Branham v. Celadon Trucking Services, Inc.

744 N.E.2d 514, 2001 Ind. App. LEXIS 304, 2001 WL 173547
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 20, 2001
Docket49A02-0003-CV-196
StatusPublished
Cited by51 cases

This text of 744 N.E.2d 514 (Branham v. Celadon Trucking Services, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Branham v. Celadon Trucking Services, Inc., 744 N.E.2d 514, 2001 Ind. App. LEXIS 304, 2001 WL 173547 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

OPINION

KIRSCH, Judge.

"The law does not provide a remedy for every annoyance that occurs in everyday life. Many things which are distressing or may be lacking in propriety or good taste are not actionable."

Kelley v. Post Publishing Company, 327 Mass. 275, 98 N.E.2d 286, 287 (1951) (quoted in Lee v. Weston, 402 N.E.2d 28, 30 n. 2 (Ind.Ct.App.1980)). These words guide our examination of this consolidated appeal, in which Lawrence and Becky Bran-ham 1 appeal from the trial court's grant of summary judgment on their claim against Celadon Trucking Services, Inc. (Celadon) and Bruce Edwards for Edwards's negligent supervision and Celadon and Edwards appeal the denial of summary judgment on the Branhams' remaining claims. We address the following issues:

T. Whether the Branhams' claims are barred by the exclusivity provisions of the Indiana Worker's Compensation Act.
II. Whether the Branbhams' designation of evidence in opposition to the motion for summary judgment was sufficient and whether a genuine issue of material fact precludes entry of summary judgment on Branham's claims for libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy.
Whether summary judgment should be granted on the Bran-hams' claims for punitive damages and loss of consortium. TIL.

We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Branham and Adam Deaton worked as mechanics for Celadon. Edwards was the lead mechanic and their supervisor. Cela-don employees received a thirty-minute lunch break and two fifteen-minute breaks during their shifts. On March 6, 1999, Branham fell asleep in a chair in the employee break room while on his break. *519 Deaton found him sleeping and asked Edwards to take a picture of them. Edwards retrieved an instant camera used by Cela-don employees to photograph damaged trucks for insurance purposes. Standing beside the sleeping Branham, Deaton posed with his pants down, clad in his underwear with his hand held suggestively in front of his genital area. Edwards snapped the picture and then left it on the table in the break room. Deaton took the picture and showed it to other mechanics.

Other mechanics and employees began teasing Branham about the picture. Al though Branham knew that his picture had been taken, he did not realize what the picture represented. After a couple of weeks, he complained to Edwards and asked Edwards to retrieve the picture. Edwards ordered Deaton to return the picture to Branham. When Branham saw the image, he became very upset. Meanwhile, Celadon's management learned of the picture. After an investigation, they suspended both Deaton and Edwards for a week without pay and demoted Edwards from lead mechanic to mechanic.

Branham, however, felt "like a laughing stock." He secured employment with another trucking firm and left his employment at Celadon. He and his wife, Becky, then filed suit against Celadon, Edwards, and Deaton. Their complaint stated claims for invasion of privacy, libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision, and loss of consortium. Celadon filed a motion to dismiss the Branhams' complaint alleging that the trial court lacked jurisdiction because the claim was governed by the Indiana Worker's Compensation Act. The trial court denied this motion. Celadon and Edwards then moved for summary judgment on all claims. The trial court granted Edwards's motion for summary judgment on the negligent supervision claim and denied the motion on all other claims. All parties now appeal.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

I. Exclusivity Provision of the Indiana Worker's Compensation Act

Celadon and Edwards first contend that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the Branhams' suit because Branham claims a work-related injury, and the Indiana Worker's Compensation Act ("Act") gives exclusive jurisdiction of worker's compensation claims to the Worker's Compensation Board.

A defense that the plaintiff's action is barred by the exclusivity provision of the Act is an attack on. the trial court's subject matter jurisdiction. U.S. Metalsource Corp. v. Simpson, 649 N.E.2d 682, 684 (Ind.Ct.App.1995). Lack of subject matter jurisdiction is an affirmative defense which may be raised in the pleadings under Ind. Trial Rule 8(C) or on motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction under Ind. Trial Rule 12(B)(1). Id. Here, Celadon and Edwards filed a motion to dismiss the Branhams' claims.

-In ruling on a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the court may resolve factual disputes. Id. In doing so, it may consider not only the complaint and motion, but also any affidavits or other evidence submitted. Id. Moreover, the court may weigh the evi-denee to determine. the existence of the requisite jurisdictional facts. Id.

Onee the defendant raises the issue of the exclusivity of the Act, the burden shifts to the employee to prove that the claim falls outside the seope of the Act. Nowicki v. Cannon Steel Erection Co., 711 N.E.2d 536, 589 (Ind.Ct.App.1999), trams. denied. In meeting this burden, the plaintiff must adduce evidence supporting jurisdiction and not rely merely on the pleadings. Foshee v. Shoney's, Inc., 637 N.E.2d 1277, 1280 (Ind.1994).

.The Act provides for compensation to employees who receive injuries on the job. See IC 22-8-8-10. IC 22-8-2-6 states that the rights and remedies granted to an *520 employee under the statute exclude all other rights and remedies of such employee. However, by definition the Act applies only if the employee has received an injury. IC 22-3-6-1 provides: " 'Injury' and 'personal injury' mean only injury by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment and do not include a disease in any form except as it results from the injury."

Our supreme court examined this definition in Perry v. Stitzer Buick GMC, Inc., 637 N.E.2d 1282, 1288-89 (Ind.1994). In that case, an employee brought suit against his former employer for damages resulting from harassment, racial slurs, battery, and his eventual discharge. The employer argued that the suit was barred by the exclusivity provision of the Act. The supreme court disagreed and held that Perry was entitled to bring a common law suit. Id.

The court examined the definition of personal injury in the statute and found that the term includes both physical injury and the different concepts of "disability" and "impairment." Id. The court noted that impairment is a term of art for purposes of worker's compensation that denotes an injured employee's loss of physical functions and disability refers to an injured employee's inability to work. Id. Further, the extent of a disability is determined by a worker's physical and mental fitness for various employment opportunities. Id.

In Perry's complaint, he alleged that he suffered embarrassment, bumiliation, stress and paranoia, and that his character and reputation had been damaged.

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744 N.E.2d 514, 2001 Ind. App. LEXIS 304, 2001 WL 173547, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/branham-v-celadon-trucking-services-inc-indctapp-2001.