The Colorado Court of Appeals issued its opinion in Cavaleri v. Anderson on July 19, 2012.
Premises Liability—CRS § 8-41-401(3).
In this premises liability case, Chris Cavaleri (contractor) and Magdalena Cavaleri (wife) appealed the trial court’s judgment dismissing their personal injury claims against Aaron and Heidi Anderson (homeowners) with prejudice. The judgment was affirmed.
Contractor was the sole proprietor of a business and did not carry workers’ compensation insurance on himself. He was hired by homeowners to do some tiling work on their home. As he walked down their front steps after completing the work, he leaned on a wooden railing and it gave way, causing him to fall and sustain injuries. Contractor and his wife brought this premises liability action, seeking economic and noneconomic damages.
Before trial, the court asked the parties about the impact of CRS § 8-41-401(3) on contractor’s claims. The court ruled that the $15,000 limitation on damages applied to contractor’s claims. Homeowners immediately tendered the statutory limit. The trial court dismissed the action with prejudice and contractor appealed.
Contractor argued that CRS § 8-41-401(3) did not apply because homeowners were not required to obtain workers’ compensation insurance covering contractor and, because no coverage was required, homeowners were not among the individuals protected by the statutory damages cap. The Court of Appeals disagreed. The Court noted that “the purpose of the section is to encourage participation in the workers’ compensation system and limit exposure of contractors who obtain coverage from lawsuits or claims brought by uncovered independent contractors injured on the job.” [Snook v. Joyce Homes, Inc., 215 P.3d 1210, 1215 (Colo.App. 2009).]
Here, homeowners are not general contractors and are excluded from the Workers’ Compensation Act. However, contractor provided no support for his argument that this somehow kept him from obtaining workers’ compensation insurance for himself. Contractor’s argument failed to address the express inclusion of “sole proprietor[s] who [are] not covered under a policy of workers’ compensation insurance” among the individuals who may bring an action against a negligent third party, but whose damages will be limited to $15,000 if they elect to forego workers’ compensation insurance. The dismissal with prejudice was affirmed.
Summary and full case available here.
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