Richard Sabellona, Jr., an employee of Labor Ready, was killed when he fell through a skylight at a plant owned by Boral Bricks, Inc. His minor son and dependent, Brandon, filed a workers’ compensation claim against Labor Ready, which was settled for $160,000.1 Thereafter, Brandon, Sabellona’s other two children, Richard III and Scott, and Ray Gary, Sabellona’s personal representative collectively “appellants”, filed a wrongful death claim against Boral Bricks, Inc., Boral Bricks USA Inc., Albert Electric, Inc., Albert Painting, Inc. “API”, and Jason Albert, individually. API moved for summary judgment, contending they were immune from suit under the Workers’ Compensation Act “WCA”. The trial court granted the motion, finding that the immunity from suit granted by the WCA to Labor Ready extends to API because it is “a business using the services of a temporary help contracting firm” under OCGA § 34-9-11 c, and it elected WCA coverage through its contract with Labor Ready. Appellants appeal this ruling. We affirm. In order to prevail on a motion for summary judgment under OCGA § 9-11-56, the moving party must show that there exists no genuine issue of material fact, and that the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, demand judgment as a matter of law. Moreover, on appeal from the denial or grant of summary judgment the appellate court is to conduct a de novo review of the evidence to determine whether there exists a genuine issue of material fact, and whether the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, warrant judgment as a matter of law.2 So viewed, the record shows that in April 2006, Boral Bricks, Inc., hired API to paint the building at its Smyrna plant. In turn, API contracted with Labor Ready on April 3, 2006, to supply temporary workers for the job. According to the “Confirmation of Rates and Services,” Labor Ready charged a regular billing rate of $16.80 per employee, per hour, which included “all wages, withholdings, FICA, Medicare, payroll taxes, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation insurance as required by law for supplied employees.” Sabonella was a temporary employee supplied to API by Labor Ready to paint roofs at the plant. On August 14, 2006, Sabellona was on the roof of the plant, assisting another employee, when he fell 35 feet through an “unguarded” skylight to his death.3 1. Appellants contend that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to API because the WCA does not apply to API, which “has regularly in service less than three employees.” API concedes that it had less than three employees at the time of the accident, but argues that it voluntarily elected to be bound by the WCA by contracting with Labor Ready and that it is immune from suit pursuant to the exclusivity provision of OCGA § 34-9-11 c. We agree with API.
Georgia law provides that the exclusive remedy provision of OCGA § 34-9-11 prevents an injured employee or his/her dependents from bringing a tort claim against the employer, a statutory employer, or a co-employee.4 In 1995, the legislature extended this tort immunity to “businesses using the services of a temporary help contracting firm or an employee leasing company” provided that workers’ compensation benefits are furnished by either: 1 a temporary help contracting firm or an employee leasing company; or 2 a business using the services of either such firm or company.5 The record shows that Labor Ready qualifies as a temporary help contracting firm and that API qualifies as a business using its services. The record further reflects that Labor Ready paid workers’ compensation benefits to Sabellona’s dependent. Accordingly, pursuant to OCGA § 34-9-11 c, API is immune from suit.6
