1st DCA Publishes Decision Finding Privette Doctrine Doesn't Bar Worker's Tort Claims

The Court of Appeal for the 1st District of California has ordered publication of its decision finding a property owner and general contractor were not entitled to summary judgment dismissing a tort claim by a subcontractor’s employee pursuant to the Privette doctrine. The doctrine represents a general rule established in Privette v. Superior Court (Contreras) that the hirer of an independent contractor is not liable for on-the-job injuries sustained by the contractor's employees. While the trial court judge in Degala v. John Stewart Co. had found the doctrine applicable to Ab...