Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2020

Daniel Joseph O'Brien, Jr., Dustin Blake O'Brien, Dylan Blaine O'Brien, and Leslie Dewayne O'Brien, Individually and on behalf of The Estate of Daniel Joseph O'Brien, Sr. v. Westley Eugene Worley, Mastec North America, Inc. and Ace American Insurance Company

Daniel Joseph O'Brien, Jr., Dustin Blake O'Brien, Dylan Blaine O'Brien, and Leslie Dewayne O'Brien, Individually and on behalf of The Estate of Daniel Joseph O'Brien, Sr. v. Westley Eugene Worley, Mastec North America, Inc. and Ace American Insurance Company
Louisiana Court of Appeal · Decided September 16, 2020

Daniel Joseph O'Brien, Jr., Dustin Blake O'Brien, Dylan Blaine O'Brien, and Leslie Dewayne O'Brien, Individually and on behalf of The Estate of Daniel Joseph O'Brien, Sr. v. Westley Eugene Worley, Mastec North America, Inc. and Ace American Insurance Company

Opinion

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT DANIEL JOSEPH O'BRIEN, JR., NO. 2020 CW 0770 DUSTIN BLAKE O'BRIEN, DYLAN BLAINE O'BRIEN AND LESLIE DEWAYNE O'BRIEN, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF THE ESTATE OF DANIEL JOSEPH O'BRIEN, SR. VERSUS WESTLEY EUGENE WORLEY, MASTEC NORTH AMERICA, INC., AND ACE AMERICAN INSURANCE SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 COMPANY

In Re: Westley Eugene Worley, applying for supervisory writs, 18th Judicial District Court, Parish of Pointe Coupee, No. 48344 c/w 48068, 48279, 48392, 48419.

BEFORE: McDONALD, HOLDRIDGE, AND PENZATO, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED IN PART; DENIED IN PART. The trial court erred by finding that re lator, Westley Eugene Worley' s prior drug-related wrongs, arrests, and convictions are admissible for purposes of establishing a pattern of wanton and reckless conduct under La. Civ. Code art. 2315. 4, when the toxicology report demonstrates " no drugs of toxicological significance" were detected in Worley's blood specimen following the accident.

We also find that evidence of marijuana found the day after the accident in Worley' s vehicle is also inadmissible for the same reason and further because the relevancy is far outweighed by the prejudicial effect. In all other respects, the writ is denied.

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COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

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