Village Builders, Inc. v. Unemployment Ins. Comm'n

**What Happened** Village Builders, Inc. challenged a decision by Maine's Unemployment Insurance Commission that classified Frank Herrick as an employee rather than an independent contractor. The company argued that Herrick should be considered a contractor, which would have meant they wouldn't have to pay unemployment insurance taxes for him. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with the Unemployment Insurance Commission and ruled that Herrick was indeed an employee of Village Builders. Under Maine law, workers are presumed to be employees unless the company can prove otherwise using a three-part test called the "ABC Test." Village Builders failed to meet all three requirements of this test, so the presumption that Herrick was an employee remained in place. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces important protections for workers in Maine. When companies try to classify employees as independent contractors, workers can lose access to unemployment benefits, workers' compensation, and other employment protections. The court's decision shows that Maine law favors treating workers as employees, making it harder for companies to avoid their responsibilities. This helps ensure workers get the benefits and protections they deserve.