ÿWPC |(h„õ)éj™d ¥·5%­0=>lj %?ëîÔ–uþ£,éôeúÉL¼˜¬$&<&n‚ý¯Ͱõ¡¼ž?¥Á燱Ž7…l9Ó_O_ðßÒ ´U’ÔBžµª!ºJÇx1%Ї€ºìÓ‰'óãJc‰R£Ý%_̈fóÖïÅÜDûc=¡”—Ëþýw¡5ئ-i åIX³ã ôŒIÅ{¦šœuÚ:ß•¾û܇؅–ˆÕx ‘ŠV— Æ‚ò=˜‘M8œáÅŠ™qLa¿c-¹v/P.Ïp¾é«6OúpëàQ°lPü¿4á$Ì›Y kD!dBJ¶\•öï”5®#é¶ùFøbV"¹‚<¹áWò]PUuM7—,ý¤öW‚ÈÅNK/\ÔÎÔw&™Oõ-•2‹<¦Á0λ<Ø¿˜Ï;Œsî×c[û\2wä¾Å¶ýmÏÿ]†tÙánýfüàK§û¤1!=hȧCÈc›©V›øRùm‹"JSÓ5` “Å,ãz´P.K¢®ÈWNs<˜‹%–um7`E\·¸ûísG *è¢:¹ ¨/Nàyp?ž#¹cLGO±üžüg-—ʱ2K1õÄâÍ…¨Î¾&n;û )# >UNI %— 0((Å4íw@UBX"šUB¼U:þ8UF@(†U:® Æè Æ® Æt Æ: : : : : : : : : : AQ ÆQ 0D 0D[ 0DŸŸ D/ã B B/ D3L˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ Ý ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ Xº8XXXÔÔ€ %cX Xº8ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ Xº8X %cÔÐ  ÐÌò òOctober€21,€1998Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ ôj­ôX Xº8ÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó óAq$%3|x' E  P Ó€VîÓ€'4*NewsGoth BT Roman Ñ ° ÑÑ ° Ñ+@FÐAZ‹*NewsGoth BT Roman,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular Ý ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€Xº8XXXÔÔ€%cXXº8ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€Xº8X%cÔÐ  ÐÌò òOctober€21,€1998Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôj­ôXXº8ÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 !"#%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'''÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd&&&&'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÑ„°ÑÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÔ  ÔÔ€ XúøXXXÔ›Ñ7€ % %%dÞdÈ7ÑÑ€ dOÑÔ  ÔÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑà@  Dàò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðññœßt€(>.*jx6` `€€@EV±` ttx$Ž¢ð ãtß›ññà@[[DàSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÌà@pp*DàAT€JACKSONˆÌà@``#Dà(April€13,€1998,€Session)òòˆÐ †Ö ÐÌÌÌÌóóññßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@E A ` ttx$X@ ð Õrßñ ñœñ ñññRITA€œTRULL›,à ¸ àœñ ñà  àñ ñ›à h àà À àà  à€€€€€)Ð @  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€)Ìà ` àPlaintiff/Appellant,à h àà À àà  à€€€€€)à p àà È àHENRY€COUNTY€CIRCUITÐ $t  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€)Ìv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€)à p àà È àNO.€œ02S01›„9707„CV„00062Ð X  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€)ÌKENTUCKY€LAKE€OIL€CO.à h àà À à€€€à  à€€€€€)à p àà È àHONORABLE€C.€CREED€œMCGINLEY›,Ð ì<  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€)à p àà È àJUDGEÐ Þ. Ðà ` àDefendant/Appellee.à h àà À à€€€€€)Ð Ð  Ðó óÌÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à  àà h àà À àà  àóó€€€€€òòà p àà È àFor€the€Appellee:ó óóóÐ |Ì ÐÌThomas€K.€œMcAlexander›à h àà À àà  à€€€€€à p àà È àLee€M.€Greer,€IIIÐ `° ÐHill€œBoren›à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à€€€€€à p àà È àGreer€&€GreerÐ R¢ Ð1269€North€Highland€Avenueà À àà  àà p àà È à114€South€Poplar€StreetÐ D” ÐP.O.€Box€3539à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àP.O.€Box€385Ð 6† ÐJackson,€TN€38303„0539à h àà À àà  àà p àà È àParis,€TN€38242Ð (x ÐÌÌÌÌà@ÅÅ&Dàòòò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óóóˆÐ â#2! ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@'Dàò òòòMEMBERS€OF€PANEL:óóó óˆÐ r+Â&) ÐÌà@#Dàò òJUSTICE€JANICE€M.€HOLDERˆÐ V-¦(+ Ðà@ŒŒ"DàSENIOR€JUDGE€JOHN€K.€BYERSˆÌà@’’DàSPECIAL€JUDGE€J.€STEVEN€STAFFORDó óˆÐ :/Š*- ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òREVERSED€IN€PARTÐ ’:â59 ÐAFFIRMED€IN€PARTÌAND€REMANDEDà€FF9€%àSTAFFORD,€SPECIAL€JUDGEó óˆÐ v<Æ7; Їà@,Dàò òòòOPINIONóóó óˆÐ ° ÐÌÓÓà ` àThis€workerððs€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€WorkersððÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„¼225(e)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw.Ìà ` àThe€parties€have€raised€two€issues€for€the€Panelððs€consideration:ÌÓÓà ` àI.à0 ¸ àWhether€the€trial€court€properly€granted€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summaryÐ X  Ðjudgment€finding€the€plaintiff€to€be€an€independent€contractor?Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àII.à0 ¸ àWhether€the€trial€court€properly€denied€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summaryÐ Þ. Ðjudgment€on€the€issue€of€notice?Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌÓÓà ` àThe€plaintiff€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€granted€the€defendantððs€motionÏfor€summary€judgment€and€found€the€plaintiff€to€be€an€independent€contractor.€€The€defendantÏasserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€failed€to€rule€that€the€plaintiffððs€claim€for€workerððsÏcompensation€benefits€was€barred€due€to€the€plaintiffððs€failure€to€timely€notify€the€defendantÏof€the€claimed€injury.€€For€the€following€reasons,€we€find€that€genuine€issues€of€material€factÏexist€as€to€both€issues€making€summary€judgment€inappropriate.Ìà@XX-Dàò òòòFACTSó óóóˆÐ  !\ Ðà ` àOn€December€1,€1994,€the€plaintiff€and€defendant€entered€into€a€contract€in€which€theÏplaintiff€agreed€to€manage€a€self„service€station€and€grocery€store€owned€by€the€defendant€inÏParis,€Tennessee.€€The€plaintiff€asserts€that€as€the€result€of€the€stress€associated€with€her€job,Ïshe€suffered€psychological€injuries€which€rendered€her€unable€to€work.€€The€plaintiffÏsubsequently€filed€a€complaint€seeking€to€recover€workerððs€compensation€benefits.€€Both€partiesÏfiled€motions€for€summary€judgment€with€supporting€affidavits.€€Based€on€the€record,€the€trialÏjudge€granted€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€and€found€the€plaintiff€to€be€anÏindependent€contractor€but€denied€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€on€the€issueÏof€notice.Ìà ` àThe€contract€œprovides›€that€the€plaintiff€and€her€employees€would€not€be€employees€ofÏthe€defendant.€€It€additionally€provides€that€the€plaintiff€was€operating€as€an€independent€leaseÏcompany€and€that€all€benefits€provided€by€the€defendant€to€its€employees€including€œworkersðð›Ïcompensation€insurance,€unemployment€insurance,€medical€insurance,€bonuses€or€other€fringeÏbenefits€were€not€available€to€the€plaintiff€or€her€employees.Ð „;Ô6: Ðà ` àThe€contract€required€the€plaintiff€to€hire,€fire,€and€supervise€the€employees€and€toÏpurchase,€store,€display,€and€sell€the€usual€and€customary€goods.€€It€required€the€plaintiff€toÏmaintain€stock€in€sufficient€quantities€as€the€business€required€and€prohibited€the€plaintiffÏfrom€ordering€in€excess€of€$2,000.00€in€a€single€order€without€the€defendantððs€prior€writtenÏapproval.Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€was€responsible€for€all€repairs€and€maintenance€to€the€building€andÏfacilities€on€a€day„to„day€basis.€€The€defendant€was€responsible€for€all€other€repairs€andÏmaintenance.Ìà ` àThe€defendant€paid€the€plaintiff€$942.83€per€week.€€This€fee€was€to€be€utilized€for€theÏplaintiffððs€compensation€as€well€as€the€compensation€of€all€her€other€employees€including€theÏpayment€of€all€social€security,€unemployment€taxes,€workersðð€compensation€insurance,€and€anyÏother€employee€benefits,€wages,€withholding€or€compensation.€€The€plaintiff€could€also€receiveÏa€bonus€based€on€the€gross€sales€of€all€products€except€for€gasoline€and€lottery.€€The€bonusÏcould€be€reduced€due€to€cash€shortages,€credit€card€charge€backs,€monthly€inventory€shortagesÏand€uncollected€checks.Ìà ` àThe€contract€provided€that€it€could€be€terminated€at€any€time€by€the€defendant€for€theÏplaintiffððs€incompetence,€gross€negligence,€or€dishonesty.€€If€the€plaintiff€breached€any€otherÏcondition€of€the€contract,€the€defendant€was€required€to€inform€the€plaintiff€in€writing€of€theÏbreach€and€the€plaintiff€would€have€ten€days€to€cure€the€breach.€€If€the€breach€was€not€curedÏwithin€the€ten„day€period,€the€defendant€could€terminate€the€contract.Ìà ` àThe€contract€was€to€remain€in€force€for€a€period€of€one€year€and€thereafter€on€aÏmonthly€basis€unless€terminated€by€either€party€by€giving€thirty€days€written€notice€to€€theÏother€party.€Ìà ` àAttached€to€the€contract€were€four€exhibits€which€were€titled€respectively€as€theÏð ðLeasing€Company€Requirements,ðð€ð ðLeasing€Company€Responsibilities,ðð€ð ðOperating€Procedure€andÏPolicies€for€the€Leasing€Company,ðð€and€ð ðLeasing€Company€Performance€Packages.ððÌà ` àThe€plaintiff€does€not€dispute€the€existence€or€the€effect€of€the€contract.€€However,€theÏplaintiff€asserts€in€two€separate€affidavits€that€the€defendant€exercised€more€control€than€theÏâ âcontract€provided.€€In€pertinent€part,€her€affidavits€provide€as€follows:Ð  9ð48 ÐÓÓà8 ` à1.à0¸ ` (#` (#àThe€defendant€set€the€hours€of€store€operations€and€set€the€hours€andÐ ° Ðâ âtimes€at€which€the€plaintiff€was€expected€to€be€at€the€store.Ð ¸ (#¸ (# ÐÌà ` à2.à0 ¸ àThe€defendant€made€all€final€decisions€regarding€store€operations.Іָ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à3.à0 ¸ àThe€defendant€retained€final€approval€of€all€decisions€made€regarding€the€hiringÐ j º Ðand€firing€of€employees.€€Specifically,€the€plaintiff€attempted€to€terminate€anÏemployee€but€was€overruled€by€the€defendant€and€the€employee€was€reinstatedÏagainst€the€wishes€of€the€plaintiff.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à4.à0 ¸ àAll€of€the€equipment€used€in€the€course€of€the€job€was€provided€by€theÐ $t  Ðdefendant.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à5.à0 ¸ àThe€plaintiff€was€requested€to€submit€a€written€proposal€regarding€the€salary€ofÐ úJ  Ðeach€employee€to€the€defendant.€€The€defendant€used€this€proposal€to€determineÏthe€weekly€fee€paid€to€the€plaintiff.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à6.à0 ¸ àThe€defendant€provided€the€plaintiff€with€money€to€purchase€workersððÐ Â Ðcompensation€insurance€for€her€employees.€€In€January€1995,€funds€wereÏrefunded€to€the€plaintiff€from€the€workersðð€compensation€insurance€company€asÏan€overpayment€of€premium.€€The€defendant€demanded€that€the€refundedÏpremium€be€œññññreturnedññññññretññññññruneñññññ ñurned€to€the€defendantñ ñ›€and€warned€her€in€writing€that€failureÏto€return€the€funds€would€be€considered€a€breach€of€contract.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à7.à0 ¸ àThe€plaintiff€was€instructed€to€personally€work€shifts€which€would€coincide€withÐ `° Ðthe€times€that€the€defendantððs€office€was€open€and€was€specifically€instructedÏnot€to€work€on€weekends.€€When€the€plaintiff€was€not€at€the€store,€personnelÏfrom€the€defendant€would€call€her€at€home€or€stop€by€her€home€to€find€out€whyÏshe€was€not€at€the€store.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à8.à0 ¸ àThe€defendantððs€supervisors€would€come€to€the€store€to€review€the€plaintiffððsÐ  !\ Ðoperations€on€a€regular€basis.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à9.à0 ¸ àThe€defendant€would€hold€periodic€meetings€which€the€plaintiff€was€required€toÐ â#2! Ðattend€for€training€and€to€review€policies€and€procedures.€€The€defendant€wouldÏreimburse€the€plaintiff€for€having€to€pay€someone€to€cover€the€store€while€sheÏattended€these€meetings.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à10.à0 ¸ àThe€defendant€would€conduct€periodic€inspections€of€the€premises.€€After€theÐ œ(ì#& Ðinspection,€a€detailed€evaluation€would€be€completed€by€a€supervisor€from€theÏdefendant.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à11.à0 ¸ àChristmas€bonuses€were€paid€to€the€store€employees.€€The€defendant€wouldÐ d,´'* Ðdictate€the€amount€of€the€bonus€and€would€put€the€money€in€an€envelope€to€beÏgiven€to€the€appropriate€employee.Ð ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` à12.à0 ¸ àAll€utility€and€telephone€service€was€in€the€name€of€the€defendant.Ð,0|+.¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌÓÓà ` àA€majority€of€these€allegations€are€controverted€by€Chuck€Baker,€the€defendantððs€ViceÏPresident.€€Mr.€Baker€states€in€his€affidavit€executed€May€9,€1997,€that€the€defendant€operatesÏconvenience€stores€by€way€of€a€contract€manager€and€that€this€was€the€case€between€theÏplaintiff€and€the€defendant.€€The€plaintiff€operated€the€store€for€a€gross€payment€from€theÏdefendant€and€from€the€gross€payment€the€manager€was€expected€to€staff€the€store.€€TheÏdifference€between€the€contract€payments€and€what€the€manager€spends€on€wages,€payrollÐ „;Ô6: ÐÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑññÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  Ñññtaxes,€workersðð€compensation€premiums,€and€related€expenses€is€the€profit€or€loss€for€theÏññÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  Ññññ ñÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  Ññ ñññÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑññññÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑññññÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑññññÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  ÑÑ dOÑѰ„ÑѰ°ÑÑ  Ñññcontract€manager.€€The€defendant€provides€some€guidance€and€consultation€for€contractÏmanagers€but€the€contract€managers€ultimately€make€all€decisions€regarding€the€selection,Ïhiring€and€firing,€and€rates€of€compensation€for€the€employees€of€the€stores.€€The€managerÏobtains€his€own€federal€employerððs€identification€number€and€necessary€state€tax€numbers€asÏan€independent€business.Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€had€her€own€bank€account€in€the€name€of€œTrull›€Leasing€and€used€thisÏaccount€for€payroll€purposes.€€She€withheld€payroll€taxes€on€her€employees,€filed€quarterlyÏfederal€payroll€tax€returns,€filed€Tennessee€unemployment€tax€returns,€and€carried€workersððÏcompensation€insurance€on€her€employees.Ìà ` àThe€partiesðð€agreement€was€not€terminable€at€will.€€Additionally,€the€contract€managerÏwas€at€risk€financially.€€She€could€lose€money€if€her€expenses€exceeded€the€contract€payments.€ÏThe€contract€manager€determined€the€number€of€employees€as€well€as€the€rates€ofÏcompensation.€€The€manager€also€determined€when€she€would€work€even€though€the€store€wasÏrequired€to€be€open€a€minimum€number€of€hours.€€The€plaintiff€was€not€personally€active€inÏthe€store€for€substantial€amounts€of€time€in€the€summer€of€1996€prior€to€the€termination€ofÏthe€contract.€€Despite€this€lack€of€personal€involvement,€she€continued€to€receive€the€sameÏmonthly€payment€and€the€store€continued€to€operate.€Ìà@ÊÊ!Dàò òòòINDEPENDENT€CONTRACTOR€STATUSóóó óˆÐ ¸&"$ Ðà ` àThe€trial€court€found€as€a€matter€of€law€that€the€plaintiff€was€an€independentÏcontractor.€€The€status€of€the€plaintiff€is€determined€by€the€factors€set€out€in€T.C.A.€ðð€50„6„¼102(a)(9)€which€provides€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ðIn€a€work€relationship,€in€order€to€determine€whether€€anÏindividual€is€an€ððemployee,ðð€or€whether€an€individual€is€aÏððsubcontractorðð€or€an€ððindependent€contractor,ðð€the€followingÏfactors€shall€be€considered:Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓt<Óà ` àà ¸ à(A)€The€right€to€control€the€conduct€of€the€work;€Ìà ` àà ¸ à(B)€The€right€of€termination;€Ìà ` àà ¸ à(C)€The€method€of€payment;€Ìà ` àà ¸ à(D)€The€freedom€to€select€and€hire€helpers;€Ð ®8þ37 Ðà ` àà ¸ à(E)€The€furnishings€of€tools€and€equipment;€Ìà ` àà ¸ à(F)€Self€scheduling€of€working€hours;€and€Ìà ` àà ¸ à(G)€The€freedom€to€offer€services€to€other€entities.ððÌà ` àThe€Supreme€Court€held€in€òòòòœGalloway›€v.€Memphis€Drum€Serviceóóóó,€822€œS.W.2d›€584,€€586Ð \ ¬ Ð(Tenn.€1991)€that:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ðWhile€a€plaintiff€in€a€workersðð€compensation€action€has€theÏburden€of€proving€each€element€of€his€case€by€a€preponderanceÏof€the€evidence,€once€it€is€established€that€an€employmentÏrelationship€exists,€the€burden€is€on€the€employer€to€prove€theÏworker€was€an€independent€contractor€rather€than€an€employee.€ÏIn€addition,€because€ððthe€Workersðð€Compensation€Law€must€beÏrationally€but€liberally€construed€to€promote€and€adhere€to€theÏActððs€purpose€of€securing€benefits€to€those€workers€who€fall€withinÏits€coverage,ðð€this€Court€will€resolve€doubts€in€favor€of€a€findingÏthat€a€worker€is€an€employee€rather€than€an€independentÏcontractor.€.€.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#à.€.€.€While€no€single€factor€is€determinative,€this€Court€hasÏrepeatedly€emphasized€the€importance€of€the€right€to€control,€theÏrelevant€inquiry€being€whether€the€right€existed,€not€whether€itÏwas€exercised.ðð€(Citations€omitted.)Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà ` àLikewise,€labels€placed€upon€workers€in€contracts€are€not€binding.ÓÓ€€In€òòòòœStratton›€v.€UnitedÐ 6† ÐInter„Mountain€Telephoneóóóó,€695€œS.W.2d›€947,€953€(Tenn.€1985),€the€Supreme€Court€stated:Ð  j ÐÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ðThe€provision€in€the€contract€that€purports€to€establish€thatÏWright€and€œLopez›€is€an€independent€contractor€is€likewise€notÏdispositive€of€the€case.€When€the€facts€are€essentially€undisputed,Ïas€in€this€case,€the€question€of€whether€one€is€an€employee€or€anÏindependent€contractor€is€one€of€law€for€the€courts.€The€partiesÏcannot€by€contract€take€this€responsibility€from€the€court.ÏPresumably€the€provision€was€intended€by€the€Telephone€CompanyÏto€insulate€it€from€worker's€compensation€liability.€Such€aÏprovision€is€of€no€effect.€No€contract€or€agreement,€written€orÏimplied,€or€rule,€regulation,€or€other€device,€shall€in€any€mannerÏoperate€to€relieve€any€employer€.€.€.€of€any€obligation€created€byÏ[the€Worker's€Compensation€Act]€except€as€herein€provided.ðð€Ï(Citations€omitted.)Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓÓà ` àRule€56€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedure€provides€that€summary€judgment€shallÏbe€rendered€if€the€pleadings€œshow›€that€there€is€no€genuine€issue€as€to€any€material€fact€andÏthat€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.ÌÓÓà ` àIn€òòòòByrd€v.€Hallóóóó,€847€œS.W.2d›€208,€214„215€(Tenn.€1993),€the€Supreme€Court€stated:€€Ð æ4603 Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àÐ ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  Ðà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ðRule€56€comes€into€play€only€when€there€is€no€genuine€issue€asÏto€any€material€fact€and€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€aÏjudgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€Thus,€the€issues€that€lie€at€theÏheart€of€evaluating€a€summary€judgment€motion€are:€(1)€whetherÐ  9ð48 Ða€factual€dispute€exists;€(2)€whether€the€disputed€fact€is€materialÏto€the€outcome€of€the€case;€and€(3)€whether€the€disputed€factÏcreates€a€genuine€issue€for€trial.€.€.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ð.€.€.€€to€preclude€summary€judgment,€a€disputed€fact€must€beÏ"material".€A€disputed€fact€is€material€if€it€must€be€decided€inÏorder€to€resolve€the€substantive€claim€or€defense€at€which€theÏmotion€is€directed.€Therefore,€when€confronted€with€a€disputedÏfact,€the€court€must€examine€the€elements€of€the€claim€orÏdefense€at€issue€in€the€motion€to€determine€whether€theÏresolution€of€that€fact€€will€effect€the€disposition€of€€any€of€Ïthose€claims€or€defenses.€.€.Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ð.€.€.€when€the€evidence€or€proof€in€support€of€or€in€opposition€toÏa€summary€judgment€motion€establishes€a€disputed€fact,€and€theÏfact€is€material,€as€we€have€defined€that€term,€the€court€mustÏthen€determine€whether€the€disputed€material€fact€creates€aÏgenuine€issue€within€the€meaning€of€Rule€56.03.€Proceeding€fromÏthe€premise€that€Rule€56€is€intended€to€avoid€unnecessary€trials,Ïthe€test€for€a€ððgenuine€issueðð€is€whether€a€reasonable€jury€couldÏlegitimately€resolve€that€fact€in€favor€of€one€side€or€the€other.€IfÏthe€answer€is€yes,€summary€judgment€is€inappropriate;€if€theÏanswer€is€no,€summary€judgment€is€proper€because€a€trial€wouldÏbe€pointless€as€there€would€be€nothing€for€the€jury€to€do€and€theÏjudge€need€only€apply€the€law€to€resolve€the€case.€In€making€thisÏdetermination,€the€court€is€to€view€the€evidence€in€a€lightÏfavorable€to€the€nonmoving€party€and€allow€all€reasonableÏinferences€in€his€favor.€And,€again,€ððgenuine€issueðð€as€used€in€RuleÏ56.03€refers€to€disputed,€material€facts€and€does€not€include€mereÏlegal€conclusions€to€be€drawn€from€those€facts.ððÐ ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓÓà ` àIn€òòòòœHilliard›€v.€Tennessee€State€Home€Health€Services,€Inc.óó,€€óó950€S.W.2d€344,€345€theÐ þ!N ÐSupreme€Court€discussed€the€proper€use€of€summary€judgment€and€stated€that:ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ðSummary€judgment€is€to€be€rendered€only€when€it€is€shown€thatÏthere€is€no€genuine€issue€as€to€a€material€fact€and€that€theÏmoving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€œIt›€isÏalmost€never€an€option€in€workers'€compensation€cases.€In€aÏsummary€judgment€hearing,€even€where€the€parties€have€no€rightÏto€a€jury€trial,€the€trial€judge€is€not€at€liberty€to€weigh€theÏevidence.ðð€€(Citations€omitted.)Ð ¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÓÓà ` àBased€upon€the€partiesðð€affidavits,€we€find€that€a€factual€dispute€exists,€that€the€factualÏdispute€is€material€to€the€outcome€of€the€case,€and€that€the€disputed€fact€creates€a€genuineÏissue€for€trial.€€As€a€result€of€this€finding,€we€reverse€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€andÏremand€this€case€for€a€trial€on€the€issue€of€whether€the€plaintiff€was€an€independentÏcontractor€or€an€employee.ÌÓÓà8 ` àà8¸ ` (#` (#àð ðOur€action€should€not€be€interpreted€as€a€suggestion€that€theÏclaim€is€necessarily€meritorious.€€We€make€no€judgment€in€thatÏregard.€€That€decision€is€for€the€trial€court€after€a€fullÏopportunity€for€both€sides€to€present€their€witnesses.€€TheÐ  9ð48 Ðclaimant€is€not€relieved€of€the€burden€of€proving€the€necessaryÏelements€of€her€claim.ðð€€òòòòœHilliard›óóóó€at€345.Тò¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌÌÌà@//,Dàò òòòNOTICEóóó óˆÐ j º ÐÌÓÓà ` àThe€defendant€asserts€that€the€trial€judge€erred€when€he€failed€to€grant€its€motion€forÏsummary€judgment€on€the€issue€of€notice.€€Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€stated€in€an€affidavit€dated€May€15,€1997,€that€she€told€personnel€of€theÏdefendant€that€her€health€problems€were€related€to€stress.€€She€also€answered€an€interrogatoryÏand€stated€that€she€had€another€store€manager€notify€Kenneth€œMott›,€the€defendantððs€marketingÏdirector,€of€her€injury.€€Mr.€œMott›€filed€an€affidavit€dated€May€9,€1997,€stating€that€the€onlyÏthing€he€was€told€was€that€the€plaintiff€was€out€of€the€store€with€an€upset€stomach.Ìà ` àAs€discussed€earlier€in€this€opinion,€summary€judgment€should€only€be€granted€whenÏthere€are€no€genuine€issues€of€material€fact€and€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€œa€judgment›Ïas€a€matter€of€law.€€Using€this€analysis,€we€find€that€the€trial€judge€properly€denied€theÏdefendantððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€on€the€issue€of€notice.Ìà@__*Dàò òòòCONCLUSIONóóó óˆÐ  j Ðà ` àGenuine€issues€of€material€fact€exist€on€both€issues€raised€in€this€case.€€Accordingly,€Ïwe€reverse€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€granting€the€defendant€summary€judgment€on€theÏemployment€status€of€the€plaintiff€and€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€denial€of€summary€judgmentÏon€the€issue€of€notice.€€This€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings.€€TheÏcosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant.ÌÌÌÓÓà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àòòà p à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð :/Š*- Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€óóà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àò òJ.€STEVEN€STAFFORD,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÐ ,0|+. Ðó óÌò òÌCONCUR:ó óÐ 3R.1 ÐÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó€Ð Ê625 Ðò òJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€JUSTICEÐ ¼7 36 Ðó óòòÌÐ  9ð48 Ї€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ° Ðò òJOHN€K.€BYERS,€SENIOR€œJUDGEññÐ  ¢ò ÐññññÑÀ°ÑÑà°ÑÔ‡X XX XúøÔÓT@Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!T$¬&)\+´- 0d2¼4°œXTÓÓ  Óñññ'ññ'ññññññ'ññ'ññññññ'ññ'ññññññ'ñßt€(>.*jxˆÂÿ` `€€@ELÀ` ttx$„À( Ôtßñ'ñññIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ À ÐÓ  ÓÌÓ  ÓAT€JACKSONÌÓ  ÓÌÌñññ'ññ'ñññÌRITA€TRULL,à  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àHenry€County€Circuit€€€€€€Ð  X Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àNo.€673Ð ü < Ðñññ'ñññßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@E á ` ttx$Xà ð Õrßñññ'ñññà ` àPlaintiff/Appellantà À àà  à)Ð à  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àHon.€C.€Creed€McGinley,Ð Ä   Ðv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àJudgeÐ ¨ è  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌKENTUCKY€LAKE€OIL€CO.,à À àà  à)à p àS.€Ct.€No.€02„S„01„9707„CV„00062Ð p°  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appelleeà À àà  à)à p àREVERSED€IN€PART,€AFFIRMED€Ð 8x  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àIN€PART,€AND€REMANDEDÐ \  ÐÌÌà@üü(DàòòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóˆÐ È ÐÌÓÓÌà ` àà ¸ àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€reviewÏpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,Ïincluding€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€OpinionÏsetting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÏare€incorporated€herein€by€reference;ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€forÏreview€is€not€well„taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌÌà ` àà ¸ 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.ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àCost€will€be€paid€by€defendant/appellee,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€CURIAMÌHolder,€J.,€not€participatingÔ#† XúøX XXÿa#Ôññó ó›