Independent Contractors Don't Qualify as Statutory Employers

The Idaho Supreme Court ruled that independent contractors are not afforded immunity from tort liability under the workers’ compensation law as statutory employers, unlike contractors and subcontractors. Mitchell Smith worked for Amalgamated Sugar Co. In 2017, Amalgamated hired Excel Fabrication LLC to build a series of steel mezzanines and handrails at its facility. While the project was still ongoing, one of the handrails fabricated by Excel gave way while Smith was on a flight of stairs, causing him to fall and suffer injuries. Smith received workers' compensation b...