William J. Laurie and Crown Center Farms, Inc. Missouri Cases

Donald Brooks sued William Laurie and Crown Center Farms, Inc. for injuries sustained while cutting trees, alleging negligence. The trial court granted summary judgment for the defendants, finding Crown Center Farms was Brooks's statutory employer under the Workers' Compensation Law, thus providing exclusive remedy, and Laurie was an employee shielded from liability. The appellate court reversed and remanded, holding that genuine issues of material fact remained regarding whether tree cutting was within Crown Center Farms' "usual business" to establish statutory employer status, and consequently, Laurie's immunity as an employee also failed.