Hearst Newspaper Deliveryman Wins on Classification in Wage Suit

Hearst Communications Inc. could be liable for nearly $550,000 to a San Francisco Chronicle newspaper deliveryman who was clearly misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee, a California federal judge ruled.

The evidence shows that Hearst controls the manner and means by which Paul Martel performs his work duties, Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California said Thursday, granting summary judgment in his favor.

The parties will still proceed to trial on the alleged state wage violations and damages. The court denied Hearst’s motion to dismiss based on Martel’s insufficient damages ...