Vaught v. State, 157 Cal. App. 4th 1538 (2007)

Marck Vaught was employed as a resource ranger for the State. His position required him to be on call “all the time.” As an inducement to accept the position, the State offered Vaught and his wife the use of a residence located in the district in which Vaught worked. Vaught subsequently slipped and fell in the bathroom of the residence and sued the State for negligence and failure to make the house habitable for human occupation. Vaught’s wife sued for loss of consortium. The trial court granted the State summary judgment on the ground that the Vaughts’ claims were subject to the exclusive remedies provided by the Workers’ Compensation Act. The Court of Appeal affirmed. Cf. Millard v. Biosources, 156 Cal. App. 4th 1338 (2007) (general contractor had no duty of care to injured employee of subcontractor).