Michael v. Pella Products, Inc.

2014 IL App (1st) 132695, 14 N.E.3d 533

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: June 25, 2014
• Docket: 1-13-2695
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

2014 IL App (1st) 132695

THIRD DIVISION June 25, 2014

No. 1-13-2695

ROBERT MICHAEL, on Behalf of Himself ) Appeal from the and All Others Similarly Situated, ) Circuit Court of ) Cook County Plaintiff-Appellant ) ) v. ) No. 12 CH 27672 ) PELLA PRODUCTS, INC., ) Honorable ) Mary Mikva, Defendant-Appellee. ) Judge Presiding.

JUSTICE MASON delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Presiding Justice Hyman and Justice Neville concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION

¶1 Plaintiff-Appellant Robert J. Michael, the owner of Robert J. Michael Homes, Inc.,

brought an action against defendant Pella Products, Inc. under the Illinois Employee

Classification Act (the Act) (820 ILCS 185/10 (West 2012)) alleging Pella misclassified him as

an independent contractor instead of as an employee of Pella. Pella moved for summary

judgment in the trial court on the ground that the Act's administrative regulations promulgated by

the Illinois Department of Labor (56 Ill. Adm. Code 240.110 (2008)), provide that incorporated

businesses like RJM are excluded from the scope of the Act. The trial court granted summary

judgment to Pella, finding that facts showed that Pella contracted with RJM, that RJM was a

bona fide corporation under the regulations and, therefore, the Act did not apply. We agree and

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¶2 BACKGROUND

¶3 In 2007, Michael incorporated a residential contracting business with the Illinois

Secretary of State, naming it "Robert J. Michael Homes, Inc." Michael owns 50% of RJM and is

named its vice president; Michael's wife owns the other 50% and is named its president. RJM

held a meeting of its board of directors, kept corporate board minutes, and filed articles of

incorporation. RJM was initially capitalized in the amount of $1,000, paid by Michael, and

issued 100 shares of stock. Since its incorporation, RJM has been in good standing with the

State of Illinois.

¶4 Since 2007, RJM has filed corporate tax returns every year. Upon incorporation, RJM

applied for and was issued an employer tax identification number. In 2009, RJM employed 14

people, including Michael. Michael, as co-owner of RJM, was responsible for the hiring of all of

RJM's employees, tracking their hours of work, and setting their rates of pay. RJM's employees

were paid directly by RJM out of its corporate bank account. RJM withheld federal and state

taxes from its employees' wages and issued W-2 tax forms for all of its employees. As an

employee of RJM, Michael was also issued a W-2. In addition to earning wages from RJM as an

employee, Michael also took a shareholder distribution from the corporation in 2009.

¶5 RJM also maintained general liability, worker's compensation, and unemployment

insurance in its name. The record shows that several worker's compensation claims against RJM

and unemployment insurance claims against RJM had been made by its employees.

¶6 Pella is in the business of selling and installing windows and doors. In 2008 RJM

contracted with Pella to provide window and door installation services. RJM and Pella entered

into a similar agreement 2009. Both agreements were executed in RJM's name as the

subcontractor.

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¶7 As part of the agreements, Pella required RJM to provide sufficient labor to perform all

the work required by Pella and in accordance with Pella specifications, standards, and

expectations. Pella required RJM's employees to complete a Pella-sponsored training seminar

and to perform all labor following Pella's installation protocols. Additionally, the agreements

required RJM's employees to follow Pella safety protocol and clean up the jobsite pursuant to

Pella specifications. For about 20% of the jobs, Pella's employees made quality control checks

on RJM's work. RJM employees were required to wear Pella apparel and affix the Pella logo to

any vehicles used by RJM employees. RJM provided tools and some framing materials for the

jobs, while Pella provided the windows and other materials such as trim and caulk.

¶8 Pella customers contracted directly with Pella for installation services. After contracting

with a customer, Pella scheduled installations and instructed RJM, via Michael, when and where

to perform the installations. The customers paid Pella. Pella paid RJM directly based on the

work performed. The funds were deposited into RJM's corporate account.

¶9 From September 2009 through December 2009, RJM simultaneously provided services

for Pella and the Pleasant Dale park district. Pella and RJM ended their relationship in December

2009, and RJM has remained in business since.

¶ 10 In 2012, Michael filed a putative class action complaint alleging that Pella improperly

classified him and others similarly situated as independent contractors instead of employees in

violation of the Act. Pella moved for summary judgment on the basis that administrative

regulations to the Act exclude bona fide corporations such as RJM from the purview of the Act.

The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Pella finding that Michael performed

services for Pella through a "bona fide corporation" as defined in Title 56, section 240.100 of the

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Administrative Code (56 Ill. Adm Code 240.100 (2008)), and not as an "individual" under the

Act. Michael timely filed this appeal.

¶ 11 ANALYSIS

¶ 12 Summary judgment is proper where "the pleadings, depositions, admissions and

affidavits on file, when viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, show that

there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is clearly entitled to

judgment as a matter of law." Schultz v. Illinois Farmers Insurance Co., 237 Ill. 2d 391, 399

(2010) (citing 735 ILCS 5/2-1005(c) (West 2008)). If the undisputed facts fail to establish a

necessary element of plaintiff's cause of action, summary judgment is appropriate. Williams v.

Manchester, 228 Ill. 2d 404, 417 (2008). While a plaintiff need not prove its case at the

summary judgment stage, plaintiff must present enough evidence to create a genuine issue of

fact. Gyllin v. College Craft Enterprises, Ltd., 260 Ill. App. 3d 707, 710 (1994). Our review of an

order granting summary judgment is de novo. Id. at 711.

¶ 13 Michael urges this court to reverse the trial court's grant of summary judgment, claiming

that despite the subcontracting agreement entered into between Pella and RJM, Michael, as an

individual, can maintain an action for misclassification under the Act.

¶ 14 The Act establishes a rebuttable presumption that an "individual" performing services for

a contractor is an employee of the contractor unless it is shown that: (1) the individual has been

and will continue to be free from control or direction over the performance of the service for the

contractor; (2) the service performed by the individual is outside the usual course of services

performed by the contractor; and (3) the individual is engaged in an independently established

trade, occupation, profession or business; or (4) the individual is deemed a legitimate sole

proprietor or partnership. 820 ILCS 185/10 (West 2012). The Act was enacted by the General

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Assembly with the express purpose of addressing "the practice of misclassifying employees as

independent contractors" in order to avoid payroll taxes, unemployment insurance contributions,

worker's compensation premiums and minimum wage and overtime payments in the construction

industry. 820 ILCS 185/3 (West 2012).

¶ 15 The Act does not define "individual," but it does exempt independent contractors, sole

proprietors, or partnerships that can satisfy specific statutory criteria showing that they

effectively operate independently from the construction contractor. 820 ILCS 185/10(c) (West

2012); Bartlow v. Costigan, 2014 IL 115152, ¶ 21. Additionally, the Act vests in the Department

the authority to adopt "reasonable rules to implement and administer this Act." 820 ILCS 185/65

(West 2012).

¶ 16 Empowered with this rulemaking authority, the Department's regulation instructs that an

"individual performing services" does not include a "bona fide corporation." 56 Ill. Adm. Code

240.110 (2008). To determine whether a corporation is bona fide for purposes of the Act, the

Department considers, among other factors, whether the corporation (1) is capitalized, (2) has

issued corporate stock, (3) maintains a corporate bank account, (4) intermingles corporate and

personal accounts or funds, (5) holds itself out as a corporation, (6) maintains corporate books

and records, including corporate meeting minutes, and files corporate tax returns that are current

and complete, and (7) has filed articles of incorporation and is in good standing, in the case of

Illinois corporations, with the Illinois Secretary of State. Id.

¶ 17 On appeal, Michael does not dispute that RJM satisfies these factors and is therefore a

"bona fide corporation" under the regulation. It is also undisputed that Michael is an employee

of RJM. But Michael contends that he performed services for Pella in his individual capacity

because Pella evaluated Michael's installation technique, Pella trained him on its installation

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protocols, Pella inspected Michael's work, Michael wore Pella branded apparel, and Pella

designated the sites where Michael would perform installations. Essentially, Michael would

have us look solely to the Act's elements to determine that he must be classified as an employee

of Pella.

¶ 18 But before we can determine whether Michael was under the control and direction of

Pella, or can meet other elements under the Act, we must conclude that the Act applies.

Consequently, Michael must establish that he was an "individual" performing services for Pella.

¶ 19 Based on the evidence in the record, Michael cannot establish that he performed services

as an individual and, therefore, the Act does not apply. The record shows that RJM, not Michael

individually, rendered services to Pella through RJM's own employees.

¶ 20 The agreements to perform services for Pella were entered into with RJM as the

"subcontractor." Michael signed the agreement, but only as "owner" of RJM. Under the

agreement, RJM agreed to provide labor, skills, and tools necessary to perform all the work

required for installations. RJM provided the labor by selecting from its own workforce

employees for the installation projects on a given day. RJM supplied its employees with the

tools necessary for each project. Pella paid RJM directly for the services provided by RJM's

labor. Pella had no input as to the rate of pay for RJM's employees, and RJM hired, fired, and

paid all of its employees. All wages earned by employees of RJM in connection with Pella jobs

were paid out of RJM's corporate account. Although Pella scheduled the installation jobs per

customer demand, RJM set the work schedules for its own employees.

¶ 21 During the time it performed services for Pella, RJM had 14 employees, including

Michael himself. These employees were issued W-2 forms for amounts paid to them by RJM,

from which RJM deducted federal and state taxes. RJM also maintained general liability,

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worker's compensation and unemployment insurance to protect itself and its employees during

the duration of the relationship with Pella.

¶ 22 Here, it is clear that RJM, and not Michael as an individual, performed services for Pella

under the subcontract agreement. The regulation promulgated by the Department explicitly

dictates that a "bona fide corporation" is excluded from the purview of the Act. 56 Ill. Adm.

Code 240.100 (2008). The Department is entitled to deference in interpreting the statute that it is

charged to enforce (Provena Covenant Medical Center v. Department of Revenue, 236 Ill. 2d

368, 387 (2010)), and administrative regulations have the force and effect of law and are

presumed valid (People ex. Rel. Madigan v. Illinois Commerce Comm'n, 231 Ill. 2d 370, 380

(2008)). We may not invalidate an agency's regulation unless it is clearly arbitrary, unreasonable

or capricious. American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees v. Department of

Central Management Services, 288 Ill. App. 3d 701, 713 (1997).

¶ 23 Michael does not argue that the regulation is invalid or arbitrary and capricious. Michael

also does not dispute that the Department's regulation provides that a "bona fide corporation" is

excluded from the definition of an "individual" under the Act. Rather, Michael argues the trial

court erred because it improperly applied the regulation to limit the right of Michael to assert an

individual claim under the Act, contrary to the Act's intent and purpose.

¶ 24 The purpose of the Act is to curtail the misclassification of workers as independent

contractors in the construction industry. To this end, the Act aims to prevent the competitive

advantage wrongfully gained by businesses that misclassify employees as independent

contractors, ensure that workers receive the benefits to which they are entitled, and ensure that

contractors comply with tax and employment laws. See 820 ILCS 185/3 (West 2012); 56 Ill.

Adm. Code 240.100 (2008).

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¶ 25 The Act also recognizes that contractors may contract with legitimate independent

contractors. See 820 ILCS 185/10(b)(4) (West 2012) (individual performing services is deemed

an employee unless the individual is a legitimate sole proprietor or partnership). Thus, limiting

the Act to individuals and excluding corporations or other legitimate independent contractors is

consistent with the Act's purpose of curtailing misclassification of employees, while also

permitting contracts with legitimate independent contractors.

¶ 26 Where, as here, a corporation like RJM properly classifies its own employees, complies

with tax laws, pays its employees wages and provides them benefits, the concerns underlying the

Act are not implicated. In this instance, the costs of doing business are factored into the contract

price that the contractor pays to the "bona fide corporation" it contracts with. Pella, or any

contractor, gains no unfair advantage by contracting with a "bona fide corporation" and,

therefore, such contracts are consistent with the purpose of the legislation.

¶ 27 Michael claims that the Act and the regulation are silent on whether individuals working

for "bona fide corporations" can assert claims under the Act. In other words, Michael asks us to

determine whether individuals employed by a "bona fide corporation" have independent rights

under the Act.

¶ 28 The answer is obvious. The individuals working for a "bona fide corporation" are

already employees of that corporation. Those individuals employed by the corporation can seek

wages and benefits, and assert any attendant claims as employees of that corporation. Michael,

and others similarly situated, already receive wage and employment benefits from their employer

and, therefore, cannot claim to be "misclassified" under the Act. Michael posits that this reading

of the regulation achieves an absurd result because a corporation could simply classify its

employees as independent contractors; in that case, Michael contends, those individuals would

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have a claim against a contractor like Pella under the Act. But Michael's logic is misguided. In

Michael's hypothetical, the misclassification claim under the Act would lie against the employer,

not the contractor. This is so because it is the employer who misclassified its own employees. In

other words, had RJM misclassified him as an independent contractor, Michael would have a

claim against RJM, not Pella. This interpretation of the Act and regulation is in accordance with

the Act's stated purpose of curtailing misclassification of employees.

¶ 29 Michael also argues that contractors could skirt the Act by nominally entering into

contracts with corporations and not directly with independent contractors. The possibility exists

that a contractor could insist upon the creation of a corporate entity with which to contract in an

attempt to avoid the Act's provisions. But then, of course, the corporation would not be "bona

fide" and the effort to avoid the Act would fail. Moreover, these concerns are unfounded in the

present case. There is no evidence that the agreement here was entered into nominally with a

corporation and that Pella actually hired an individual. As discussed above, RJM provided the

services and labor under the agreement. RJM was not created to avoid the Act, having been

incorporated a year before it entered into an agreement with Pella. The decision to incorporate

RJM was not influenced by Pella. RJM maintained itself as a separate entity, remained in good

standing with the secretary of state, filed taxes and paid its employees, even after its relationship

with Pella ended. RJM chose to hire, manage, and pay its own employees before Pella came into

the picture.

¶ 30 Michael cites decisions from other jurisdictions in support of the contention that an

individual can bring an action under the Act even if the contractor's formal contractual

relationship is with an incorporated entity rather than the individual. See, e.g., Depianti v. Jan-

Pro Franchising International, Inc., 990 N.E.2d 1054, 1067 (Mass. 2013) (requiring the

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existence of a contract between the putative employer and employee "would permit

misclassification where a putative employer, otherwise liable under the statute, is insulated from

such liability by virtue of an arrangement permitting it to distance itself from its employees");

Anderson v. Homedeliveryamerica.com, Inc., No. 11-10313-Gao., 2013 WL 6860745 *2 (D.

Mass. Dec. 30,, 2013) ("[A] principal objective of the law is to prevent potential employers, who

would be otherwise subject to the wage statute [citation] from avoiding compliance by requiring

the persons they contract with to do so under legal forms 'such as LLCs and S corporations.'

[Citation.]"). Apart from the fact that these authorities are not binding on this court, their

reasoning would not change the outcome here. Unlike their Illinois counterpart, none of the

foreign laws involved in these cases include a provision comparable to the "bona fide

corporation" regulation at issue here. Further, as we have noted, Pella played no role in

Michael's decision to incorporate RJM and given that RJM is, in fact, a bona fide corporation,

the concerns underlying the Act simply do not come into play.

¶ 31 The regulation at issue here excludes a "bona fide corporation" from the definition of

"individuals performing services." It follows that when a "bona fide corporation," rather than an

individual, performs services for a contractor, the Act does not apply. Under our view, the

inquiry is whether a "bona fide corporation" performed services, and thus, the analysis focuses

on what entity actually performed services for the contractors. Our findings do not rest solely on

the agreement between Pella and RJM, but on who performed services. Because the

uncontroverted facts show that RJM, and not Michael as an individual, performed services for

Pella, Michael was not an "individual performing services" under the Act.

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¶ 32 Given that the Act does not apply to Michael, we need not address the argument that

there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Michael meets the elements of a legitimate

sole proprietor or partnership performing services under section 10(c) of the Act.

¶ 33 CONCLUSION

¶ 34 For the reasons stated, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court granting summary

¶ 35 judgment in favor of Pella.

Affirmed.

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