GLADENE MORRIS, APPELLANT,
v.
BRYAN & FLETCHER, INC., AAA BUILDING SERVICE OF ORLANDO, ETC., ET AL., APPELLEES
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An employee injured at work sued her employer's building manager for negligence, despite receiving workers' compensation benefits. The trial court granted summary judgment based on workers' compensation immunity, but the appellate court reversed, holding that the building manager was an independent contractor, not an agent entitled to statutory immunity, and thus could be sued as a third-party tort-feasor.
Bryan & Fletcher did not meet the statutory criteria for immunity under Section 440.11(2) and was therefore subject to suit as a third-party tort-feasor. An agent standing in the position of a building management contractor contracted with full control over its own operations and personnel does not qualify for the limited immunities reserved for the employer's workers' compensation carrier, service agent, or safety consultant.
[1] An employee receiving workers' compensation benefits may pursue common law remedies against a third-party tort-feasor.
[2] A building manager acting as an agent for an employer does not automatically enjoy the employer's immunity from suit under workers' compensation statutes.
Previewing 2 of 5 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“Compensation claimants may pursue common law remedies against third party tort-feasors. Section 440.39 (Fla.Stat.1971).”
Establishes the foundational right of injured employees to sue third parties despite receiving workers' compensation benefits.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceGladene Morris, an employee of Hartford Accident and Indemnity Insurance Company, fell in a hallway of the building where she worked and received work…
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MOORE, Judge.
Appellant, an employee of Hartford Accident and Indemnity Insurance Company, allegedly injured herself while in the scope of her employment by falling in the hallway of the building (owned by Hartford) where she was employed. She received workman’s compensation benefits and then filed suit against Bryan & Fletcher, Inc., the building manager and its insuror (also Hartford) for negligence in improperly maintaining the floors. After a jury had been selected, but prior to taking any evidence, the Court granted Bryan & Fletcher’s motion for summary judgment and final judgment was entered against the appellant. This appeal followed.
The sole question involved in this appeal is the applicability of Section 440.11 (Fla. Stat.1971) regarding the exclusiveness of workman’s compensation benefits. Appel-lee contends that it is an agent of Hartford and, as such, enjoys the immunity from suit as provided by Section 440.11. During argument before the trial court, the parties conceded that the status of Bryan & Fletcher, Inc., i. e. whether an agent of the employer or an independent contractor, was a matter of law to be determined by the Court. Initially, the appellant also conceded that in the event the Court determined Bryan & Fletcher to be the agent of Hart ford “school is out as far as our case is concerned.” Subsequently, however, and after the Court determined the relationship to be one of agency, appellant contended, as she does here, that the relationship mattered not and the immunities enjoyed by the employer are not applicable to Bryan & Fletcher in either event.
We agree.
Compensation claimants may pursue common law remedies against third party tort-feasors. Section 440.39 (Fla.Stat.1971). Prior to the 1978 amendment to Section 440.11(1), on which we make no comment, a third party tortfeasor included a co-employee. Frantz v. McBee Company, 77 So. 2d 796 (Fla.1965); West v. Jessop, 339 So. 2d 1136 (Fla. 2 DCA 1976). Viewed in the most favorable light, an agent, as that term is used here and as found by the trial court, would stand in no better position than that of a co-employee. Each can be a third party tortfeasor subject to suit by the injured employee.
Assuming Bryan & Fletcher to be the agent of Hartford, in order to enjoy the immunity provided by the statute, it would have to fall within one of the categories delineated in Section 440.11(2).
There, the legislature has provided immunity to an employer’s workman’s compensation carrier, a service agent of the employer and a safety consultant to the employer. Bryan & Fletcher is a corporation engaged in the real estate management business which contracted with the employer, Hartford, to manage the employer’s building. Among its obligations under the contract it was required to purchase necessary supplies for the building, including alterations and re-decorations, employ and supervise a sufficient number of personnel to provide the services required in all leases, pay all bills for utility services, maintain workman’s compensation insurance for its employees, collect rentals and all other income from the operation of the building, and maintain an office in the building staffed with a manager and other necessary personnel. Bryan & Fletcher was to be responsible to Hartford only for the adequate and sufficient performance of its obligations under the contract. The performance of Bryan & Fletcher’s employees, servants and contractors, as well as the details and methods of performance, were to be under the sole direction and control of Bryan & Fletcher.
We hold that Bryan & Fletcher did not meet the criteria of Section 440.11(2) to entitle it to the immunity enjoyed by Hartford and was therefore subject to suit as an alleged third party tortfeasor. We have considered all points raised by the appellants. In view of our holding herein we find it unnecessary to comment further.
Accordingly, the final judgment is reversed and this cause is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed herein.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
CROSS and LETTS, JJ., concur.
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Citator
Cited By
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Johnson v. Thoni, 453 So. 2d 188 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984)…t show that the duty alleged did not exist. The argument that the defendant corporations were immune because of the provisions of the workers’ compensation statute can not be sustained under the law as set forth in Morris v. Bryan & Fletcher, Inc., 373 So. 2d 407 (Fla. 4th DCA 1979), and in Greene v. Ivaco Industries, Ltd., 334 So. 2d 347 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976). The immunity provision to which reference is made is found in section 440.11(2), Florida Statutes (1981).1 The complaint alleges that the corporations…
Authorities Cited
- Frantz v. McBEE Co., 77 So. 2d 796 (Fla. 1955)
- West v. Jessop, 339 So. 2d 1136 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976)