406 [92 JONES BROTHERS, INC_, and Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance v JOURNAGAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, Builders' Association Outstates Insurance Plan/Benchmark Insurance Company, Aggregate Transportation Specialist, C ,
Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Company, Inc„ Michael Whitlock, d/b/a/ Michael Whitlock Trucking Company, and Leslie A. Keeter CA 04 -842 214 S,W3d 870 Court of Appeals of Arkansas Opinion delivered October 5, 2005 1 WORKERS COMPENSATION - PRIME CONTRACTOR - DEHNI-TION = In order-for there to-be a-subcontractor rclationship, the person sought to be charged as pnme contractor must have been contractually obligated to a third party for the work being done at the time of a worker's injury; a subcontractor is a person who agrees to perform part of a contract for a person who has already agreed to perform the contract for a third party, where a trucking company, which lacked workers' compensation insurance, was a subcontractor of a second company, which was a subcontractor of a third company, which was a subcontractor of a contractor that had entered into a contract with the Arkansas State Highway Commission, and all subcontractors were performing services that arose from that contract, the contractor that was contractually bound to the Commission was the "pnme contractor," and, consequently, liable for payment of workers' compensation to a dump truck driver who was injured while working for the trucking company WORKERS' COMPENSATION - PRIME CONTRArTOR'S LIEN AGAINST MONEY DUE TO SUBCONTRACTOR - EMPLOYEE NOT THE IMMEDIATE SUBCONTRACTOR'S EMPLOYEE - A prime contractor, who is ultimately liable for workers' compensation, can make claims against its immediate subcontractor, even though the injured employee is not the immediate subcontractor's employee; the Commission, therefore, did not err in awarding the pnme contractor a hen against moneys due or to become due to its immediate subcontractor
JONES BROTHERS, INC , V. JOURNAGAN CONSTR CO ARK APP Cite as 92 Ark App 40b (2005) 407 3. WrIRKERS COMPFNSATION — CONTRACTOR'S LIEN — BINDING UPON SUBCONTRACTOR'S INSURER — Any requirements by the Commission or any court under any compensation order, finding, or decision shall be binding upon an insurance earner in the same manner and to the same extent as upon the employer; the appellate court found it unnecessar y to grant a request by the prime contractor that the Commission's decision be modified to include a claim not only against its immediate subcontractor, but against the immediate subcontractor's insurer, because the prime contractor was statutonly entitled to seek recovery of the amount of the compensation paid or for which liability- was incurred, not only from its immediate subcontractor, but also from the insurer of its immediate subcontractor 4: WORKERS COMPENSATION — SUBROGATION CLAIM — WHERE PREMATURE — A subrogation claim is premature where the person claiming subrogation has not had his own liability determined, it would be premature for the appellate court or the Commission to make findings of fact on the issue of whether the subcontractor of the prime contractor's immediate subcontractor had workers' compensation insurance, where the Commission made no findings of fact on the issue and where the prime contractor had not yet made a claim and recovered from its immediate subcontractor, which also had not yet sought recovery from its subcontractor Appeal from the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission; affirmed. Baxter, Jensen, Young & Houston, by: Terence C. Jensen. for appellants. Warner, Smith & Harris, PLC:, by: Wayne Harris, for appellee Journagan Construction Company. Davis, Wright, Clark, Butt & Carithers, PLC,, by: Constance G. Clark, for appellee Aggregate Transportation Specialist, L.L.C, Friday, Eldredge & Clark, by: James C. Baker Jr , for appellee Missouri Employers' Mutual Insurance Company, Dover Dixon Horne PLLC, by: Joseph H, Purvis, for appellee cilic A Kccter
JuNEs fiJURNAUAN CONS IR Cu 408 Cite as 92 Ark App 406 (2005) [92 OSEPHINE LINKER HART, Judge: Appellee Leslie Keeter was j injured in a near-fatal motor-vehicle accident' while working for Michael Whitlock Trucking Company (Whitlock Trucking), an uninsured subcontractor: On appeal, Jones Brothers, Inc: (Jones), and its insurer, Lumbermen's Underwnting Alhance, contend that the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission erred in ordering Jones to pay workers' compensation benefits to Keeter, because Jones was not, as found by the Commission, the "pnme contractor" within the meaning of Ark: Code Ann: 5 11-9-402(a) (Repl: 2002), On cross-appeal, Journagan Construction Company (Joumagan) and its insurer, Builders' Association Outstates Insurance Plan/Benchmark Insurance Company, contend that the Commission erred in LonLlud-ing that, in accordance with Ark: Code Ann: c 11-9-402(b), Jones has a lien against moneys due or to become due against its immediate subcontractor, Journagan: Also, as part ofJones's appeal', we consider whether the Commission should have awarded a lien against not only Journagan but also its insurer: Further, on cross-appeal, we consider whether the Commission properly found as moot the issue of whether Journagan's immediate subcontractor, Aggregate Transportation Specialist (Aggregate), possessed workers' compensation insurance: We affirm the Commission. In determining whether Jones was the prime contractor, we must briefly state the facts showing the connections between the parties_ The record contains a copy of an "Arkansas State Highway Commission Contract" in which Jones, as contractor, agreed to widen 4 5 miles of Highway 412 that were west of Harrison to four lanes. A map in the record shows that the widening was to be made to a portion of Highway 412 between Alpena and Bear Creek Springs: The record further includes a "Subcontract Agreement" between Jones, as contractor, and Journagan, as subcontractor, in which Journagan agreed to perform services related to the same highway project: In a deposition, James Holt, a senior vice-president of Journagan, stated that his company entered into an oral agreement with Aggregate whereby Aggregate would provide trucking services to haul materials needed for the Highway 412 project. Michael Swearingen, the sole proprietor of Aggregate, in turn stated in his deposition that he provided trucking services to ' The Comnuision noted that Keeter's injuries included a severe closed-head injury and a fractured cervical spine at the C-5 level
JONES BROTHERS, INC , ji -11 m NAI TAN CONSTR CO ARK Art] Cite as 92 Ark App 406 (2005) 409 Journagan for delivery of materials related to the project. He further stated that either he or one of his employees was contacted by Michael Whitlock of Whitlock Trucking, and Aggregate hired Whitlock Trucking to provide trucks for the Highway 412 project: In their combined deposition, Michael Whitlock and Rochelle Whitlock presented testimony that they had been hired by Aggregate for the Highway 412 project, that Whitlock Trucking hired Keeter to drive a dump truck, and that Keeter was working on the Highway 412 project at the time of his accident. His accident, they said, occurred on Highway 412 between Alpena and Bear Creek Springs, closer to Bear Creek Springs, where a Journagan quarry and asphalt plant were located, when he was coming back from the job with an empty truck on his way to the plant: Keeter's wife, Becky Keeter, testified at the hearing that, before the accident, Keeter told her he was on his way to work on that project. And finally, Keeter testified at the hearing that, on the day of the accident, he was driving a dump truck for Whitlock Trucking on the Highway 412 project, where persons from Journagan were present. The relevant statute for determining the hability for compensation for the employee of an uninsured subcontractor provides in part that "[w]here a subcontractor fails to secure compensation required by this chapter, the prime contractor shall be liable for compensation to the employees of the subcontractor." Ark. Code Ann: 5 11-0-402(a).2 In order to determine whether Jones was liable as the prime contractor, we must not nnly construe the meaning of "prime contractor" but also determine whether the Cntrirrussion properly found that Keeter, as an emplo yee of Whitlock Trucking, was performing services that arose from a subcontract between Whitlock Trucking and Aggregate, which in turn arose from a subcontract between Aggregate and Journagan, which in turn arose from a subcontract between Journagan and Jones, which arose from Jones's contract with the Arkansas State Highway Commission. On appeal, we review the Commission's decision to see if it is supported by substantial evidence, viewing the evidence and all reasonable inferences deducible therefrom in the light most favorable to the Commission's findings, See, e.g., Riddell Flyitig Sew. v. 2 In 2005, the Arkansas General Assembly added to the end of this sentence the language "iml,ss th,ne ts an witermedute subcontractor who has workers' compensation coverage Ark Cncl Ann 11-0 -40 1 (a) (Supp ?005)
JUNLS BRU111LkS, INC V JOURNALAN CONS1R. CO 410 Cite as 92 Ark App 406 (2005) [92 Callahan, 90 Ark. App: 388, 206 S:W:3d 284 (2005). Giving due regard to our standard of review, we conclude that substantial evidence supported the Commission's finding that the necessary links existed between the work Keeter was performing and the Jones contract with the Arkansas State Highway Commission. Next, we note that there is no statutory definition of "prime contractor" in our workers' compensation statutes, so we must construe the meaning of the term "prime contractor" and consider whether the Commission properly found that Jones was the prime contractor and thus liable for payment of compensation to Keeter, who was the employee of an uninsured subcontractor. It is well settled that the appellate court reviews issues of statutory construction de novo, as it is for the appellate court to decide what a statute means: See, e.g., Aloha Pools & Spas, Inc. v. Employer's Ins. of Wausau, 342 Ark: 398, 403, 39 S.W.3d 440, 443 (2000). In construing a statute, we give words their ordinary_and usually accepted meanings, and if possible, we give meaning and effect to every word. Id. at 404, 39 S.W.3d at 443. [1] In Nucor Holding Corp, v Rinkines, 326 Ark 217, 931 S W 2d 426 (1996), the Arkansas Supreme Court considered the issue of how to define the term "prime contractor." In its analysis, the court relied on Bailey v. Simmons, 6 Ark: App: 193, 639 S:W.2d 526 (1982), where we observed that, in order for there to be a subcontractor relationship, the person sought to be charged as prime contractor must have been contractually obligated to a third party for the work being done at the time of the injury: Nucor, 326 Ark. at 223, 931 S.W.2d at 430. Also, the Nucor court noted that we defined a subcontractor as a person who agrees to perform part of a contract for a person who has already agreed to perform the contract for a third party. Id: The Nucor court concluded that the status of prime contractor presupposes work to be done for a third party: Id. Whitlock Trucking — who lacked workers' compensation insurance — was Aggregate's subcontractor, Aggregate was Jour-nagan's subcontractor, and Journagan was Jones's subcontractor: All subcontractors were performing services that arose from the contract between Jones and a third party, the Arkansas State Highway Commission_ Thus, because Jones is the only contractor with an obligation to a third party, we are convinced that Jones was the sole "prime contractor " Moreover, defining "prime contrac-
JC)1\IFS BROTHEP C, INC , V JOURNAGAN CONSTR Co ARK AFT] Cite as 92 Ark App. 406 (2005) 411 tor" in this manner is in keeping with how the term is generally conceived, as it is defined as "roine who contracts for the completion of an entire proJect, including purchasing all materials, hiring and pa y ing subcontractors, and coordinating all the work:- BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY 351 (8th ed. 2004). We hold that the Commission properly concluded that Jones was the prime contractor and, consequently, was liable for payment of workers' compensation to Keeter, The Commission further found that, in accordance with Ark: Code Ann: 5 11-9-402, Jones "shall be entitled to a lien against mone y s due or to become due" to Journagan, that Journa-gan was entitled to a lien against Aggregate, and that Aggregate was entitled to a lien against Whitlock Trucking: journagan and its insurer assert in their respective briefs that jones was not entitled to a lien against Journagan: Arguably, the Commission's ruling on this issue was premature, as Jones has not yet made a claim against Journagan, Journagan's insurer, or any other party: Nevertheless, we will consider the propriety of the Commission's ruling, recognizing that the Commission has concluded that Jones is entitled to a lien against Journagan. [2] The relevant statutory language provides that "1-alny contractor or the contractor's insurance carrier who shall become liable for the payment of compensation on account of injury to or death of an employee of his or her subcontractor may recover from the subcontractor the amount of the compensation paid or for which liability is incurred." Ark. Code Ann. 5 11-9-402(b)(1). Further, the statute provides that "Nile claim for the recovery shall constitute a lien against any moneys due or to become due to the subcontractor from the prime contractor." Ark: Code Ann: 11-9-402(b)(2), We acknowledge that (b)(1) refers to an injury to "an employee of his or her subcontractor" when describing against whom a contractor may recover: But we note that (b)(1) grants this right of recovery to a "contractor," indicating that either a prime contractor or a subcontractor can make claims against its immediate subcontractor: It follows then that a prime contractor, who is ultimately liable, can make claims against its immediate subcontractor, even though the iMured employee is not the immediate subcontractor's employee: Consequently, we construe the Commission's finding to mean that Tones may recover pinst jniirnagAn
] 011LS BIWIIILItS 114L 1_ , JOURNAUAN CONSIR 412 Cite as 92 Ark App 406 (2005) [92 [3] In their appeal, Jones and its insurer also ask that the Coithrussion's decision be modified to include a claim not only against Journagan, but also Journagan's insurer. We observe that this amendment to the Commission's decision is unnecessary, as a statute already addresses Jones's request by providing that "[a]ny requirements by the commission or any court under any compensation order, finding, or decision shall be binding upon the carrier in the same manner and to the same extent as upon the employer " Ark Code Ann 11-9-405(b)(3) (Repl 2002) Thus, Jones and its insurer may seek recovery of the amount of the compensation paid or for which liability is incurred not only from Journagan but also from Journagan's insurer. [4] Finally, in their cross-appeal, Journagan and its insurer argue that the Commission erred in concluding that the issue of whether Aggregate had workers' compensation insurance was moot. Specifically, they contend that they may proceed against not only Aggregate but also its insurer, Missouri Employers' Mutual Insurance Company. In essence, the Commission did not make any findings of fact on the issue. We conclude, however, that for this court or the Commission to make findings of fact on the issue would be premature until Jones makes a claim and recovers from Journagan and Journagan has sought recovery from Aggregate See generally Ins Co of N Am v Ferrell, 234 Ark 581, 353 S W 2d 353 (192) (deeming subrogation claim premature where person claiming subrogation had not had his own liability determined) Nothing herein will prejudice the rights of the parties to future subrogation claims Affi rme d NEAL arid VAUGHT, jj , agree.
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