Dennis v. Sinclair Lumber & Fuel Co.

John Dennis owned an auto truck. The Sinclair Lumber & Fuel Company employed him and his truck steadily for 16 weeks in delivering coal and building material at an agreed compensation per ton of coal and load of material. Mr. Dennis, in returning to the lumber yard from making a delivery, was killed at a railroad crossing.' The department of labor and industry held that Dennis was an employee of the lumber company and awarded compensation to his widow. Defendants denied liability, claiming Dennis was an independent contractor, was not an employee, and was not killed in an accident arising out…