STEPHEN MICHAEL BRIGHTBILL NO. 21-CA-578 (DECEASED) FIFTH CIRCUIT VERSUS COURT OF APPEAL CIRCUIT GRAND BAYOU, L.L.C. STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION, DISTRICT 7 STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 18-7214, HONORABLE SHANNON BRUNO BISHOP, JUDGE PRESIDING
May 11, 2022
FREDERICKA HOMBERG WICKER JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Susan M. Chehardy, Fredericka Homberg Wicker, and Marc E. Johnson
VACATED AND REMANDED FHW SMC MEJ COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT, CARYL EAGER, THE WRONGFUL DEATH AND SURVIVAL BENEFICIARY OF STEPHEN MICHAEL BRIGHTBILL, (D) David A. Bowling Jerald N. Andry, III
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE, CIRCUIT GRAND BAYOU, LLC DBA NO PROBLEM RACEWAY Jeffery Joseph Waltz Jill A. Waltz Connor Jacob Reinoso WICKER, J. Plaintiff-appellant, mother of decedent employee, appeals a summary
judgment granted by the Office of Workers’ Compensation, in favor of defendant-
appellee, employer. For the reasons that follow, we vacate the compensation court’s
judgment and remand this matter for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion.
Factual and Procedural Background
This litigation arises out of a workers’ compensation claim filed by Caryl
Eager, mother of decedent, Stephen Michael Brightbill, against Circuit Grand
Bayou, L.L.C. d/b/a No Problem Raceway (“Raceway”).1
Beginning in 2013 and until his death on November 1, 2017, Mr. Brightbill,
through his company, Performance Plus Automotive & Chassis, Inc.
(“Performance”), performed the duties of a co-track manager at No Problem
Raceway, located in Belle Rose, La.2 Raceway is a motorsports and entertainment
facility that contains an asphalt road course, a drag racing strip, and several acres
used to host concerts, car shows, festivals, and other events. A bar, a concession
stand, and gas pumps are also located on the premises.
On February 11, 2017, Mr. Brightbill entered into a “Track Rental
Agreement” with Raceway to lease its drag racing strip for his annual three-day
Halloween Bike Fest.3 As per the agreement, the fest was originally scheduled to
take place from Friday, October 20, 2017 through Sunday, October 22, 2017. The
agreement called for an initial rental fee of $4,500, with any profits in excess of
$4,500 to be divided equally between the parties. Pursuant to the provisions of the
1 In the pleadings, motions, and discovery, Stephen Michael Brightbill has also been referred to as “Stevie Ray.” For consistency, Mr. Brightbill will be referred to by the name appearing in the caption of the proceedings being reviewed by this Court. 2 Mr. Brightbill was co-owner of Performance along with Danny Grisbaum. 3 In the lease, Mr. Brightbill was referenced as “Stevie Ray” and he signed the agreement as “Stevie Ray Brightbill.” Kent Broussard, who was a co-owner of Raceway and held the title of co-track manager, also signed the lease as a representative of Raceway. When the incident in question occurred, Kent Broussard, Harold Petit, and David Cannon were the owners of Raceway.
21-CA-578 1 lease, because of inclement weather on the October 20, 2017 weekend, the fest was
rescheduled for the following weekend, Friday, October 27, 2017 through Sunday,
October 29, 2017.
Unfortunately, on October 27, 2017, torrential rain again caused the fest to
be canceled. Since the event had been canceled, on Friday evening Mr. Brightbill
and Barry Hebert, who was a full-time employee of Raceway, left the racing strip to
dine, thereafter returning to the facility to spend the night.4
Upon returning to the facility later that evening, Mr. Brightbill decided to
attempt to dispose of some of the excess accumulation of tires located in a tire pit at
the rear of the facility. Mr. Brightbill intended to dispose of the tires by setting them
on fire. Before Mr. Brightbill began burning the tires, according to Mr. Hebert, he
asked Mr. Brightbill not to dispose of them by fire because of prior tire-burning
incidents where local authorities had informed Mr. Brightbill that it was illegal to
dispose of the tires by fire.
Nonetheless, Mr. Brightbill proceeded to burn the tires. As the tires burned,
fumes and flames spread uncontrollably around the area. Mr. Brightbill used a Ford
555D Backhoe Tractor in an attempt to scatter and control the fire. Unfortunately,
the tractor became lodged in the pile of burning tires, causing the fire to further
spread and to engulf the tractor. As a result, Mr. Brightbill, who was operating the
tractor, sustained serious burns and burn-related injuries. Although Mr. Brightbill
initially declined medical treatment, four days later, on October 31, 2017, he sought
treatment for his injuries, which had by then become much more serious. Mr.
Brightbill expired because of his burn injuries on November 1, 2017.5
On October 24, 2018, Ms. Eager fax-filed a Disputed Claim for Compensation
(Form LWC-WC-1008) with the Louisiana Office of Workers’ Compensation,
4 For the three-day fest, Mr. Brightbill and Mr. Hebert were staying at an apartment located at Raceway. 5 Mr. Brightbill’s cause of death was sepsis secondary to second and third degree burns.
21-CA-578 2 District 7. In that petition, Ms. Eager alleged that on October 27, 2017, her late son,
Mr. Brightbill, was an employee of Raceway, who had been injured in the course
and scope of his employment, and that no death, medical, or funeral and burial
benefits had been paid by Raceway. Raceway was named as the employer in the
claim.6 On February 21, 2019, Raceway and its workers' compensation insurer,
Louisiana Construction and Industry Self-Insurers Fund (“LCISF”), filed an Answer
to Ms. Eager’s original and amended claim raising several defenses.
Pursuant to the compensation court’s scheduling order, on October 28, 2019
and November 4, 2019, the parties filed their respective pre-trial statements. In its
statement, Raceway contended that Mr. Brightbill was not its employee, but rather
an independent contractor while working at Raceway. Raceway also contended that
at the time he was injured, Mr. Brightbill was not acting within the course and scope
of Raceway operations; rather, at that time he was operating as a lessee of the track.
On November 4, 2019, Raceway and LCISF also filed a Motion to Stay Trial,
or Alternatively, Motion to Continue Trial and Extend Litigation Deadlines, arguing
that the workers’ compensation claim should be stayed until Ms. Eager’s tort case
arising out of the same incident, which had been filed in the 23rd Judicial District
Court for the Parish of Assumption, had been resolved. To support their motion,
Raceway and LCISF attached Ms. Eager’s October 25, 2018 petition for damages
wherein she asserted causes of action for wrongful death and a survival action
against Raceway for its alleged acts of negligence in connection with the October
27, 2017 fire-incident. In her petition, Ms. Eager asserted that Mr. Brightbill was an
independent contractor of Raceway as defined by the Louisiana Workers’
Compensation Act and therefore, she had a cause of action in tort.7
6 On January 4, 2019, Ms. Eager filed an amendment to her original claim to provide Raceway’s address for service of process. 7 Conversely, while before the compensation court, Raceway and LCISF argued that Mr. Brightbill was not a Raceway employee, but instead was an independent contractor. In its answer filed in the tort case, Raceway and its insurer in that case, New York Marine General Insurance Company alleged that Mr.
21-CA-578 3 In reply, on November 4, 2019, Ms. Eager filed an Unopposed
Motion/Request for Expedited Decision on Raceway’s Motion to Continue Trial and
Extend Litigation Deadlines, urging the workers’ compensation court to grant
Raceway’s motion to continue the compensation trial as the November 25, 2019 trial
date was fast approaching. In her motion, however, Ms. Eager specifically opposed
Raceway’s motion to stay the compensation proceeding pending the outcome of the
tort case. On November 8, 2019, the workers’ compensation court granted
Raceway’s motion to continue the trial, but scheduled the motion to stay for hearing
on November 19, 2019. On November 20, 2019, the workers’ compensation court
granted the stay of its proceedings until the tort claim was resolved.
Following settlement of the tort case, in order to proceed with her workers’
compensation claim, on November 13, 2020, Ms. Eager filed an Unopposed Motion
to Lift the Stay and attached to her pleading the signed Motion and Order of
Dismissal in the tort case.8 The workers’ compensation court granted the motion on
November 20, 2020.
On January 12, 2021, Raceway and LCISF filed an exception of res judicata,
contending that a compromise agreement had been reached in Ms. Eager’s tort action
against Raceway and its insurer in that case, New York Marine General Insurance
Company (“NYMGIC”). Raceway further averred that Ms. Eager was not entitled
to additional compensation under the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act, as that
would result in double recovery, since Mr. Brightbill’s injuries had been
compensated in the tort action. Raceway attached the order of dismissal to its
exception.
Brightbill was a Raceway employee and therefore limited to recovery pursuant to the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act, La. R.S. 23:1032. 8 The signed tort case Dismissal Order was missing from the record before this Court. However, we point out that in Ms. Eager’s motion, she attested to the dismissal being executed and the tort claim being dismissed.
21-CA-578 4 On January 12, 2021, Raceway and LCISF also filed a Motion for Summary
Judgment. In that motion, Raceway and LCISF argued that Ms. Eager was not
entitled to workers' compensation death benefits because the Louisiana Workers'
Compensation Act provides the exclusive remedy for employees who are injured in
the course and scope of their employment. Raceway and its insurer further asserted
that as Ms. Eager had recovered damages through the tort action, her workers’
compensation claim should be dismissed.
On February 3, 2020, Ms. Eager filed an opposition to Raceway’s exception
of res judicata and attached a copy of the tort case release agreement executed by
Ms. Eager on September 14, 2020, evidencing the compromise and settlement
agreement between her, Raceway and NYMGIC, the insurer in that case. In her
opposition to the exception, Ms. Eager averred that the exception should be
overruled because in the settlement agreement, she had specifically reserved her
right to pursue the worker's compensation claim in the tort case release pursuant to
La. R.S. 13:4232(3).
On that same day, Ms. Eager also filed an opposition to Raceway’s and
LCISF’s motion for summary judgment on the same grounds. During the February
11, 2021 hearing, after the supporting documents submitted by the parties had been
properly introduced and filed into the record, the workers’ compensation court
overruled Raceway’s exception of res judicata, finding the tort case release and
dismissal documents contained language reserving Ms. Eager’s rights to proceed
with the workers’ compensation claim. The compensation hearing officer rendered
a written judgment on June 3, 2021. The parties have not appealed to this Court
regarding that judgment.
During the February 11, 2021 hearing, the workers’ compensation court also
heard arguments on Raceway’s motion for summary judgment, thereafter taking the
matter under advisement. On June 3, 2021, the workers’ compensation court hearing
21-CA-578 5 officer rendered a judgment on that motion, with written reasons, granting
Raceway’s summary judgment. In its ruling, the compensation court hearing officer
relied entirely upon the La. R.S. 23:1032 exclusivity provision to find:
“…there are no genuine issues of material fact that the exclusivity provision of Louisiana Revised Statute §23:103223 applies, precluding Claimant from recovering in workers’ compensation when she has already recovered in tort for the same cause of action.”
The compensation court hearing officer, in her judgment and reasons for
judgment, did not rule upon either Mr. Brightbill’s status as an employee or
independent contractor or whether, at the time he sustained his injuries, he was
working in the course and scope of his Raceway duties.9
The court dismissed Ms. Eager’s claim with prejudice. Accordingly, Ms.
Eager has timely sought the instant devolutive appeal seeking review of the June 3,
2021 judgment granting Raceway’s summary judgment.
Assignments of Error
On appeal, Ms. Eager asserts five assignments of error: (1) the workers’
compensation court committed error by granting Raceway’s motion for summary
judgment on the basis of an inadmissible settlement agreement; (2) the workers’
compensation court erred in misinterpreting the exclusive remedy provision as a
forfeiture provision when a worker or beneficiary finds it necessary to seek a tort
settlement; (3) to the extent the judgment constitutes a ruling that Mr. Brightbill was
an independent contractor not covered by the manual labor exception, the hearing
officer erred; (4) to the extent the hearing officer found that the injury occurred
outside of the course and scope of employment, the hearing officer erred; and (5) in
addition to the ruling on the settlement evidence, the hearing officer’s other
evidentiary rulings were erroneous.
9 In the record, there is no evidence that in the tort case the issues regarding Mr. Brightbill’s status as an independent contractor versus an employee, or whether he was or was not acting within the course and scope of his duties at Raceway at the time he sustained his injuries, was addressed, litigated, or resolved.
21-CA-578 6 Standard of Review A summary judgment that dismisses all claims is a final, appealable judgment.
La. C.C.P. arts. 968, 1915(A)(1, 3). Appellate courts review summary judgments de
novo, using the same criteria that govern the district court's consideration of whether
summary judgment is appropriate. Louque v. Scott Equip. Co., LLC, 16-507 (La.
App. 5 Cir. 2/8/17), 212 So.3d 1203, 1207, writ denied, 17-00372 (La. 4/13/17), 218
So.3d 629. Thus, appellate courts ask the same questions as the trial court in
determining whether summary judgment is appropriate: whether there is any genuine
issue of material fact, and whether the mover-appellant is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law. Id.
Law & Analysis Summary Judgment
Summary judgment shall be granted, “if the motion, memorandum, and
supporting documents show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact and that
the mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(3).
Considering the applicable law governing summary judgment, as well as the
compensation court hearing officer’s judgment granting Raceway’s and LCISFs’
motion for summary judgment and dismissing Ms. Eager’s compensation claim, the
sole issue currently before this Court on review is whether Raceway and LCISF, as
the movers, have come forth with sufficient evidence to show that Ms. Eager is not
entitled to workers’ compensation death benefits for her son’s death when she has
already recovered damages for his death in the tort action. We, however, decline to
reach the merits of this appeal because, upon de novo review of the record before us,
we find that the compensation court hearing officer was premature in her reliance
upon the La. R.S. 23:1032 exclusivity provision to grant summary judgment. On
the record before us, it is clear that the parties, through the course of both the tort
case and the compensation claim, have contested Mr. Brightbill’s status as a
21-CA-578 7 Raceway employee, an independent contractor engaged in manual labor, or an
independent contractor not engaged in manual labor. Furthermore, the parties also
continue to dispute whether, at the time of his injury, Mr. Brightbill was acting
within the course and scope of his Raceway duties. It is also clear on the record
before us that neither the 23rd Judicial District Court, in the tort case, nor the Office
of Workers’ Compensation hearing officer, in the compensation claim, have
addressed and resolved these issues. While the parties resolved the tort case through
settlement, the settlement documents clearly reflect that the district court made no
liability finding before the tort case settled, the defendant did not admit liability, and
the plaintiff reserved her workers’ compensation claims. We find no Louisiana case
that addresses this unique set of facts. The applicability of the La. R.S. 23:1032
exclusivity provision to the unique facts particular to this case presents a res nova
question, which this Court is loath to answer in the face of undecided preliminary
issues.10
Workers’ Compensation Act
Under the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act, La. R.S. 23:1032, an
employee injured in an accident while in the course and scope of his employment is
generally limited to the recovery of workers' compensation benefits as his exclusive
remedy against his employer and may not sue his employer, or any principal, in tort.
Louque, 170 So.3d at 338. See Deshotel v. Guichard Operating Company, Inc., 03–
3511 (La. 12/17/04), 916 So.2d 72, 76–79.
Specifically, La. R.S. 23:1032 provides: A. (1)(a) Except for intentional acts provided for in Subsection B, the rights and remedies herein granted to an employee or his dependent on account of an injury, or compensable sickness or disease for which he is entitled to compensation under this Chapter, shall be exclusive of all other rights, remedies, and claims for damages, including but not limited to
10 Because we are reversing on other grounds and remanding for further proceedings, we pretermit discussion of Ms. Eager’s assignments of error.
21-CA-578 8 punitive or exemplary damages, unless such rights, remedies, and damages are created by a statute, whether now existing or created in the future, expressly establishing same as available to such employee, his personal representatives, dependents, or relations, as against his employer, or any principal or any officer, director, stockholder, partner, or employee of such employer or principal, for said injury, or compensable sickness or disease.
(b) This exclusive remedy is exclusive of all claims, including any claims that might arise against his employer, or any principal or any officer, director, stockholder, partner, or employee of such employer or principal under any dual capacity theory or doctrine.
(2) For purposes of this Section, the word “principal” shall be defined as any person who undertakes to execute any work which is a part of his trade, business, or occupation in which he was engaged at the time of the injury, or which he had contracted to perform and contracts with any person for the execution thereof.
B. Nothing in this Chapter shall affect the liability of the employer, or any officer, director, stockholder, partner, or employee of such employer or principal to a fine or penalty under any other statute or the liability, civil or criminal, resulting from an intentional act.
[Emphasis added.]
Employer-Employee Relationship
As a preliminary matter, the compensation court hearing officer was required
to determine if Mr. Brightbill qualified as an employee under the Workers’
Compensation Act. A prerequisite in any action under workmen's compensation is
the existence of some kind of employer-employee relationship. Robbins v. Lee, 505
So.2d 1161, 1162 (La. App. 5th Cir. 1987), writ denied, 508 So.2d 827 (La. 1987).
Without the employer-employee relationship, the injured employee cannot recover
workers’ compensation benefits. Keller v. Evans Cooperage, Inc., 641 So.2d 552
(La. App. 5th Cir. 1994), writs denied, 94-2530, 94-2545 (La. 1/13/95), 648 So.2d
1339, citing Wofford v. Dow Chemical, 335 So.2d 536 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1976).
21-CA-578 9 Further, La. R.S. 23:1044 provides that a “person rendering service for
another in any trades, businesses or occupations covered by this Chapter is presumed
to be an employee....” This presumption is rebuttable. Wilfred v. A. Serv. Cab Co.,
14-1121, (La. App. 4 Cir. 5/27/15), 171 So.3d 1007, 1010, writ denied, 15-1271 (La.
9/25/15), 178 So.3d 570. “An alleged employer can rebut this presumption by either
establishing that the services were not ‘pursuant to any trade, business, or occupation
(e.g., construction of one's private residence);’ or establishing that ‘the individual
was performing services but was doing so as an independent contractor.’” Hillman
v. Comm-Care, Inc., 01-1140, (La. 1/15/02), 805 So.2d 1157, 1161 (quoting 1 Denis
Paul Juge, Louisiana Workers’ Compensation § 7:6 (2001)).
Considering whether the presumption is rebutted because the individual was
performing services as an independent contractor is a factual determination, made
on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the total economic relationship
between the parties and the various factors weighing either in favor of or against an
employer-employee relationship. Course v. Fox Wolff Const., 08-58, (La. App. 5
Cir. 5/27/08), 987 So.2d 277, 280, writ denied, 08-1396 (La. 9/26/08), 992 So.2d
992. In determining whether the relationship is one of principal and contractor, the
courts consider whether: (1) there is a valid contract between the parties; (2) the
work being done is of an independent nature such that the contractor may employ
non-exclusive means in accomplishing it; (3) the contract calls for specific
piecework as a unit to be done according to the independent contractor's own
methods without being subject to the control and direction of the principal, except
as to the result of the services to be rendered; (4) there is a specific price for the
overall undertaking; and (5) a specific time or duration is agreed upon and not
subject to termination at the will of either side without liability for breach. Id.
If the presumption of employment is successfully rebutted, the burden of
proof shifts to the party seeking to establish an employer-employee relationship. Id.
21-CA-578 10 at 1011. If the employer successfully rebuts the presumption of employment, the
next inquiry in determination of whether an employer-employee relationship exists
is based upon the “the right to control.” Id. The four primary factors evidencing the
right to control are: (1) selection and engagement; (2) payment of wages; (3) power
of dismissal; and (4) power of control. Id. see also Franklin v. Haughton Timber Co.,
377 So.2d 400, 406 (La. App. 2nd Cir. 1979), writ denied, 380 So.2d 624 (La. 1980).
Stated differently, “[t]he right of control necessarily encompasses supervision,
selection and engagement, payment of wages or salary and the power to dismiss.”
Che v. First Assembly of God, Ruston, LA, 50,360 (La. App. 2 Cir. 1/13/16), 185
So.3d 125, 133.
However, La. R.S. 23:1021(7) allows workers’ compensation coverage for a
certain type of independent contractor engaged in manual labor for a substantial part
of the work time (and La. R.S. 23:1032 allows tort immunity to that type of
independent contractor's “employer”). Moss v. Tommasi Const., Inc., 09-1419, (La.
App. 3 Cir. 5/5/10), 37 So.3d 492, 498, writs denied, 10-1243, 10-1306 (La.
9/17/10), 45 So.3d 1057; see also Fleniken v. Entergy Corp., 00-1824 (La. App. 1
Cir. 2/16/01), 780 So.2d 1175, writ denied, 01-1268 (La. 6/15/01), 793 So.2d 1250,
writ denied, 01-1305 (La. 6/15/01), 793 So.2d 1253, writ denied, 01-1317 (La.
6/15/01), 793 So.2d 1254.
In Lushute v. Diesi, 354 So.2d 179, 182 (La. 1977), the Louisiana Supreme
Court held that in order for an independent contractor to be covered under the
“manual labor exception,” he must show that a substantial part of his work time in
carrying out the terms of his contract with the principal is spent in manual labor and
the work performed by him is part of the principal's trade, business, or occupation.
Moreover, the jurisprudence has uniformly defined “manual labor” as work where
the “physical” element predominates over the “mental” element. Riles v. Truitt Jones
Construction, 94-1224 (La. 1/17/95), 648 So.2d 1296, 1300.
21-CA-578 11 On appeal, and in her opposition to Raceway’s summary judgment, Ms. Eager
contends that the parties dispute whether or not Mr. Brightbill was an employee or
independent contractor. She asserts that Mr. Brightbill was under the control of Kent
Broussard, one of the owners of Raceway who was also a co-track manager along
with Mr. Brightbill. Ms. Eager points out that Mr. Brightbill’s duties were
indistinguishable from payroll employees such as Barry Hebert. She alleges that Mr.
Brightbill essentially performed everything required to further Raceway’s
operations of the racetrack. Ms. Eager argues that Mr. Brightbill was paid an hourly
wage consistent with a skilled manual labor employee; there was no written contract
between Performance and Raceway that outlined specific tasks that Mr. Brightbill
was required to complete, and no duration of time was set for his job.
Conversely, Raceway avers that Mr. Brightbill was an independent contractor
and that Ms. Eager is not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. In support of
its summary judgment, Raceway submitted excerpts of the corporate deposition of
Harry Petit to substantiate Mr. Brightbill’s relationship to Raceway. Mr. Petit
testified that Mr. Brightbill requested to be an independent contractor instead of an
employee because he preferred to control the methods of his work and the time he
spent working. Raceway further argues that Mr. Brightbill submitted invoices to be
paid through his corporation and was simply paid an hourly rate for his services.
Upon review, the record before us does not show that the compensation court
hearing officer undertook the above-described analysis or even considered whether
or not Mr. Brightbill qualified as an employee or independent contractor under the
Workers’ Compensation Act. We find that the compensation court hearing officer
erred as a matter of law in failing to determine whether the statutory presumption of
employment was rebutted. Further, the compensation court hearing officer did not
address the issues of whether Mr. Brightbill was an independent contractor
performing manual labor, borrowed employee, or statutory employee or had any
21-CA-578 12 other employment status that would entitle Ms. Eager to workers’ compensation
benefits, if any. The compensation court hearing officer erred in failing to address
and resolve these issues before applying the La. R.S. 23:1032 exclusivity provision
to the tort case settlement to grant summary judgment and dismiss Ms. Eager’s
claim.
Course and Scope Requirement
The compensation court hearing officer was also required to determine
whether Mr. Brightbill was acting in the course and scope of his employment when
the burn incident occurred. The course and scope requirement is a dual inquiry.
Under the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act, an employer is responsible
for compensation benefits to an employee only when the injury results from an
accident “arising out of and in the course of his employment.” La. R.S. 23:1031(A);
McLin v. Industrial Specialty Contractors, Inc., 02-1539 (La. 7/2/03), 851 So.2d
1135, 1139. The determination of whether an injury occurred in the course and
scope of employment is a mixed question of law and fact. Dean v. Southmark
Construction, 03-1051 (La. 7/6/04), 879 So.2d 112, 117.
The terms “arising out of” and “in the course of” are not synonymous, but
cannot be considered in isolation from each other. Jackson v. American Ins. Co., 404
So.2d 218, 220 (La. 1981). The Louisiana Supreme Court has explained that the term
“arising out of” looks into the character or origin of the risk, while the term “in the
course of” generally refers to the time and place of the accident as it relates to that
of the regular employment, or employment activity. Id. An accident “arises out of
employment” if the risk from which the injury resulted was greater for the employee
than for a person not engaged in the employment, or if the conditions or obligations
of the employment caused the employee in the course of employment to be at the
place of the accident at the time the accident occurred. Mundy v. Dept. of Health &
21-CA-578 13 Human Resources, 593 So.2d 346, 349 (La. 1992). In a close case, a strong showing
in one aspect can counterbalance a relatively weak showing in the other. Id.
Moreover, an accident has also been held to arise out of employment if the
employee was engaged in his employer's business and not merely pursuing his own
business or pleasure, and when the conditions or obligations of the employment
cause the employee in the course of employment to be at the place of the accident at
the time the accident occurred. Guillory v. Interstate Gas Station, 94-1767 (La.
3/30/95), 653 So.2d 1152, 1155. The principal objective of the “arising out of
employment” requirement is to separate accidents attributable to employment risks,
which form the basis of the employer's obligation under the compensation system,
from accidents attributable to personal risks, for which the employer should
normally not be responsible. Id. See 1 Arthur Larson, Workmen's Compensation, §
7.00 (1994).
An injury occurs in the course of employment when it is sustained by an
employee actively engaged in the performance of his duties during work hours,
either on the employer's premises or at other places where employment activities
take him. Mundy, supra. For a mission to qualify as a special mission and thus be
considered as employment-related rather than personal, an employee is deemed to
be in the course of employment when he is engaged in the direct performance of
duties assigned (i.e., requested, directed, instructed or required) by his employer. Id.
On appeal, and in her opposition to summary judgment, Ms. Eager avers that
Mr. Brightbill’s death occurred because of Raceway’s persistent illegal activity in
accumulating waste tires and its refusal to pay the costs associated with properly and
legally disposing of the tires. She further argues that Mr. Brightbill gained nothing
personally by burning the tires, and that he was performing this task for the sole
benefit of Raceway. Since the fire accident occurred on Raceway’s premises and
21-CA-578 14 after the Halloween Bike Fest had been canceled, Ms. Eager maintains that Mr.
Brightbill was working in the course and scope of his employment with Raceway.
On the other hand, Raceway contends that Mr. Brightbill was on its premises
when the fire occurred, not because he was performing a task, duty, or activity in
connection with Raceway, but rather for his annual bike fest, an event for which
Performance leased the premises. Raceway argues that the operation of the racetrack
was under the sole direction of Mr. Brightbill for his personal event that was separate
and apart from the operations of the premises by Raceway. It avers that Mr.
Brightbill was acting outside of the course and scope of any alleged duties he would
perform for Raceway at the time he was injured. Raceway also maintains that Mr.
Brightbill, as an independent contractor, was not within the course and scope of his
Raceway assigned tasks at the time he engaged in the act of burning tires. Finally,
Raceway also contends that in burning the tires, Mr. Brightbill was operating in
violation of Mr. Petit’s direct orders to desist from burning tires.
Upon de novo review, the record is devoid of evidence that the compensation
court hearing officer undertook the analysis outlined under La. R.S. 23:1031(A),
discussed above. We find that, without first resolving the issues as to Mr. Brightbill’s
employment status, whether he was or was not acting in the course and scope of his
Raceway duties, and was or was not acting contrarily to a direct order at the time he
was injured, the compensation court erred in prematurely applying the La. R.S.
23:1031(A) exclusivity provision.
CONCLUSION
We are “convinced that the interest of justice would be best served by
remanding this case” to the compensation court for resolution of the outstanding
preliminary issues discussed herein and for further action consistent with the
compensation court’s resolution of those issues. Wegener v. Lafayette Ins. Co., 10-
0810, (La. 3/15/11), 60 So.3d 1220, 1234.
21-CA-578 15 DECREE
For the reasons set forth above, we vacate the Office of Workers’
Compensation June 3, 2021 judgment granting summary judgment in favor of
Circuit Grand Bayou, L.L.C. d/b/a No Problem Raceway and against Carly Eager,
mother of decedent, Stephen Michael Brightbill, which dismissed her compensation
claims. We further remand this matter for resolution of the preliminary issues
discussed above and for further action consistent with the compensation court’s
findings as to those issues.
VACATED AND REMANDED
21-CA-578 16 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
MARY E. LEGNON FREDERICKA H. WICKER INTERIM CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400
(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org
NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY MAY 11, 2022 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
21-CA-578 E-NOTIFIED OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION, DISTRICT 7 (CLERK) HON. SHANNON BRUNO BISHOP (DISTRICT JUDGE) DAVID A. BOWLING (APPELLANT) JERALD N. ANDRY, III (APPELLANT) CONNOR JACOB REINOSO (APPELLEE)
MAILED JEFFERY JOSEPH WALTZ (APPELLEE) JILL A. WALTZ (APPELLEE) ATTORNEYS AT LAW 1100 POYDRAS STREET SUITE 2620 NEW ORLEANS, LA 70163