Bennerstrom v. DEPT. OF LABOR & INDUSTRIES

86 P.3d 826
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedMarch 29, 2004
Docket52168-3-I
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 86 P.3d 826 (Bennerstrom v. DEPT. OF LABOR & INDUSTRIES) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bennerstrom v. DEPT. OF LABOR & INDUSTRIES, 86 P.3d 826 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

86 P.3d 826 (2004)

John BENNERSTROM, an individual, Appellant,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUSTRIES of the State of Washington; and the Department of Social and Health Services of the State of Washington, Respondents.

No. 52168-3-I.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 1.

March 29, 2004.

*827 Philip James Buri, Buri Funston PLLC, Bellingham, WA, Breean Lawrence Beggs, Spokane, WA, for Appellant.

Lianne Schain Malloy, Attorney at Law, Olympia, WA, Anastasia R. Sandstrom, Attorney at Law, Seattle, WA, for Respondents.

COX, A.C.J.

An employment relationship for purposes of the workers' compensation laws does not exist absent (a) the employer having a right to control the employee's physical conduct in the performance of the employee's duties and (b) the employee's consent to the employment *828 relationship.[1] Here, there is no genuine issue of material fact whether John Bennerstrom consented to the employment relationship. Bennerstrom did not. Moreover, there is no genuine issue of material fact whether Bennerstrom is a domestic servant under applicable law. Bennerstrom is. Accordingly, we hold that the superior court properly granted summary judgment to the Department of Labor and Industries and the Department of Social and Health Services and affirm.

Bennerstrom's mother, Jean Bennerstrom, suffered from significant cognitive loss and required total medical and day-to-day care prior to her death. Bennerstrom contracted with the state Department of Social and Health Services under the Community Options Program Entry System (COPES) to provide in-home care to Mrs. Bennerstrom. COPES is a Medicaid program that uses federal and state funds to pay for in-home service providers for Medicaid clients who would otherwise be placed in a nursing home. The written agreement between Bennerstrom and DSHS sets forth a number of terms and conditions, including a statement of work and a schedule of compensation by which DSHS paid Bennerstrom.

In August 1999, during the term of the most recent contract with DSHS, Bennerstrom suffered an injury when a car struck him while he was on his bicycle. The record reflects that he was on his way to the library to conduct research as part of a continuing education course for the COPES program. He applied for workers' compensation benefits in November 1999. DLI rejected his claim.

He appealed, and the BIIA upheld the denial of benefits. Bennerstrom appealed the BIIA's decision to Whatcom County Superior Court. Both Bennerstrom and DHSH moved for summary judgment. The trial court granted DSHS's motion and denied Bennerstrom's.

Bennerstrom appeals.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

RCW 51.52.110 and RCW 51.52.115 govern judicial review of matters arising under the Industrial Insurance Act. RCW 51.52.115 states:

The hearing in the superior court shall be de novo, but the court shall not receive evidence or testimony other than, or in addition to, that offered before the board or included in the record filed by the board in the superior court as provided in RCW 51.52.110... In all court proceedings under or pursuant to this title the findings and decision of the board shall be prima facie correct and the burden of proof shall be upon the party attacking the same. If the court shall determine that the board has acted within its power and has correctly construed the law and found the facts, the decision of the board shall be confirmed...

Bennerstrom argues that the trial court erred by assuming that the BIIA's findings of fact were true, thus taking factual disputes away from a jury and violating RCW 51.52.115. Contrary to Bennerstrom's assertion, the trial court did not assume the BIIA's findings were true. The court considered the Certified Appeal Board Record, reviewed the legal authority submitted, held that there were no genuine issues of material fact, and affirmed the BIIA's ruling. The court's treatment was well within the controlling statutory framework, and we reject Bennerstrom's argument to the contrary.

When a party appeals from a BIIA decision, and the superior court grants summary judgment affirming that decision, the appellate court's inquiry is the same as that of the superior court.[2] Appellate review is based solely on the evidence and testimony presented to the BIIA.[3] We may substitute our own judgment for that of the agency regarding issues of law, but we give great weight to the agency's interpretation of the law it administers.[4]*829 Summary judgment is properly granted when the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, and admissions on file demonstrate there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.[5] We review questions of law de novo.[6]

EMPLOYEE

Bennerstrom primarily contends that he was an employee of both DSHS and his mother, as the COPES care recipient. We disagree and hold that Bennerstrom was not a DSHS employee.

"For purposes of workmen's compensation, an employment relationship exists only when: (1) the employer has the right to control the servant's physical conduct in the performance of his duties, and (2) there is consent by the employee to this relationship."[7]

For purposes of our analysis, we first consider the second of these two criteria. The failure to establish a genuine issue of material fact with respect to this second prong makes all other disputed facts immaterial for summary judgment purposes.[8]

Consent Prong

Bennerstrom argues that the evidence in the record shows mutual assent to an employment relationship and that such evidence should have been submitted to a jury to resolve this issue. We disagree.

"A worker's bare assertion of belief that he or she worked for this or that employer does not establish an employment relationship."[9] In fact, the record shows that neither party consented to an employment relationship. The COPES contract states:

Contractor Not Employee of DSHS By signing this contract, the Contractor certifies that he/she is not a current DSHS employee, and will advise DSHS immediately should this status change. This contract shall become null and void if the Contractor accepts employment with DSHS. The client shall have free choice of a qualified provider(s) as described under Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 388-15. The Contractor performing under this agreement is not an employee or agent of DSHS. The Contractor shall not hold himself/herself out as nor claim to be an officer or employee of the State of Washington by reason hereof. The Contractor agrees not to make any claim, demand, or application to or for any right or privilege applicable to a DSHS or Washington State employee including, but not limited to, workmen's compensation coverage or retirement membership or credit or any other benefit which would accrue to a civil service employee under Chapter 41.06 RCW.[[10]]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
86 P.3d 826, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bennerstrom-v-dept-of-labor-industries-washctapp-2004.