ÿWPCî$ <U&BX %šU. rÎ 0@ 0CÍn  0r% — — w.Ÿ 4Í 0Já 0T+ 0^ 0hÝ 0rE 0|· 0†3 0¹ AQIÆš 0Ž` 0@î 0D. 1ur D/ç B B3 D3P 0dƒçB)DC) AMl=¹ËöfÁU6'@]v~vÓô\  `*Times New RomanTTô"ÝÆÿA€ArialTT'    0 .   (e2‘Î$©©Ý ƒ ë€!ÝÔ€X?ªXôôÔÔ€X8-XXX?ªÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$òòÚ  ÚÚ  Úóó3|x«ô\  `*Times New RomanTTôôCô\  PŽ6QôP"ÝÆÿA€ArialTTomanTTXXaÝÆÿptQXpô\  `*Times New RomanTT¼¼^ô\  PŽ6Q¼Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT,,)ô\  PŽ6Q,Pô\  `*Times New RomanTTXXPô\  PŽ6QXPô\  `*Times New RomanTT6ô\  PŽ6QPô\  `*Times New RomanTT„„yô\  PŽ6Q„Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT  kô\  PŽ6Q Pô\  `*Times New RomanTTRAnô\  PŽ6QRP(Jë€$¡¡Ô€X?ªXôôÔÔ€X8-XXX?ªÔÓ  ÓÓ€ D V 'îD Ó€•{:$ülž2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(f3Ѱ$¢¢Ý ƒ ë€!ÝÔ€X?ªXôôÔÔ€X8-XXX?ªÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ Ý ƒ !ÝÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  ÚÚ  ÚÔA  ÔÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓ% Line 7 d22227Border 1dd!#3Cþÿ << Gÿÿ 3Ý ƒ !ÝÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌFebruary€18,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ÁÝ ƒ !ÝÓ ÓÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÓ ` ŒXÓÓ  ÓÔ€RÔÔ€Ôòòò…òÚ  ÚÚ  Úó…óóóÔ€XÔ€€ò ò50„6„102.€€Definitions.€„„€ó ó(a)€As€used€in€this€chapter,€unless€the€context€otherwiseÏrequires:Ì€€€(9)€In€a€work€relationship,€in€order€to€determine€whether€an€individual€is€an€"employee,"Ïor€whether€an€individual€is€a€"subcontractor"€or€an€"independent€contractor,"€the€followingÏfactors€shall€be€considered:Ìà0 à(A)€The€right€to€control€the€conduct€of€the€work;Ìà0 à(B)€The€right€of€termination;Ìà0 à(C)€The€method€of€payment;Ìà0 à(D)€The€freedom€to€select€and€hire€helpers;Ìà0 à(E)€The€furnishing€of€tools€and€equipment;Ìà0 à(F)€The€scheduling€of€working€hours;€andÌà0 à(G)€The€freedom€to€offer€services€to€other€entities.Ì \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ< Œ 9p`(Courier New 6Ý ƒ !ÝÓ ÓÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌFebruary€18,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿáùEG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ !ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÖ€1ÖÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÙ€!ÙÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ&  ÔÔ€¼ÔÔ€ÔßR€453A1-j|` ç `€€@ÿRßÞ ÞÌIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€NASHVILLEÌ(August€29,€1997€Session)ÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓWALTER€A.€DICKMAN,€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€)€€€€€JACKSON€CRIMINALÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€)€€€€€Hon.€J.€O.€BOND,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€Judge.Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€„Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€No.€01S01„9703„CC„00061ÌMEADOWS€HOMES,€INC.,€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant.€€€Ô€,Ô€€Ô€¼Ô€€)ÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appellee:óóÌÌWilliam€B.€Jakes,€III€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Charles€W.€McKinneyÌAlice€Margaret€Essary€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Richard€BrooksÌHowell€&€Fisher€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Gordonsville,ÏTennesseeÌNashville,€TennesseeòòÌóóÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÌÔ'  ÔFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓREVERSED€AND€DISMISSED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,ÏJudgeÓ ¹ ÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÓ rAÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€theÏSpecial€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€inÏaccordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÏreporting€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€this€appeal,€theÏemployer,€Meadows€Homes,€Inc.,€contends€the€evidence€preponderatesÏagainst€the€trial€court's€finding€that€the€claimant€was€a€covered€employeeÏand€in€favor€of€a€finding€that€he€was€an€independent€contractor.€€AsÏdiscussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€claimant€was€an€independentÏcontractor.Ìà àà àOn€June€13,€1994,€the€claimant,€Walter€Dickman,€and€MeadowsÏHomes,€Inc.,€entered€into€the€following:ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓCONTRACTOR€AGREEMENTÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà0 àà0 àI/We€Walter€Dickman€do€state€that€I/We€are€general€contractorsÏwho€are€duly€licensed€to€perform€the€services€for€which€we€areÏoffering€to€Meadows€Homes.€€Our€services€are€being€offered€toÏthe€general€public.Ìà0 àà0 àAs€a€contractor,€I/We€provide€our€own€commercial€automobile,Ïworkmen€compensation€and€liability€insurance,€and€herebyÏrelease€Meadows€Homes€from€any€and€all€liabilities€concerningÏour€contract€and€any€employees€and€their€properties.Ìà0 àà0 àAs€a€contractor€I/We€agree€to€provide€all€necessary€tools,Ïequipment€and€transportation€necessary€to€complete€anyÏservices€required.Ìà0 àà0 àAs€a€general€contractor€I/We€affirm€that€we€are€responsible€toÏreport€and€pay€any€local,€state€or€federal€taxes€€which€may€beÏdue€on€income€from€services€rendered.ÌThe€paper€writing€was€dated€and€signed€by€the€claimant€and€a€representativeÏof€Meadows€Homes,€Inc.Ìà àà àThereafter,€Dickman€bid€on€and€was€awarded€work€at€propertyÏowned€by€Meadows€Homes€in€Jackson€County.€€Then,€beginning€on€June€27,Ï1994,€the€parties€agreed€that€he€would€be€compensated€on€an€hourly€ratherÏthan€a€per€job€basis.€€He€would€perform€the€work,€then€bill€Meadows€for€hisÏtime.Ìà àà àOn€July€6,€1994,€he€received€an€electrical€shock€while€trying€toÏrepair€an€electrical€problem,€resulting€in€a€third€degree€burn€on€his€arm.€ÏOn€November€24,€1994,€the€claimant€filed€this€action€for€workers'Ïcompensation€benefits€in€Jackson€County.€€On€May€10,€1995,€he€filed€aÏcomplaint€for€common€law€damages€against€the€same€defendant€in€anotherÏcounty.€€The€second€complaint€is€not€part€of€this€appeal.Ìà àà àThe€trial€court€found€the€claimant€to€be€an€employee€andÏawarded€workers'€compensation€benefits.€€Appellate€review€is€de€novo€uponÏthe€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctnessÍof€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€isÏotherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€59„6„225(e)(2).€€This€panel€is€requiredÏto€conduct€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€to€determine€where€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòWingert€v.€Government€of€SumnerÏCountyóó,€908€€S.W.2d€€921€(Tenn.€1995).Ìà àà àGenerally,€every€employee€of€a€covered€employer€is€entitled€toÏthe€benefits€provided€by€the€Workers'€Compensation€Act.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïsection€50„6„102(a)(3).€€However,€an€independent€contractor,€or€one€whoÏcontracts€to€perform€a€service€by€his€own€methods€and€without€control€orÏdirection€by€his€employer€except€as€to€the€result€to€be€achieved,€is€not€aÏcovered€employee.€€òòBargery€v.€Obion€Grain€Co.óó,€785€€S.W.2d€€118€(Tenn.Ï1990);€òòCromwell€General€Contractors€v.€Lytleóó,€202€€Tenn.€633,€439€ÏS.W.2d€€598€(1969).Ìà àà àAmong€the€tests€for€determining€whether€the€work€relationshipÏis€that€of€employer„employee€or€of€independent€contractor€are€(1)€right€toÏcontrol€the€conduct€of€the€work,€(2)€right€of€termination,€(3)€method€ofÏpayment,€(4)€whether€or€not€the€worker€furnishes€his€own€helpers,€(5)Ïwhether€or€not€the€worker€furnishes€his€own€tools,€(6)€self€scheduling€ofÏworking€hours€and€(7)€freedom€to€render€services€to€other€entities.€€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€section€50„6„102(a)(9)Ñ  ÑÑ   ÑÑ  ÑÑ€2 §u` Ñ× ƒ6 ××  ×.€€But€these€tests€are€not€absolute€andÏmust€not€be€applied€abstractly.€€òòWright€v.€Knox€Vinyl€&€Aluminum€Co.óó,Ï779€€S.W.2d€€371€(Tenn.€1989);€òòMasiers€v.€Arrow€Transfer€and€StorageÏCo.óó,€639€€S.W.2d€€654€(Tenn.€1982).€€None€of€these€tests,€standing€alone,€isÏconclusive.€€òòBoruff€v.€CNA€Ins.€Co.óó,€795€€S.W.2d€€125€(Tenn.€1990);€òòCurtisÏv.€Hamilton€Block€Co.óó,€225€€Tenn.€€275,€466€€S.W.2d€€220€(1971).€€WhileÍthe€primary€test€for€determining€whether€an€injured€worker€is€an€employeeÏor€independent€contractor€is€"right€to€control,"€it€is€not€the€sole€test.€ÏòòLindsey€v.€Smith€&€Johnson,€Inc.óó,€601€€S.W.2d€€923€(Tenn.€1980).Ìà àà àThe€written€"Contractor€Agreement"€between€the€partiesÏdefines€the€rights€and€obligations€of€the€parties.€€The€claimant€does€notÏdispute€that€but€argues€it€was€changed€when€he€agreed€to€be€paid€by€theÏhour.€€We€find€nothing€in€that€paper€writing€concerning€the€method€ofÏpayment.€€Moreover,€it€is€noteworthy€that€Meadows€did€not€withhold€taxesÏor€social€security€from€his€pay.€€Moreover,€on€his€1994€Individual€IncomeÏTax€Return,€the€claimant€reported€his€income€from€Meadows€as€self„employment€income€and€reported€his€business€as€"construction:Ïremodeling;"€and€he€deducted€business€expenses€of€more€than€$11,000.00Ïfor€his€car€and€truck,€office€and€telephone€expenses€and€supplies.Ìà àà àMr.€Dickman€testified€that€he€reported€to€work€for€Meadows€atÏa€particular€time,€but€the€preponderance€of€the€proof€is€that€he€set€his€ownÏhours€and€came€and€went€as€he€pleased.€€He€regularly€submitted€invoicesÏunder€the€name€of€"Dickman€&€Associates€Home€Maintenance/€Contractor."€ÏHe€furnished€his€own€tools€and€was€free€to€offer€his€services€to€others.Ìà àà àFrom€a€deliberate€consideration€of€all€those€circumstances,€theÏpanel€finds€the€evidence€to€preponderate€against€the€finding€of€the€trial€courtÏand€in€favor€of€one€that€he€was€an€independent€contractor.€€As€such€he€is€notÏa€covered€employee.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed€and€theÏcase€is€dismissed.€€Costs€are€taxed€to€the€plaintiff„appellee.Ó *bÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÑ€7ÑÇÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ€8ÔÔ€8&Ô›à@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌœßJ€49;+'b|` ç `€@ÿJß›Ìà@ àAT€œNASHVILLEÌÌÌWALTER€A.€DICKMAN,à àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ì€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,à àà à(€€Jackson€CriminalÌà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€No.€94„111Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€Hon.€J.€O.€Bond,ÌÒ € ÒÒ h Òv.à àà àà àà àà àà à(€€JudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€S.€Ct.€No.€01S01„9703„CC„00061€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à(ÌÒ € ÒÒ ° ÒMEADOWS€HOMES,€INC.,à àà à(ÌÒ € ÒÒ X Òà àà àà àà àà àà à(€€ÌÒ € ÒÒ 8 Ò€€€€€Defendant„Appellant.à àà à(€€REVERSED€AND€DISMISSED.ÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à à€€€€€€Ïòòà8 ààH-ààH-ààH&àò òJUDGMENT€ORDERóóó óÌÓÓà àÌà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€reviewÏpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entireÏrecord,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€byÏreference;Ìà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€forÏreview€is€not€well€taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€theÏdecision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.€€Ìà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€the€plaintiff„appellee,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ìà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€18th€day€of€February,€1998.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌDrowota,€J.€„€Not€participating.ÌÔ€ÔÔ€¼Ô