensation insurance for the injuries of his
Employees pursuant to 19 Del. C. § 2306(b).
Appellant counters that 19 Del. C. § 2308(b) exempts Appellant as a sole
proprietor from all requirements of the WCA, and as a sole proprietor he was not
required to have any workers’ compensation insurance for his Employees, unless
coverage is elected thereunder. Since he so elected, 19 Del. C. § 2306(b) requires
that everyone – Appellant as sole proprietor/Employer and his Employees -- must
be recognized as covered under the WCA.
In my view, although these two sections of the statute may not be a model of
clarity, part of the confusion lies in the difference between a “sole proprietor” and a
“sole proprietorship.” The latter term is not used in the statute. Appellant is a sole
proprietor, and Employer is a sole proprietorship. One reading of the statute is that
19 Del. C. § 2308(b) provides that a sole proprietor like Appellant is excluded from
the WCA, but not a sole proprietorship like Employer. However, 19 Del. C. §
2306(b) provides that if a sole proprietor like Appellant, otherwise excluded from
the WCA, carries insurance to insure the payment of compensation to the Employees
13 of the sole proprietorship like Employer (as was the case here), and elects coverage
for himself, then he and his Employees come under all the provisions of the WCA.
Another issue raised by the parties on appeal concerns the “reasonable
expectations” of Appellant with respect to his eligibility to receive workers’
compensation benefits for his injuries. Appellant essentially makes an equitable
estoppel argument based upon the usual elements of that doctrine in Delaware (lack
of knowledge by Appellant, reliance by Appellant on conduct of Appellee,
prejudicial change of position by Appellant).
I need not address either of these issues to resolve this case, and, in the interest
of judicial temperance and economy, I decline to do so. A narrower path is available.
Both parties and the Board agree that if Appellant properly elected to have personal
coverage as a sole proprietor under the WCA, he is eligible to receive workers’
compensation benefits for his injuries. Thus, the issue becomes: did Appellant
properly elect to have personal coverage as a sole proprietor under the WCA? This
turns on whether Appellant was legally required to so elect in writing or on a
prescribed form. It is undisputed that he did neither.
19 Del. C. § 2306(b) outlines how a sole proprietor elects coverage under 19
Del. C. §2308(b). It does not require him to write an email or otherwise submit an
election coverage request in writing or on a prescribed form.17 Rather, the statute
17 Carrier’s reliance on forms published by the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau (“DCRB”) 14 simply states that, “in all cases,” an employer who was otherwise excluded from the
WCA – like a sole proprietor -- can elect to become included by purchasing
coverage. Once coverage is purchased, t h e s o l e p r o p r i e t o r a n d all
Employees are covered under “any and all” circumstances. The statute does not
require a form, and it does not require a sole proprietor to request coverage in
writing. Nor does Carrier require a sole proprietor to make a coverage election in
writing.18 Rather, the insured simply needs to tell his agent that he wishes to be
covered.19 It is the Carrier that bears responsibility for sending the relevant coverage
form.20 Most importantly, Carrier now concedes all this.
The Board stated as one of the two reasons for its Decision that the workers’
compensation policy unambiguously did not cover Appellant. I disagree. The
workers’ compensation policy issued to Appellant contains a “Who Is Insured”
section written by Carrier, which states that a partner may not be covered by the
workers’ compensation policy but provides no such warning as to a sole proprietor.
The Extension of Information Page of the workers’ compensation policy itself
included Appellant as a “Named Insured.”
The second reason stated by the Board for its decision was that Appellant was
tends to show that it is Carrier and the DCRB, and not the statute, that mandates the use of the forms. 18 Deposition of Carrier’s underwriter dated March 19, 2024, at 47 – 48. 19 Id. 20 Id., at 48. 15 an experienced businessperson who was aware that he needed to elect workers’
compensation coverage for himself but had not done so. I disagree. If anything, the
expertise in insurance matters rested in Carrier, not Appellant. He is a small
businessperson, not a corporate executive, and the sophisticated party is Carrier. For
example, the Board stated that Appellant knew, or should have known, that he was
not covered when he omitted his “salary” from the Carrier’s audit forms. But, as a
small businessperson, Appellant relied on his accountant to complete that portion of
Carrier’s audit forms.21 As a sole proprietor, A pp e ll a nt did not receive a salary.
Instead, he received a draw. To the extent information about his draw was truly
needed to calculate premiums, Carrier should have known the difference between a
salary and a draw and should have clarified its audit instructions.
Moreover, the Board’s finding that Appellant’s salary omission caused
Carrier to lack information needed to calculate his workers’ compensation insurance
premiums is not supported by substantial evidence. Carrier was fully able to
calculate the premiums for the EPL, which purported to pay lost wages, medical bills,
and permanent impairment compensation in the event of Claimant’s incapacity or
injury. These payments are comparable to those provided by the WCA.
For me, the reasonable conclusion is that Appellant elected coverage for
himself by vocalizing his request to an authorized agent of Carrier. He asked to be
21 Transcript of the April 24, 2024, Board Hearing, at 35-36, 48, 55. 16 covered. No one disputes that. But Carrier sold him an EPL which mimicked
workers’ compensation benefits. The sale of the EPL was in response to Appellant’s
election, which for me is the reasonable conclusion. The effort to turn an automobile
mechanic, albeit a businessperson, into one knowledgeable about the intricacies of
insurance, is window dressing. Therefore, under 19 Del. C. § 2306 and Carrier’s own
procedures, Appellant properly elected coverage. Verbal coverage election is
sufficient. Carrier’s agent had knowledge of Appellant’s election of coverage, that
knowledge was imputed to Carrier, and Carrier must provide coverage pursuant to
the parties’ agreement.
CONCLUSION
I recognize that my role as an appellate court is limited, particularly as to
factual findings in worker’s compensation cases. However, this is one of those rare
cases governed by Levitt and Levin where the Board’s Decision does not square with
the known facts. Nor does the Decision state what standard the Board applied to
those facts in determining that Appellant was not covered by the workers’
compensation policy. As discussed above, the proper standard is that no written
election is required for Appellant to be personally covered as a sole proprietor under
Employer’s workers’ compensation policy. Carrier conceded this on appeal, yet the
Board has never been advised of this concession. Since the burden of proof is on
Carrier, at a minimum this case would require remand to the Board for a new factual
17 finding upon application of the correct standard. However, I go further and reverse
with directions to the Board to find that, by applying the correct standard (which
Appellee agrees should govern) to the undisputed facts, Appellant made an oral
election, which is sufficient to cover him under the workers’ compensation policy.
Appellant’s Petition to Determine Compensation Due shall therefore be granted.
For the foregoing reasons, Appellant’s appeal is GRANTED, and the decision
of the Board is REVERSED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Craig A. Karsnitz Craig A. Karsnitz
cc: Prothonotary