Kennedy v. Industrial Accident Commission

Certiorari to annul an award of the Industrial Accident Commission in which compensation was awarded to one W. A. Spence on the theory that he was an employee of petitioner.

It was and is contended that Spence was not an employee of Kennedy, but that he was operating as an independent contractor. Briefly stated, the facts are as follows: P. T. Kennedy is a general contractor who at times subcontracts various portions of his work. He had a contract to erect certain buildings at -the Boy Scout Camp in East Oakland. The work of shingling the buildings was let to one W. A. Spence, who agreed to do this work for $1.50 per thousand shingles laid and three and one-half -cents a foot for the hips and valleys. While employed at his work, Spence fell from the roof of one of the buildings, sustaining a fracture of the pelvis. Thereafter, on July 30, 1925, he filed his application for adjustment of claim with respondent Commission against Kennedy and his insurance carrier, Royal Indemnity Company. A hearing was held on August 12, 1925-, and on September 15th following the Commission made and filed its findings of fact and award wherein it was determined that the applicant was employed as a…