Weeks v. SUNSTREAM, INC.
Weeks v. SUNSTREAM, INC.
Concurring Opinion
concurs.
hi agree with the majority’s conclusion that there exists a genuine issue of material fact as to whether an unreasonable risk of harm was presented by leaving the circuit breaker, which was known to be malfunctioning, in place. Thus, I concur with the majority’s opinion. However, the majority overreached in attempting to articulate issues of fact, which, in fact, do not exist.
First, the majority states that “Sun-stream had attempted to repair the breaker.” The trial court expressly found that there “is no evidence of any repair attempts.” Second, the majority cites the plaintiffs expert for the proposition that the accident was probably caused by “incorrect reassembly of the breaker.” The trial court referenced the same language in its reasons for judgment. However, it went on to conclude that “[tjhis opinion is not factually supported as it is clear that the breaker was never entered.” Third, the majority suggests that there is a genuine issue as to whether Sunstream should have placed a “warning label” on the breaker. Because the defendant in question neither manufactured nor owned the breaker, it clearly had no duty to place such a warning label. There is no evidence that the defendant would have been permitted to place a warning label on the breaker of which it had no guard, custody, or control. Accordingly, I concur in the result.
Opinion of the Court
| plaintiff, Adonis Cole Weeks (Weeks), appeals the grant of summary judgment in favor of Defendants, SunStream, Inc. (SunStx-eam) and The Northern Insurance Company of New York (Northern), dismissing his negligence claim against them. We reverse.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Weeks was employed by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (Pilgrim’s) as a maintenance mechanic. He alleges that he was injured on July 29, 2005, in the course and scope of his employment, by an “arcing explosion” that occurred when he re-set a circuit breaker in the master control center of Pilgrim’s chicken processing plant in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Weeks initially filed suit against only SunStream, a contractor who provides electrical services to Pilgrim’s on an “as needed” basis. By first supplemental and amending petition, Northern, as insurer of SunStream, was added as a defendant. Weeks filed a second supplemental and amending petition adding Schneider Electric Engineering
Weeks appeals the grant of summary judgment in favor of SunStream and Northern and contends that the trial court committed legal error in finding that Sun-Stream did not have a duty to warn him of the risk of injury and/or unreasonable |2risk of harm. For the following reasons, we agree with Weeks and reverse the summary judgment.
DISCUSSION
We review this matter de novo. Reynolds v. Select Properties, Ltd., 93-1480 (La.4/11/94), 634 So.2d 1180. However, we must first address SunStream and Northern’s contention that this appeal is not properly before us. Specifically, Sun-Stream and Northern contend that this is a partial summary judgment under La. Code Civ.P. art. 1915(B) since it does not dispose of all of Week’s claims and because they remain as defendants-in-intervention. As such, SunStream and Northern contend that since Weeks did not request that the judgment be designated as a final judgment and since the trial court did not designate it as a final judgment, it is not immediately appealable. Accordingly, SunStream and Northern ask that we dismiss this appeal. Weeks, on the other hand, asserts that no designation is necessary.
Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 1915(A) provides that “[a] final judgment may be rendered and signed by the court, even though it may not grant the successful party or parties all of the relief prayed for, or may not adjudicate all of the issues in the case.” We find that the judgment at issue is a final judgment under La.Code Civ.P. art. 1915(A)(1) and (3), rather than a partial judgment under 1915(B), because it disposes of Weeks’ entire claim against SunStream and Northern.
| ;¡We now move to the merits of the grant of the motion for summary judgment. There was testimony that, prior to the subject accident, SunStream had attempted to repair the breaker. Sun-
Whether a defect presents an unreasonable risk of harm is a mixed question of fact and law that is peculiarly a question for the jury or trier of the facts. It entails innumerable considerations; and, because it requires a balancing of the risk and utility of the condition, it is not a simple rule of law which can be applied mechanically to the facts of any particular case. Reed v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 97-1174 (La.3/4/98), 708 So.2d 362. It is “a matter wed to the facts” and must be determined | fin light of the facts and surrounding circumstances of each particular case. Dupree v. City of New Orleans, 99-3651 (La.8/31/00), 765 So.2d 1002.
Waller v. Shelter Mut. Ins. Co., 41,215, p. 7 (La.App. 2 Cir. 6/28/06), 935 So.2d 288, 292.
We conclude that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment. In opposing the motion for summary judgment, Weeks presented sufficient evidence, including evidence of failure to comply with OSHA rules and regulations and that there was no warning label on the breaker despite Square D’s suggestion that an arc flash warning label be used, to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether an unreasonable risk of harm was presented by leaving the circuit breaker, which was known to be malfunctioning, in place. Further, to reach its stated conclusions, the trial court had to weigh the credibility of the opposing experts. The law is well settled that the trial court cannot make credibility determinations or weigh conflicting evidence in making its decision whether to grant or deny a motion for summary judgment. DeMoss v. Pine Hills Golf and Country Club, Inc., 42,033 (La.App. 2d Cir. 4/4/07), 954 So.2d 316; Sharp v. Parkview Care Center, Inc., 41,341, 41,342 (La.App. 2d Cir. 9/27/06), 940 So.2d 724. Instead, the trial court must assume that all affiants are credible. Hutchinson v. Knights of Columbus Council 5747, 03-1533 (La.2/20/04), 866 So.2d
DECREE
The trial court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of Defendants-Appellees, SunStream, Inc. and The Northern Insurance Company of New York, is reversed. Costs of this appeal are assessed against Defendants-Appellees, SunStream, Inc. and The Northern Insurance Company of New York.
REVERSED.
GREMILLION, J., concurs and assigns written reasons.
. See Riehm v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Inc. Co., 07-651 (La.App. 5 Cir. 1/22/08), 977 So.2d 1045, wherein the court noted that judgment dismissing a party is final and appealable wilhout the necessity for designation under La.Code Civ.P. art. 1915(B) even though other claims remain pending.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.