Poisso v. Formosa Plastics Group
Poisso v. Formosa Plastics Group
Opinion of the Court
RULING
This matter is before the Court on motions for summary judgment filed by defendants Harmony Corporation (“Harmony”), Turner Industries (“Turner”), Formosa Plastics Company, Louisiana (“Formosa, LA”) and Formosa Plastics Company, USA (“Formosa, USA”).
I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY AND FACTS
The plaintiff, Joseph G. Poisso, was injured in an accident involving a railroad car on July 8,1994 while working in the course and scope of his employment for Harmony at the Formosa, La. Plaintiff Plant. Poisso filed this suit against: (1) Harmony, his immediate
Poisso was employed by Harmony which provides maintenance and construction services to various plants and companies. At the time of the accident, Poisso was working as a caustic loader for Harmony at the Formosa, La. plant. As a part of his job responsibilities and duties, plaintiff moved railroad cars to various places inside the plant for loading in the caustie/chlorine unit, and moved loaded cars from inside to tracks outside of the plant to be picked up by Illinois Central.
At the time the accident occurred Poisso was attempting to couple two railroad cars. Plaintiff alleges that the coupling device malfunctioned which required him to stand between the cars to open the device, at which time he was injured.
II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD
Under Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment is proper when “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law fit.”
The well-established criteria that there must be no genuine issue of material fact before summary judgment will issue insures that a properly supported motion will not be defeated simply by the “existence of some alleged factual dispute.”
As always, the moving party bears the initial burden of establishing that there is no genuine issue of material fact.
III. ANALYSIS
The plaintiff contends that he is entitled to recovery under 49 U.S.C. § 20302, the Federal Safety Appliance Act (the “SAA”), which provides, in pertinent part:
(a) General. — Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and section 20303 of this title, a railroad carrier may use or allow to be used on any of its railroad lines—
(1) a vehicle only if it is equipped with—
(A) couplers coupling automatically by impact, and capable of being uncoupled, without the necessity of individuals going between the ends of the vehicles; ...
The Plaintiff has also filed state law claims against all defendants.
A. The SAA Claims
In Norfolk and Western Railway Co. v. Hiles,
1. Harmony and Turner’s Motions for Summary Judgment
Defendants Harmony and Turner contend that they are entitled to summary judgment on the SAA claims because they are not railroad carriers. The plaintiff does not oppose these motions. The plaintiff has represented to the Court that he never intended to bring a claim against Turner based on the SAA and has acknowledged that Harmony was not a railroad or railroad carrier subject
2. Formosa, LA and Formosa, USA’s Motion for Summary Judgment
Formosa, LA and Formosa, USA contend that they are not railroad carriers subject to the SAA. These defendants argue that under the Fifth Circuit’s decision in Lone Star Steel Co. v. McGee,
The Lone Star decision deals with the liability of a common carrier under the preamendment versions of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act
The Mickler decision does little to advance the defendants’ argument that the Lone Star analysis should apply. In fact, the Mickler court expressly noted that “[b]y the Act of 1988, Congress broadened federal jurisdiction over railroad safety to include railroads that are neither common carriers nor engaged in interstate commerce.”
The defendants contend that the definition of “common carrier” and “railroad carrier” are identical and that the 1988 amendment of the SAA did not change or broaden the application of the SAA. In response to the defendants’ arguments, the plaintiff contends that, under the revised language of the SAA, the defendants Formosa, LA and Formosa, USA are railroad carriers subject to the SAA.
The Court believes it would assist the Court and the parties if oral argument is held on this issue. Therefore, the Court will hear oral argument on this issue and will reserve ruling on whether or not these defendants are railroad carriers subject to the SAA until after oral arguments are held.
B. The State Law Claims
There are numerous state law claims asserted against the various defendants. The Court has already determined without opposition from the plaintiff that the SAA does not apply to Harmony and Turner. The Court’s subject matter jurisdiction is based on federal question jurisdiction, i.e., jurisdic
Harmony has filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that Harmony is Poisso’s direct payroll employer, and thus plaintiffs claims are barred by the Louisiana Worker’s Compensation Statute. Turner has also filed a motion for summary judgment based on the ground that Turner was not directing or supervising the plaintiffs workplace at the time of the accident. Turner also contends it was in no way negligent and in no way caused the accident.
The plaintiff no longer opposes Harmony’s motion for summary judgment as to the state law claims asserted against Harmony.
The plaintiff has opposed Turner’s motion for summary judgment on the state law claims plaintiff has asserted against Turner. Poisso bases his state law claims on the grounds that Turner negligently failed to conduct reasonable safety inspections. Relying on Crane v. Exxon Corp., U.S.A.,
Formosa, La. and Formosa, USA have also filed motions for summary judgment on the state law claims which plaintiff has asserted against these defendants. Formosa, LA contends that it is the plaintiffs statutory employer, and thus any state law tort claims are precluded by La.Rev.Stat. 23:1061 of Louisiana’s Worker’s Compensation Act. The plaintiff denies that Formosa, LA is his statutory employer.
The pending motions for summary judgment require the Court to determine whether or not Formosa, LA is the plaintiffs statutory employer. This determination is governed by La.Rev.Stat. 23:1061. Under the Louisiana Worker’s Compensation Act, a principal is liable to pay worker’s compensation benefits to any injured employee of the contractor when the “principal” engages a contractor to perform work that is a part of its “trade, business, or occupation.”
To resolve the issues which pertain to the state law claims, this Court would be required to resolve a number of state law issues. Some of these issues involve the interpretation of recent cases from the Louisiana Supreme Court and state appellate courts as well as the interpretation of recently enacted legislative statutes. The Court does not believe that the issue which remains on the one federal claim remaining in this case needs to be clouded by all of the remaining issues involved in the state law claims. This Court has discretion whether to accept jurisdiction under § 1367. Considering the remaining state issues and the complexity surrounding those issues, the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims. Therefore, these claims will be remanded to state court. Any pending motions
Therefore:
IT IS ORDERED that the motions for summary judgment filed by the defendants Harmony and Turner on the Federal Safety Appliances Act claim, 49 U.S.C. § 20302 be and each is hereby granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the motions for summary judgment filed by Formosa, La. and Formosa, USA for summary judgment on the Federal Safety Appliances Act claim which were set for oral argument on January 30, 1998 at 9 a.m. be and they are continued to Friday, February 13, 1998 at 9 a.m.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the parties shall be prepared to discuss the following points when the matter is heard for oral argument:
1. Under what facts and law is Formosa, LA a railroad carrier?
2. Under what facts and law is Formosa, USA a railroad carrier?
3. Did the amendment to the SAA expand its applicability? If so, in what manner? Please have ease citations or statutory language or history ready to support your position.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all state law claims against all defendants be remanded to the Nineteenth Judicial District, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana. The Court -will defer ruling on all pending motions on the state law claims, whether opposed or not, to the state district judge.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). See also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Cormier v. Pennzoil Exploration & Prod. Co., 969 F.2d 1559, 1560 (5th Cir. 1992).
. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).
. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510.
. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510.
. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510. See also Kelley v. Price-Macemon, Inc., 992 F.2d 1408, 1413 (5th Cir. 1993) ("If, on the other hand, the factfinder [sic] could reasonably find in [favor of the non-moving party], then summaiy judgment is improper.”).
. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. at 2513; Newport Ltd. v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 6 F.3d 1058, 1064 (5th Cir. 1993).
. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323-24, 106 S.Ct. at 2553; Latimer v. Smithkline & French Labs., Div. of Smithkline Beckman Corp., 919 F.2d 301, 303 (5th Cir. 1990); Lavespere v. Niagara Mach. &
. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. at 2553; Kelley v. Price-Macemon, Inc., 992 F.2d at 1413.
. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. at 2552.
. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).
. Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587, 106 S.Ct. at 1356.
. 516 U.S. 400, 116 S.Ct. 890, 134 L.Ed.2d 34 (1996).
. Norfolk and Western, 116 S.Ct. at 895 (citing St. Louis, I.M. & S.R. Co. v. Taylor, 210 U.S. 281, 295, 28 S.Ct. 616, 621, 52 L.Ed. 1061 (1908) ("If the railroad ... use[s] cars which do not comply with the standard, it violates the plain prohibitions of the law, and there arises from that violation the liability to make compensation to one who is injured by it”)).
. Mickler v. Nimishillen and Tuscarawas Railway Co., 13 F.3d 184 (6th Cir. 1993) (citing
. Plaintiff’s Amended Memorandum in Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment.
. 380 F.2d 640 (5th Cir. 1967), cert. denied, 389 U.S. 977, 88 S.Ct. 480, 19 L.Ed.2d 471 (1967).
. 13 F.3d 184 (6th Cir. 1993).
. 62 F.3d 259 (8th Cir. 1995).
. 45 U.S.C. §§ 51-60.
. 45 U.S.C. §§ 1-16.
. Lone Star, 380 F.2d at 641.
. Mickler, 13 F.3d at 188.
. Mickler, 13 F.3d at 188.
. 613 So.2d 214 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1992).
. Although the plaintiff has suggested that a determination that Formosa, LA is the plaintiffs statutory employer could somehow subvert his SAA claims, this is not the case. The issue of statutory employer concerns the plaintiff's state law claims only.
. 645 So.2d 604 (La. 1994).
. Ardoin v. Formosa Plastics Corp., LA., 884 F.Supp. 209, 211 (M.D.La. 1994) (citing La.R.S. 23:1061 (Supp. 1994)).
. Ardoin, 884 F.Supp. at 211-12.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Joseph G. POISSO v. FORMOSA PLASTICS GROUP, Formosa Plastics Corporation, U.SA., Formosa Plastics Corporation, Louisiana, Turner Industries, Limited, Incorporated, Harmony Corporation, Illinois Central Railroad, C. Sam Harkens, Susan Wang, C.T. Lee, Yung-Tai Wang, and Yung-Ching Wang
- Status
- Published