DOE v. INDEPENDENCE BLUE CROSS

**Court Ruling: Are Court Reporters Employees or Independent Contractors?** This case involved a dispute over whether court reporters working for Jersey Shore Reporting and State Shorthand Reporting Services should be classified as employees or independent contractors for unemployment insurance purposes. The New Jersey Department of Labor had ruled that these workers were employees, meaning the companies owed unemployment insurance contributions. The appeals court issued a split decision. For work performed after January 16, 2010, the court ruled that court reporters are exempt from being classified as employees under a specific New Jersey law that covers certain professional services. However, for work done before 2010, the court agreed with the Department of Labor that the companies failed to prove the workers were true independent contractors under the state's strict "ABC test." This ruling matters for workers because it shows how worker classification can change over time as laws evolve. Court reporters working before 2010 were entitled to unemployment insurance protections as employees, while those working after 2010 were not. The decision highlights the ongoing legal battles over worker classification and reminds workers that their rights may depend on when they worked and what specific laws apply to their profession.