Patterson v. Domino’s Pizza, LLC
California Supreme Court
333 P.3d 723 (2014)
- Written by Eric Miller, JD
Facts
Taylor Patterson (plaintiff) worked at Sui Juris, LLC (defendant), a franchisee of Domino’s Pizza, LLC (Domino’s) (defendant). There, Patterson was allegedly subject to sexual harassment by her supervisor, Renee Miranda (defendant). Patterson brought suit against Miranda, Sui Juris, and Domino’s under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). At trial, Sui Juris owner Daniel Poff testified that a Domino’s employee, Claudia Lee, had ordered him to fire Miranda on the threat that Poff would otherwise lose the franchise. Domino’s moved for summary judgment on the ground that Sui Juris was an independent contractor over which Domino’s exercised no control. Although Sui Juris was required to follow various standards prescribed by Domino’s, the franchising agreement stipulated that Domino’s had no rights or responsibilities with respect to Sui Juris’s employees, from hiring to firing. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Domino’s. The court of appeals reversed. The case was appealed to the California Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Baxter, J.)
Dissent (Werdegar, J.)
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