Smith v. Farmers Group, Inc. CA2/3
Plaintiff Glenn Smith (plaintiff) sued defendants Farmers Group, Inc., Farmers Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company, and Farmers New World Life Insurance Company (collectively, defendants) for various claims, most of which were dependent on the existence of an employer-employee relationship. The trial court granted summary adjudication in defendants’ favor on nine causes of action, finding that plaintiff was an independent contractor—not an employee—and plaintiff’s written agreement expressly precluded oral modifications. After plaintiff dismissed the remaining causes of action, the court entered judgment for defendants.
Plaintiff contends the proceedings below were riddled with procedural errors, collateral estoppel precludes defendants from asserting he was an independent contractor, and the court erred by summarily adjudicating his employment and contract claims.
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