Norton v. Murphy, Civ. A. No. 80-HC-678.

• Decision Date: 07 May 1981
• Docket Number: Civ. A. No. 80-HC-678.
• Citation: 513 F. Supp. 944
• Parties: Irving L. NORTON a/k/a I. L. Norton, and Dana Norton, Plaintiffs, v. Edmond L. MURPHY and United States of America, Defendants.
• Court: U.S. District Court — District of Colorado

513 F. Supp. 944

Irving L. NORTON a/k/a I. L. Norton, and Dana Norton, Plaintiffs, v. Edmond L. MURPHY and United States of America, Defendants.

Civ. A. No. 80-HC-678.

United States District Court, D. Colorado.

May 7, 1981.

Clifford Fossum, Dilts, Dyer & Fossum, Cortez, Colo., for plaintiffs.

Stanley M. Morris, Cortez, Colo., for defendant Edmond L. Murphy.

Joseph Dolan, U. S. Atty. by Daniel R. Christopher, Asst. U. S. Atty., Denver, Colo., for defendant United States of America.

OPINION AND ORDER

CHILSON, Senior District Judge.

On February 1, 1979, the defendant, Murphy, was engaged in the transportation and delivery of United States Mail in a rural area of Colorado by means of a motor vehicle. At that time, plaintiffs claim Murphy's motor vehicle struck the plaintiff, Irving L. Norton, a pedestrian.

In May 1980, the plaintiffs instituted this action alleging that Murphy was negligent in the operation of his motor vehicle and seek to recover damages from the United States and Murphy for damages resulting from Murphy's alleged negligence. The basis for the plaintiffs' claims against the United States is that at the time of the incident, Murphy was an employee of the United States and by virtue of 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), the United States is liable to plaintiffs for their damages resulting from Murphy's alleged negligence.

Section 1346(b) provides in essence that subject to the provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act, the United States may be sued for money damages caused by the negligence or wrongful act or omission of any employee of the government while acting within the scope of his employment.

The United States denies Murphy was an employee of the United States and filed a motion for summary judgment or dismissal of the action as to the United States on the ground that Murphy was a "contractor with the United States" and not an employee and since 28 U.S.C. § 2671 (the Federal Tort Claims Act) specifically provides that § 1346(b) does not apply to a "contractor with the United States", the United States is not liable for Murphy's alleged negligence.

The sole issue raised by the motion for summary judgment is whether at the time of the incident, Murphy was an "employee" of the United States or was a "contractor with the United States".

Briefs and documentary evidence were filed in support of and in opposition to the motion and hearing of the motion was had in open court.

The motion is now before the Court for determination.

There is no genuine issue of material fact involved in the determination of the motion.

The pertinent undisputed facts and the law applicable thereto follows.

In August 1969, the United States entered into an agreement with Murphy entitled "Star or Water Route Contract" (Exhibit 1) By the terms of that contract, Murphy agreed to transport and deliver mail in a rural area of Colorado for an agreed compensation for the period from August 30, 1969, to June 30, 1972.

In 1970, Congress passed the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, which became effective January 20, 1971.

When Murphy's Star Route Contract expired in June 1972, Murphy continued to transport and deliver mail to the same rural area, but under a contract (Exhibit 3) entered into between the United States Postal Service and Murphy. This contract covered the period from July 1, 1978, to June 30, 1982, and is entitled "Transportation Services Renewal Contract".

Federal Court decisions have construed the Star Route Contracts and determined that the rural carriers of mail thereunder were independent contractors and not employees. Smick v. United States, 181 F.Supp. 149 (D.Nev.1960); Thomas v. United States, 204 F.Supp. 896 (D.Vt.1962); Fisher v. United States, 356 F.2d 706 (6th Cir. 1966).

Various tests were applied in the above cases.

In Smick, the Court stated that the right of selection and the power of subsequent control of the carrier in performing the work contracted for should be considered in determining whether the carrier was an employer or an independent contractor.

In Thomas, the Court held the main distinguishing factor between an employee on the one hand, and an independent contractor on the other is that of control over the details of the actual performance of the workers' duties, and further stated:

"In this case, the only control or right to control retained or exercised by the government was limited to control of the result of the work to be performed, that is the accomplishment of the delivery of the mail.

"It is true that the Star Route contract contained a number of provisions indicating the right of the government to insure that proper results were obtained, but these provisions did not amount to a control of the manner and method in which the actual delivery of the mail was made, or of the conduct of the carrier along the route."

In Fisher, the Court held the test to be the government's control of the manner or means of performing the work.

In 1975, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals considered the same question in Tunder v. United States, 522 F.2d 913, and held that a carrier under a Star Route Contract was an independent contractor and not an employee and in support thereof, cited the foregoing cases and stated:

"We subscribe to the result and rationale of those cases and conclude that on the record before it, the trial court did not err in entering summary judgment for the United States."

Prior to the Postal Reorganization Act, the United States was required to select a rural carrier by competitive bidding. The Reorganization Act provides that the United States Postal Service has the option of selection by competitive bidding or a negotiated contract. 39 U.S.C. § 5212.

Plaintiffs contend that this freedom in the selection process requires the conclusion that Murphy was and is an employee, citing the Smick and Thomas cases. Smick and Thomas recognize that freedom of selection may be a factor to be considered only if accompanied with the power of subsequent control of the execution of the work to be performed. Something more than the mere right of freedom of selection is essential to the relationship of employer and employee.

The question of the control of Murphy's work by the Postal Service is discussed later in this opinion.

The plaintiffs also argue that the differences...