Johnson v. Rogers & Phillips, Inc.

753 So. 2d 286, 99 La.App. 4 Cir. 0116, 1999 La. App. LEXIS 3662, 1999 WL 587957
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 15, 1999
Docket99-CA-0116
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 753 So. 2d 286 (Johnson v. Rogers & Phillips, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. Rogers & Phillips, Inc., 753 So. 2d 286, 99 La.App. 4 Cir. 0116, 1999 La. App. LEXIS 3662, 1999 WL 587957 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

753 So.2d 286 (1999)

Leonard JOHNSON
v.
ROGERS & PHILLIPS, INC.

No. 99-CA-0116.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

July 21, 1999.
Opinion Granting Rehearing December 15, 1999.

*288 James P. Lambert, Curtis & Lambert, Lafayette, Louisiana and Alfred V. Pavy Boudreau, Pavy & Boudreau, Opelousas, Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee.

Sidney W. Degan III, James A. Rowell, Degan, Blanchard & Nash, New Orleans, Louisiana, Counsel for Defendant/Appellant Rogers & Phillips, Inc.

David J. Bourgeois, Metairie, Louisiana, Counsel for Intervenor/Appellee.

Court composed of Judge WILLIAM H. BYRNES III, Judge MOON LANDRIEU, Judge MICHAEL E. KIRBY.

KIRBY, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Plaintiff, Leonard Johnson, brought suit against defendant Rogers & Phillips, Inc., alleging that he had suffered injuries on its site while working for his employer, T.K. Stanley, Inc.[1] Rogers & Phillips filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Johnson was, at the time of the accident, Rogers & Phillips' borrowed employee, and as such should only be eligible for workman's compensation benefits.

Summary judgment was denied; after a trial on the merits, Johnson was initially awarded $37,500.00 in damages. This judgment would eventually be modified three times; the first two modifications were largely clerical in nature and do not concern us here. However, the third modification arose when it was revealed that the trial judge had mistakenly understood that Johnson's damages could not exceed the sum of $50,000.00. Johnson moved for a new trial just on the issue of damages, and this motion was granted.[2] After this, the fourth and final judgment was rendered, *289 awarding Johnson damages of $163,705.19.[3] This amount was reduced by 25% to $122,778.30, as comparative fault was attributed to Johnson. From this judgment, both Johnson and Rogers & Phillips appeal.

FACTS

Leonard Johnson was, in April 1994, employed as a truck driver by T.K. Stanley, Inc.; on the third of that month, Johnson, accompanied by fellow driver John Alleman, made a delivery of pipeline pipe to defendant Rogers & Phillips, Inc. Upon their arrival at Rogers & Phillips, Johnson and Alleman were told that no personnel were available to unload the pipe; a Rogers & Phillips foreman requested their assistance in the unloading of the truck.

A Rogers & Phillips foreman oversaw the unloading, which involved the use of a cherry picker crane. Johnson's role was to stand atop the load of pipe at the back of the flatbed trailer and hook the crane's sling onto the end of the pipe. At one point, after one of the pipes was being lifted, the pipe spun around, knocking Johnson approximately fifteen feet to the ground. Johnson rested briefly, then returned to the flatbed to continue helping with the unloading. At some point, Johnson had to cross to the opposite side of the flatbed; as he was doing so, the crane operator began lifting pipe. The pipe struck Johnson, who fell again, this time approximately eight to ten feet. Soon after this, it became apparent that Johnson had suffered injuries to his elbow and back. To seek recompense for these injuries, he instituted the present suit.

DEFENDANT'S FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

In its first assignment of error, Rogers & Phillips asserts that the trial court erred in denying its motion for summary judgment on the borrowed employee issue.

Summary judgment is properly granted only if the pleadings and evidence show that there is no genuine issue of material fact, and that the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. La. C.C.P.Art. 966 C. Article 966 has recently been amended; however, the burden of proof remains with the mover to show that no genuine issue of material fact exists. See Hayes v. Autin, 96-287 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/26/96), 685 So.2d 691, writ denied, 97-0281 (La.3/14/97), 690 So.2d 41. Appellate courts review summary judgments de novo, using the same criteria that govern the trial court's consideration of whether summary judgment is appropriate.

If a plaintiff is determined to be a borrowed employee, he is barred from bringing a tort action against the borrowing employer; his sole remedy then lies in worker's compensation. Carter v. Chevron Chemical Co., 593 So.2d 942 (La.App. 4 Cir.), writ denied, 596 So.2d 211 (La.1992). If Rogers & Phillips had demonstrated, as a matter of law, that Johnson was a borrowed employee, then Johnson's tort suit should not have been allowed to proceed.

In order to determine whether a worker is the borrowed employee of another, the Ruiz factors must be considered. The necessary questions to be asked are:

1) Who has control over the employee and the work he is performing, beyond mere suggestion of details or cooperation?
2) Whose work is being performed?
3) Was there an agreement, understanding, or meeting of the minds between the original and the borrowing employer?
4) Did the employee acquiesce in the new work situation?
5) Did the original employer terminate his relationship with the employee?
*290 6) Who furnished the tools and place for performance?
7) Was the new employment over a considerable length of time?
8) Who had the right to discharge the employee?
9) Who had the obligation to pay the employee?

Ruiz v. Shell Oil Co., 413 F.2d 310 (5th Cir.1969).

Rogers & Phillips argues that the factual evidence before the trial court at the time of the motion for summary judgment compelled a finding that plaintiff was the borrowed employee of Rogers & Phillips. This argument is followed by a detailed listing of facts as they apply to each Ruiz factor.

1) Who had control over the work? In this situation, it is clear that Rogers & Phillips had primary control over the work being performed; its foreman directed and supervised the unloading of the pipe. In fact, Rogers & Phillips had the exclusive obligation to unload the trucks. Plaintiff's involvement in this operation was fortuitous and came about only because Rogers & Phillips was not properly staffed for one job. Rogers & Phillips also correctly notes that the `control' factor is often considered central to determining borrowed servant status. Conner v. American Marine Corp., 96-2175 (La.App. 4 Cir. 11/17/96), 684 So.2d 550. However, no single factor is ever considered determinative. Walters v. Metropolitan Erection Co., 94-0162, 94-0475 (La.App. 4 Cir. 10/27/94), 644 So.2d 1143.

2) Whose work was being performed? Rogers & Phillips argues that the evidence before the court was conclusive on this issue, pointing out that T.K. Stanley trucks were ordinarily unloaded by the party to whom the cargo was being delivered. However, defendant notes that T.K. Stanley drivers did, at times, assist in unloading their trucks, suggesting that this action might be considered one of the duties of their employment. The trial court could well have concluded that further facts were needed before this factor could be properly evaluated.

3) Was there an agreement or understanding between the original and the borrowing employer?

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Bluebook (online)
753 So. 2d 286, 99 La.App. 4 Cir. 0116, 1999 La. App. LEXIS 3662, 1999 WL 587957, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-rogers-phillips-inc-lactapp-1999.