Matanuska Electric Association, Inc. v. Johnson

NESBETT, Chief Justice.

The question before us is whether the employer of an independent contractor may be held liable to the contractor’s injured employee for negligence in failing to select a competent contractor where the contractor has failed to provide workmen’s compensation insurance as required by law and is financially unable to respond in damages' for injuries sustained by its workmen.

Appellant Matanuska Electric Association, hereinafter referred to as MEA, awarded a right of way bulldozing clearance contract in the sum of $837.90 to John Joslin who was low bidder. Joslin commenced…