Shaffer v. ACME Limestone Co

In Shaffer v. ACME Limestone Co., 206 W. Va. 333, 524 S.E.2d 688 (1999), the Court distinguished a broad, general right of control from control over the manner in which the work is to be done. The Court said: "An owner who engages an independent contractor to perform a job for him or her may retain broad general power of supervision and control as to the results of the work so as to insure satisfactory performance of the contract - including the right to inspect, to stop the work, to make suggestions or recommendations as to the details of the work, or to prescribe alterations or deviations in the work - without changing the relationship from that of owner and independent contractor, or changing the duties arising from that relationship." (Id., 206 W. Va. at 338, 524 S.E.2d at 693, syl. pt. 4.)