A California federal district court may have just provided some breathing room for companies that pay for services from independent contractors. May have—because although the Feb. 8 decision in Lawson v. GrubHub provides some helpful language and guidance in this area, the California Supreme Court will soon have the final word on this topic.

Although the law is still in flux on the difference between employees and independent contractors, Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley’s thoughtful decision in the GrubHub case is remarkable for two reasons: the case came out in favor of the purported employer; and it provides some helpful guidance for companies that use contract labor. That guidance, albeit both temporary and based on a fairly extreme set of facts, is valuable, because this area has been a minefield.