Claim of Slater v. Town of Southport

Appeal by claimant from a decision which disallowed his claim on the ground that he was, when injured, an independent contractor with, and not an employee of the respondent town. Claimant, according to his testimony, was engaged generally in tree work — trimming and removing trees — 1 sometimes if “not always” pursuant to written contracts with municipalities and individuals. He entered into such a contract with respondent town, applicable to trees on the streets therein designated, for the contract price of $1,200. Three months later he made an oral agreement with the town’s Superintendent…