Hirer of Ind't Cont'r Not Protected by Peculiar Ri

The U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the exclusive remedy provisions of the US Virgin Islands workers' compensation law does not prohibit a suit by an injured employee of an independent contractor against the hirer of the that contractor, rejecting application of the peculiar risk doctrine to the facts of the case.In GASS v. VIRGIN ISLANDS TELE. CORP. (11/18/02 - No. 01-2507), as a result of the damage caused by Hurricane Marilyn, the Virgin Islands Telephone Company ("VITELCO") hired an independent contractor, RACO, to repair phone lines in the Virgin Islands. Chad Ga...