Body by Cook v. Ingersoll-Rand Co.
Body by Cook v. Ingersoll-Rand Co.
Opinion of the Court
ORDER AND REASONS
In this litigation, Plaintiffs, an automotive repair business and its owner, assert that Defendant negligently installed an automotive paint system. Before the Court is Defendant’s “Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law, or in the Alternative, Motion for a New Trial.”
I. Background
Plaintiffs in this matter are Body by Cook, Inc., a Louisiana company involved in the automotive repair business, and Robert Cook, a Louisiana citizen and the president and owner of Body by Cook, Inc.
On November 5, 2013, Defendant filed a “Motion for Partial Summary Judgment,” arguing that Plaintiffs’ negligence claim had prescribed.
A jury trial on the merits was held from January 13, 2014 to January 15, 2014.
(7) Do you find by a preponderance of the evidence that Robert Cook had actual or constructive knowledge of facts indicating that he was a victim of negligence more than one year before he filed suit on January 30, 2013?10
Later that day, a jury rendered a verdict, finding: that Plaintiffs were 40% at fault and Defendant was 60% at fault; that the total damages were $375,000; and that Robert Cook did not have actual or constructive knowledge of facts indicating that he was a victim of negligence more than one year before he filed suit on January 30, 2013.
On March 5, 2014, Defendant filed the pending “Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law, or in the Alternative, Motion for a New Trial.”
II. Parties’ Arguments
A. Defendant’s Arguments in Support
Defendant requests that the Court grant its renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law, arguing that the question of whether a cause of action has prescribed is a question of law that is to be decided by the judge.
Defendant next points out that the Court, in granting Defendant’s motion for judgment as a matter of law on the issue of continuing tort, evaluated the same set of facts as are to be evaluated in deciding contra non valentem. According to Defendant, “the facts upon which the Plaintiffs’ claim of continuing tort was decided are inextricably linked to the Plaintiffs [sic] reliance on the contra non valentem exception to prescription.”
[b]ecause the facts weighed by this Court when determining that no continuing tort existed are the same facts your Honor must analyze when determining whether the doctrine of contra non valentem was applicable: [sic] Defendant submits that the Court, not the jury, should have also decided whether Plaintiffs’ [sic] had actual or constructive knowledge of a potential claim against Defendant, and whether Plaintiffs’ claims were barred by prescription.25
“Thus,” according to Defendant, “the ultimate determination as to whether Plaintiffs claims are barred by prescription is a question of law that must be decided by this Honorable Court.”
Moreover, Defendant contends that “all of the evidence offered by the Plaintiffs, including the testimony of Robert Cook, indicates that they actually discovered the facts upon which their cause of action is based more [sic] in October 2000, almost thirteen years before they brought suit.”
After detailing the evidence that Defendant asserts shows that Robert Cook had constructive knowledge, Defendant alleges that “[i]nstead of offering legally sufficient evidence to establish that their claims were not barred by the running of prescription, Plaintiffs continually attempted to confuse the jury in an attempt to hide the fact that Mr. Cook’s own testimony evidences the Plaintiffs’ actual knowledge of a potential claim against Ingersoll Rand more than one year prior to the filing of the instant lawsuit.”
Additionally, Defendant argues that contra non valentem “cannot be used to negate the presence of actual knowledge.”
Regarding Defendant’s motion in the alternative for a new trial, Defendant maintains that it is entitled to a new trial for the same reasons that entitle it to judgment as a matter of law.
B. Plaintiffs’ Arguments in Opposition
In response to Defendant’s arguments, Plaintiffs argue that Alexander v. Fulco,
Plaintiffs assert that there was sufficient evidence to support two of the four categories of contra non valentem. Plaintiffs
The evidence at trial showed that Mr. Cook depended upon Ingersoll to do his installations and repairs. He purchased a brand new system from them and had every right to expect that defendant would install it properly. Of course, he expected them to inform him if something was wrong with the system, especially when they serviced it regularly and even installed the new equipment. Mr. Cook testified that he did not even suspect that Ingersoll had caused the problems. Ingersoll holds itself out as an expert in the field, manufacturing and installing the very best equipment. Mr. Cook further testified that when he was informed by a vendor that Ingersoll was at fault, he took action immediately. Then, he filed suit within a year from his discovery that he had been the victim of a tort. With this testimony and the other evidence at trial, there was enough proof of a factual issue for the jury to decide.49
Specifically regarding Defendant’s contention that Cook had actual knowledge that he was a victim of Defendant’s negligence, Plaintiffs assert that Cook testified at trial that he did not have this knowledge.
With respect to Defendant’s alternative motion for a new trial, Plaintiffs argue that a new trial is only granted when the jury verdict is against the great weight of the evidence, and assert that “[Defendant’s] motion is woefully inadequate when it comes to the prescription issue.”
Plaintiffs also argue that under the great weight of the evidence standard, the evidence was sufficient to let the jury’s finding regarding damages stand, especially after considering Cook’s testimony on this issue.
III. Law and Analysis
A. Defendant’s Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law
1. Standard of a Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law
In its motion, Defendant argues that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Proce
If a party has been fully heard on an issue during a jury trial and the court finds that a reasonable jury would not have a legally sufficient evidentiary basis to find for the party on the issue, the court may:
(A) resolve the issue against the party; and
(B) grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law against the party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue.
Motions under Rule 50(a)(1) may be renewed after trial pursuant to Rule 50(b), which states:
If the court does not grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law made under Rule 50(a), the court is considered to have submitted the action to the jury subject to the court’s later deciding the legal questions raised by the motion. No later than 28 days after the entry of judgment—or if the motion addresses a jury issue not decided by a verdict, no later than 28 days after the jury was discharged—the movant may file a renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law and may include an alternative or joint request for a new trial under Rule 59. In ruling on the renewed motion, the court may:
(1) allow judgment on the verdict, if the jury returned a verdict;
(2) order a new trial; or
(3) direct the entry of judgment as a matter of law.
Regarding technical compliance with the requirements of Rule 50(b), the Fifth Circuit has emphasized that “the two basic purposes of this rule are ‘to enable the trial court to re-examine the question of evidentiary insufficiency as a matter of law if the jury returns a verdict contrary to the movant, and to alert the opposing party to the insufficiency before the case is submitted to the jury.’ ”
A motion pursuant to Rule 50(b) “in an action tried by jury is a challenge to the legal sufficiency of the evidence supporting the jury’s verdict.”
2. Prescription
Louisiana Civil Code article 3492 provides that “[djelictual actions are subject to a liberative prescription of one year” and that “[t]his prescription commences to run from the day injury or damage is sustained.” Although Louisiana Civil Code article 3467 states that “[prescription runs against all persons unless exception is established by legislation,” Louisiana jurisprudence contains certain exceptions to this rule.
First, the Louisiana Supreme Court recognizes the doctrine of contra non valentum non currit praescriptio (i.e., “contra non valentum ”) which “means that prescription does not run against a person who could not bring his own suit.”
(1) where there was some legal cause which prevented the courts or their officers from taking cognizance of or acting on the plaintiffs action; (2) where there was some condition coupled with the contract or connected with the proceedings which prevented the creditor from suing or acting; (3) where the debtor himself has done some act effectually to prevent the creditor from availing himself of his cause of action; and (4) where the cause of action is not known or reasonably knowable by the plaintiff, even though this ignorance is not induced by the defendant.62
The fourth category of contra non valentem is known as the “discovery rule.”
[constructive knowledge or notice sufficient to commence the running of prescription requires more than a mere apprehension something might be wrong. But when a plaintiff suspects something is wrong, he must seek out those whom he believes may be responsible for the specific injury. When a plaintiff acts reasonably to discover the cause of a problem, the prescriptive period does not begin to run until he has a reasonable basis to pursue a claim against a specific defendant.65
Another exception to the running of one-year prescriptive period is known as the continuing tort doctrine. Under the continuing tort doctrine, “when the damaging conduct continues, prescription runs from the date of the last harm
3. Analysis
In support of its Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law, Defendant appears to make two distinct arguments regarding prescription. First, Defendant contends that prescription is inherently question of law that a judge must decide. Second, Defendant asserts that in this case, there was insufficient evidence to support the jury’s finding that Robert Cook did not have actual or constructive knowledge of facts indicating that he was a victim of negligence more than one year before he filed suit on January 30, 2013.
a. Whether Prescription Was a Question for the Jury Rather Than the Judge in This Case
As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that Defendant argues for the first time in its pending post-trial motion that contra non valentem is an issue of law. Defendant did not identify whether contra non valentem was an issue of law for the judge or of fact for the jury in the parties’ joint Pre-Trial Order,
According to Defendant, “Louisiana Courts have long held that issues of prescription are questions of law to be determined by a judge.”
Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure article 927(A)(1) provides that prescription is a peremptory exception; in Louisiana, such exceptions are generally determined by a judge prior to trial.
Nunez explains that in determining whether a matter is for the judge or the jury to decide, “[t]he categories of ‘questions of lav/ and ‘questions of fact’ have been the traditional touchstones by which federal courts have purported to allocate decision-making between judge and jury.”
Similarly, in cases specifically addressing contra non'valentem, the Fifth Circuit has found the issue to be a question of fact. In Terrebonne Parish School Board v. Mobil Oil Corp., the Fifth Circuit, while affirming the district court’s granting of summary judgment, acknowledged that contra non valentem was a question of fact.
The cases cited to by Defendant for the 'contrary proposition that contra non va-lentem is considered a question of law in federal courts do not support Defendant’s argument. Neither McGee nor Bourdais, cited by Defendant, mention contra non valentem. Moreover, the Court notes even if they did stand for the proposition Defendant asserts—and the Court maintains that they do not—neither case is binding authority. McGee is an unpublished Fifth Circuit case that is not to be cited as precedent in other matters pursuant to Fifth Circuit Rules 28.7, 47.5.3, and 47.5.4, and Bourdais is an opinion from another Eastern District of Louisiana court. R.J. Reynolds, the final federal case cited by Defendant—contrary to Defendant’s interpretation—determined that contra non valentem is a question of fact.
Next, the Court addresses Defendant’s argument that “[b]ecause the facts
Significantly, contra non valentem, hinges on the reasonableness of the plaintiffs action or inaction in uncovering knowledge of a tort while the existence of a continuing tort involves no such determination. Louisiana courts have acknowledged this distinction, specifically noting “the theories of contra non [valentem], or the discovery rule, and continuing tort are distinct and separate” because, unlike contra non va-lentem, ,“[t]he continuous tort doctrine has no element of knowledge by the plaintiff to consider in order to decide when prescription will begin to run.”
The Court was not free to decide the issue of contra non valentem as a matter of law because there was a disputed issue of material fact as to whether the alleged tort was reasonably knowable by the Plaintiffs under the circumstances, considering Cook’s education, intelligence and the nature of defendant’s conduct.
As discussed above, federal law governs whether an issue is decided by a judge or a
b. Whether There Is Sufficient Evidence to Support the Jury’s Finding That Plaintiffs’ Claims Are Not Prescribed
Next, Defendant asserts that “Plaintiffs failed to establish a legally sufficient evidentiary basis that their claim was not barred by prescription.”
As Plaintiffs point out in their brief, at trial Robert Cook testified that he had no idea what the source of the problem with the air compressor-painting system was until he was told by outside vendors in 2012.
While Cook acknowledged that he realized something was wrong with the air compressor-painting system soon after its installation in 2000, the doctrine of contra non valentem provides that if “a plaintiff acts reasonably to discover the cause of a problem, the prescriptive period does not begin to run until he has a reasonable basis to pursue a claim against a specific defendant.”
The evidence is sufficient for a reasonable jury to find that Plaintiffs’ inaction was reasonable in light of the facts of this case, including Defendant’s conduct. The evidence presented at trial shows that Cook had annual inspections of the unit performed by Defendant, repeatedly complained to Defendant about the quality of the paint jobs, resealed and re-painted the painting booth, had filters replaced at Defendant’s suggestion, had new equipment installed at Defendant’s suggestion, installed a water pump, changed paints, and, finally, consulted Santana and McCants to help identify the source of the problem. Cook testified that throughout this period, Defendant’s agents assured Cook that there was no problem with the system. Moreover, Cook testified that until he consulted Santana and McCants, he did not know that Defendant was at fault or, indeed, even that he was the victim of a tort by anyone. The jury was free to believe Cook’s testimony and also further free to determine from the evidence that Cook took reasonable steps to discover the cause of the air compressor-painting system’s problem and that Cook had no reasonable basis to bring a claim against Defendant until 2012, at which point the prescriptive period would have begun to run.
Defendant fails to cite to facts in the record that would indicate that a rational jury could only find for Defendant
While Defendant repeatedly claims in its memorandum that the evidence shows
B. Defendant’s Motion for a New Trial
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(b), a party filing a renewed motion for judgement as a matter of law “may include an alternative or joint request for a new trial under Rule 59.” In its motion, Defendant alternatively requests that the Court grant a new trial, arguing that “the verdict entered in favor of the Plaintiffs is clearly against the weight of the evidence on the issue of prescription” and in its award of $225,000 in damages.
1. Standard on a Motion, for a New Trial
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(a)(1)(A) states that a district court “may, on motion, grant a new trial on all or some of the issues ... after a jury trial, for any reason for which a new trial has heretofore been granted in an action at law in federal court.” The decision to grant or deny a motion for a new trial is within the sound discretion of the trial court.
Although neither party addresses whether state or federal law provides the standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence on a Rule 59 motion, the Court notes that this area of law has recently evolved. In the 1989 case Jones v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the Fifth Circuit concluded that in a diversity case, “state law determines the type of evidence that must be produced to support a verdict but ‘the sufficiency or insufficiency of the evidence in relation to the verdict is indisputably governed by a federal standard.’ ”
Plaintiffs moved for additur and, failing that, new trial. Although both Jones and Foradori could be applied to this situation, Foradori, coming after an intervening Supreme Court decision, controls. Therefore, the district court erred in applying the federal standard; Louisiana law applies.123
Accordingly, in light of the Fifth Circuit’s instruction in Foradori and Fair, the Court will apply Louisiana law to Defendant’s challenge to the adequacy of the evidence in its Rule 59 motion.
Under Louisiana law, “[a] new trial shall be granted ... when the verdict or judgment appears clearly contrary to the law and the evidence.”
■ The fact that a determination on a motion for new trial involves judicial discretion, however, does not imply that the trial court can freely interfere with any verdict with which it disagrees. The discretionary power to grant a new trial must be exercised with considerable caution. Fact finding is the province of the jury, and the trial court must not overstep its duty in overseeing the administration of justice and unnecessarily usurp the jury’s responsibility. A motion for new trial solely on the basis of being contrary to the evidence is directed squarely at the accuracy of the jury’s factual determinations and must be viewed in that light. Thus, the jury’s verdict should not be set aside if it'is supportable by any fair interpretation of the evidence.127
Said differently, “[t]he scales are clearly tilted in favor of the survival of the jury’s verdict.”
2. Analysis
a. Prescription
In moving for a new trial, Defendant argues that all of the evidence offered
b. Damages Awarded
Defendant also seeks a new trial on the ground that Plaintiffs offered no evidence with respect to the damages awarded except for “brief, generalized summaries prepared with the aid of then-attorney, years after such damages supposedly occurred.”
Moreover, in its current motion, Defendant merely asserts that the general nature of the evidence was insufficient to support the jury’s finding on damages; Defendant fails to elaborate on this point. The summaries were used to demonstrate what the calculated damages were, and Cook testified as to the basis of these calculations. Moreover, the summaries point to a specific dollar figure for the damages. While the jury was free to decide that the summaries or underlying doc
Cook also testified that his automotive repair shop had to re-paint numerous cars as a result of complaints from customers about the paint jobs, and Cook testified as to business that was lost from 2001 to 2004. These paints jobs cost the automotive repair shop hundreds of thousands of dollars in materials and labor, according to Cook, as did the lost sales. Examining the record, the Court concludes that the jury’s finding on damages are supportable by a fair interpretation of the evidence. Accordingly, the Court denies Defendant’s motion for a new trial on this ground.
IV. Conclusion
For the above reasons, the Court finds that the question of contra non valentón was properly given to the jury. Moreover, the Court finds that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s finding on this issue. Thus, the judgment as a matter of law is not appropriate in this instance. Further, the jury’s verdict with respect to prescription and with respect to damages is supportable by a fair interpretation of the evidence, and thus, a new trial is not warranted. Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant Ingersoll-Rand’s “Renewed Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law, or in the Alternative, Motion for a New Trial” is DENIED.
. Rec. Doc. 87.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1.
. Rec. Doc. 89.
. Rec. Doc. 1.
. Id.
. Id.
. Rec. Doc. 22.
. Rec. Doc. 43.
. Rec. Doc. 71; Rec. Doc. 72; Rec. Doc. 73.
. Rec. Doc. 73-2 at p. 2.
. Id. atpp. 1-2.
. Rec. Doc. 86.
. Rec. Doc. 87.
. Rec. Doc. 89.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1 at 13.
. Id.
. 515 Fed.Appx. 291, 292 (5th Cir. 2013).
. 314 F.2d 776 (5th Cir. 1963).
. Case No. 99-1434, 2002 WL 1963320 (E.D.La. Aug. 22, 2002) (Livaudais, L).
. 12-1648 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2013), 122 So.3d 42, 46.
. 08-1808 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2009), 9 So.3d 296.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1 at pp. 3-4 (no citation provided).
. Id. at 4.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 5.
. Id. at 6.
.Id.
. Id. at 7.
. Id. at 9-10.
. Id. at 10.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 11.
. Id.
. Id.
. 39,293 (La.App. 2 Cir.2/25/05), 895 So.2d 668.
. Rec. Doc. 89 at 8.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 8-9.
.Id. at 9.
. id.
. Id.
. Id. at 9-10.
. Id. at 10.
. Id.
. Id. at 11 (citing Dresser-Rand, Co. v. Virtual Automation, Inc., 361 F.3d 831, 838-39 (5th Cir. 2004)).
. Id.
. Id. at 10-11.
. Scottish Heritable Trust, PLC v. Peat Marwick Main & Co., 81 F.3d 606, 610 (5th Cir. 1996).
. Flowers v. S. Reg’l Physician Servs. Inc., 247 F.3d 229, 235 (5th Cir. 2001) (quoting Ford v. Cimarron Ins. Co., 230 F.3d 828, 830 (5th Cir. 2000)).
. Id. (quoting Ford, 230 F.3d at 830) (internal quotations omitted).
. Id. (quoting Brown v. Bryan Cnty., 219 F.3d 450, 456 (5th Cir. 2000)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Id. (quoting Omnitech Int'l, Inc. v. Clorox Co, 11 F.3d 1316, 1322 (5th Cir. 1994)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Wells v. Zadeck, 2011-1232 (La.3/30/12), 89 So.3d 1145, 1150.
. Id.
. Id. (citing Plaquemines Parish Comm’n Council v. Delta Dev. Co., Inc., 502 So.2d 1034, 1056 (La. 1987)).
. Id.
. Chevron USA, Inc. v. Aker Mar., Inc, 604 F.3d 888, 893 (5th Cir. 2010) (quoting Griffin v. Kinberger, 507 So.2d 821, 823 (La. 1987)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Id. at 894 (internal quotation marks, citations, and alternations omitted).
. S. Centr. Bell Tel. Co. v. Texaco, Inc., 418 So.2d 531, 532 (La. 1982).
. Frank L. Maraist, et al., Louisiana Tort Law§ 10-4.
. In re Medical Review Panel for Claim of Moses, 2000-2643 (La.5/25/01), 788 So.2d 1173, 1180 (quoting Crump v. Sabine River Auth., 98-2326 (La.6/29/99), 737 So.2d, 720, 728).
. Id. (citing Crump, 737 So.2d at 729).
. Id. at 1183.
. See id.
. Rec. Doc. 55.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1 at p. 3.
. Exxon Corp. v. Burglin, 42 F.3d 948, 950 (5th Cir. 1995) (citing Erie R.R. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938)).
. See La.Code Civ. P. art. 929(A) (“... the peremptory exception when pleaded before or in the answer shall be tried and decided in advance of the trial of the case.”); La.Code Civ. P. art. 929(B) ("If the peremptory exception has been filed after the answer, but at or prior to the trial of the case, it shall be tried and disposed of either in advance of or on the trial of the case. If the peremptory exception has been pleaded after the trial of the case, the court may rule thereon at any time unless the party against whom it has been pleaded desires and is entitled to introduce evidence thereon. In the latter event, the peremptory exception shall be tried specially.”).
. Babineaux v. Pernie-Bailey Drilling Co., 261 La. 1080, 262 So.2d 328, 335 (1972) (but also noting that federal judges do address certain issues prior to trial, such a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)).
. Nunez v. Superior Oil Co., 572 F.2d 1119, 1125 (5th Cir. 1978).
. Id. (quoting Byrd v. Blue Ridge Rural Electric Coop., 356 U.S. 525, 538, 78 S.Ct. 893, 2 L.Ed.2d 953 (1958)).
. Id.
. Id.
. Id. at 1123.
. Id. at 1126.
. Id. at 1127.
. Id. at 1126-27.
. Id. at 1126.
. Terrebonne Parish Sch. Bd. v. Mobil Oil Corp., 310 F.3d 870 (5th Cir. 2002)
. Id. at 886.
. See, e.g., Resolution Trust Corp. v. Aycock, CIV. A. 92-761, 1993 WL 557683 (E.D.La. Jan. 5, 1994) (Clement, J.) (noting that "the facts necessary to determine whether [contra non valentem ] is applicable are disputed and must be resolved at trial”); Resolution Trust Corp. v. Int’l Ins. Co., 770 F.Supp. 300, 306 (E.D.La. 1991) (Carr, J.) (rejecting the defendants’ argument that contra non valentem cannot possibly apply).
. R.J. Reynolds, 314 F.2d at 788.
. Id.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1 at 4.
. In re Med. Review Panel, 788 So.2d at 1183.
. Id.
. Coulon v. Witco Corp., 03-208 (La.App. 5 Cir.5/28/03), 848 So.2d 135, 138.
. Wells, 89 So.3d at 1151, 1155 n. 1.
. Nunez, 572 F.2d at 1126 (quoting Best v. Dist. of Columbia, 291 U.S. 411, 415, 54 S.Ct. 487, 78 L.Ed. 882 (1934)) (internal quotation marks omitted).
. Id. at 1125.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1 atp. 10.
. Taranto v. La. Citizens Prop. Ins. Corp., 2010-0105 (La.3/15/11), 62 So.3d 721, 726.
. Nunez, 572 F.2d at 1125.
. See Rec. Doc. 1.
. Id. atp. 2.
. Id.
. Id. at p. 3.
. Id. at pp. 4-5 (alleging that Plaintiffs "sustained damages and losses from 2000 to date and beyond, including cost of materials and labor, loss of productive use of the paint booth, loss of customer good will, loss of reputation and expenses related to the revision and/or repair of the system”).
.Rec. Doc. 89 at 8-9.
. Chevron USA, Inc., 604 F.3d at 894 (internal alterations, citations and quotation marks omitted) (emphasis added).
. Wells, 89 So.3d at 1150.
. Id. at 1151.
. See Pineda v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 360 F.3d 483, 486 (5th Cir. 2004) ("A post-judgment motion for judgment as a matter of law should only be granted when the facts and inferences point so strongly in favor of the movant that a rational jury could not reach a contrary verdict.”) (international citations and quotation marks omitted).
. Chevron, 604 F.3d at 894.
. Id. (emphasis added).
. See Rec. Doc. 87-1 at pp. 6-10.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1 atp. 11.
. Pryor v. Trane Co., 138 F.3d 1024, 1026 (5th Cir. 1998).
. Smith v. Transworld Drilling Co., 773 F.2d 610, 613 (5th Cir. 1985); see also Weckesser v. Chicago Bridge and Iron, L.G., 447 Fed.Appx. 526, 529 (5th Cir. 2011) (quoting Smith).
. Jones v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 870 F.2d 982, 986 (5th Cir. 1989) (quoting McCandless v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 779 F.2d 220, 223 (5th Cir. 1985)).
. 523 F.3d 477 (5th Cir. 2008).
. 518 U.S. 415, 116 S.Ct. 2211, 135 L.Ed.2d 659 (1996).
. Foradori, 523 F.3d at 497 (internal citations omitted).
. 669 F.3d 601 (5th Cir. 2012).
. See id. at 604.
. Id.
. La.Code Civ. P. art. 1972(1).
. Davis v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2000-0445 (La. 11/28/00), 774 So.2d 84, 93.
. Fair, 669 F.3d at 605 (quoting Joseph v. Broussard Rice Mill, Inc., 2000-0628 (La. 10/30/00), 772 So.2d 94, 104).
. Davis, 774 So.2d at 93 (quoting Gibson v. Bossier City Gen. Hosp., 594 So.2d 1332, 1336 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1991)).
. Id.
. Rec. Doc. 87-1 at 6.
. Chevron USA, Inc., 604 F.3d at 894.
. Davis, 774 So.2d at 93.
. Rec. Doc. 87 at 12.
. Id.
. Davis, 774 So.2d at 93 (quoting Gibson, 594 So.2d at 1336).
. Rec. Doc. 70 at 1.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BODY BY COOK v. INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
- Status
- Published