Jackson Sawmill, Inc. v. West
This is a workers' compensation case before the Tennessee Supreme Court concerning whether Mr. West was an independent contractor or an employee of Jackson Sawmill, Inc. Mr. West, a logger, was injured while working for Jackson Sawmill, which then initiated the suit to clarify his employment status. The trial court determined Mr. West was an independent contractor, a decision affirmed by the Supreme Court. The court applied several tests, including the right to control, method of payment, and provision of tools and labor, finding that Mr. West supplied his own equipment and crew, was paid per board foot, and had no taxes withheld. The Court concluded that Jackson Sawmill did not exert sufficient control over Mr. West's work methods to establish an employer-employee relationship, thus upholding the trial court's ruling.