Kiper v. Novartis Crop ( 2003 )

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D May 8, 2003 In the Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit _______________ m 02-30821 _______________ BOBBY JOE KIPER; JOHN PHILLIP DAVIS; COUSAR MCMILLIAN BARRETT; EDWARD FRANK BRAITHWAITE, JR.; MAXWELL DANIEL; DIANNA BRANNON MOREAU; AND JOSEPH ALBERT SAMSON, III, Plaintiffs-Appellants, VERSUS NOVARTIS CROP PROTECTION, INC., ET AL., Defendants, NOVARTIS CROP PROTECTION, INC., Defendant-Appellee. _________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana m 00-CV-528-B _________________ Before SMITH, DENNIS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* The plaintiffs performed engineering ser- vices under a contract designating them as in- dependent contractors. They sued, claiming they were actually employees and were entitled to ERISA benefits, accrued vacation and bonus pay under state law, and reimbursement for overpayment of self-employment taxes. The district court denied all relief. We have read the briefs, applicable portions of the record, and the pertinent authorities, and have heard the arguments of counsel. Finding no error in the careful explanation of the district court, we affirm, essentially for the reasons given by that court. AFFIRMED. * Pursuant to 5TH CIR . R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circum- stances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4. 2