James Leonard Guthrie v. Reliance

Plaintiff appeals after the directed verdict granted in defendant's favor by the trial court at the close of plaintiff's case. Defendant cross-appeals from the trial court's denial of its motion for summary judgment prior to trial. This case arises from an accident suffered by plaintiff during the construction of a nursing home. It is admitted by the parties that defendant Reliance Construction Company was the general contractor for this construction project. It is also admitted that at the time of the accident, K.C. Sheet Metal was the direct employer of the plaintiff, and that K. C. was engaged in installing a metal roof deck as part of the construction of the nursing home. The parties, however, dispute the relation between defendant and K.C.; defendant argues that K.C. was defendant's subcontractor, while plaintiff contends that K.C. was an independent contractor.