JCC Finds Security Company Was Employer but Dismisses Claim for Lack of Coverage

In Saul Medina v. Golden Grey Group LLC, Golden Gray Group Security Ltd., and Golden Gray Group LLC/National Liability & Fire Insurance Company, OJCC Case No. 26-001908WJH, Judge Walter J. Havers bifurcated the employer-employee issue from the underlying benefit claims after a security guard was injured at Indian Summer Village II on October 23, 2025.

The evidence showed the claimant proposed moving the condominium's security contract to Golden Gray Group LLC so he could earn more money, and that company hired him as its sole employee for the account. Even though a related cleaning company, Golden Grey Group LLC, shared owners, an address, and sometimes paid wages from its bank account, the JCC found the security company selected the claimant, controlled the work relationship, and was the actual employer under the Dunn factors.

That finding did not help the claimant. Because Golden Gray Group LLC had only one employee on the accident date, the JCC held it was not an employer covered by chapter 440 under section 440.02 and dismissed all pending petitions with prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, while also rejecting the argument that the two related companies should be treated as a single employer.

Source: Compensation Order