Armstrong v. A.C. & S., Inc.

649 F. Supp. 161, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21507
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Washington
DecidedAugust 15, 1986
DocketNo. C81-179M
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 649 F. Supp. 161 (Armstrong v. A.C. & S., Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Armstrong v. A.C. & S., Inc., 649 F. Supp. 161, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21507 (W.D. Wash. 1986).

Opinion

ORDER DISMISSING EIGHTH AND NINTH CLAIMS AND STAYING SEVENTH CLAIM

McGOVERN, Chief Judge.

INTRODUCTION

In Margie Armstrong v. A.C. & S., et al., No. C81-179M; Ludwig Heinz v. A.C. & S., et at, No. C84-164M; and Douglas Attridge v. A.C. & S., et al., No. C84-162M, each Plaintiff alleges injury from exposure to asbestos-containing products during their employment at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS). The present motions to dismiss in each case relate to the third-party claims of Eagle-Picher Industries (third-party plaintiff) against the United States (third-party defendant) for indemnity or contribution.

Eagle-Picher’s Claims One through Six have already been dismissed based on Lopez v. A.C. & S., Inc., et al., 649 F.Supp. 149, No. C84-155M (W.D.Wash. May 19, 1986) where the third-party claims therein were dismissed pursuant to Fed.E.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim on which relief could be granted, and a Rule 54(b) judgment was entered.

The United States now moves to stay Eagle-Picher’s Seventh Claim and to dismiss Eagle-Picher’s Eighth and Ninth Claims pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) (lack of subject matter jurisdiction).

The Seventh Claim alleges that after each of the plaintiffs left Eagle-Picher’s employment, by retirement or otherwise, the United States learned of the dangers of exposure to asbestos-containing insulation products but failed to warn plaintiffs of those dangers once they became aware of them. Because the Ninth Circuit is considering a nearly identical post-service duty to warn issue in In re Consolidated United States Atmospheric Testing Litigation, No. 85-2842 (9th Cir.) and Broudy v. United States, No. 86-5553 (9th Cir.) (consolidated for purposes of appeal), the United States moves to stay proceedings on the Seventh Claim pending the resolution of these appeals. Since Eagle-Picher does not object to the Government’s request for stay, this motion is granted.

The Eighth and Ninth Claims contain allegations that the Government knew that its acts or omissions would cause harm. Specifically, the Eighth claim asserts that the United States’ knowledge or knowledge that it should have had renders its acts wanton, willful, and reckless. The Ninth Claim asserts that as Government officials and employees had actual knowledge that their acts and omissions would result in serious bodily harm to plaintiff, their actions were intentional.

THE PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

In bringing its motion, the Government argues that the intentional torts alleged in the Eighth and Ninth Claims must be dismissed for two reasons. First, jurisdiction is in the federal courts for tort actions against the United States “under circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred.” 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b). The limited waiver of immunity in the Federal Tort Claims Act (FICA) provides that “[T]he United States shall be liable ... in the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual under like circumstances.” 28 U.S.C. § 2674. The tortious conduct having occurred in Washington State, its law applies. Therefore, as analyzed in Lopez, the United States is in the same position as a Washington employer covered by the Washington Industrial Insurance Act (WIIA). That is, both have the benefit of the Act’s exclusive remedy provision, RCW 54.04.-010, which abolishes all employees’ actions against employers for work place injuries.

Second, contribution and indemnity are not available to Eagle-Picher under Washington law. The argument proceeds as in [163]*163Lopez. Indemnity has been abolished. RCW 4.22.040(3). No independent duty to indemnify is present absent a written agreement between Eagle-Picher and the United States or some other clear indication the parties intended to provide for indemnification. Glass v. Stahl, 97 Wash.2d 880, 885-86, 652 P.2d 948, 951 (1982). As to contribution, such is available only against joint tortfeasors. RCW 4.22.040(1). Because the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) (analogous to the WIIA in this respect) precludes the United States from having tort liability, including liability for intentional torts, Yam v. United States, No. 82-4525 (9th Cir. May 11, 1983) [709 F.2d 1520 (table)], it cannot be a joint tortfeasor. Not being a joint tortfeasor, contribution is not available from the Government.

Eagle-Picher argues that the Government has ignored an exception in the WIIA for actions against employers for intentional torts for excess damages over the amount receivable under the Act. RCW 51.24.020.

Eagle-Picher also argues that noncon-tractual indemnity should be available to it, but concedes that these arguments were rejected in Lopez.

The Government replies that RCW 51.-24.020 requires “deliberate intention,” that is, a specific intent to produce the injury, rather than constructive mental intent, gross carelessness or even a knowing refusal to comply with safety laws when not accompanied by the required intent. Winter roth v. Meats, Inc., 10 Wash.App. 7, 516 P.2d 522 (1973). The Government also cites Higley v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 13 Wash.App. 269, 534 P.2d 596 (1975) (no specific intent was alleged by plaintiffs claim — nor could be proven by further discovery — that the employer took inadequate precautions to protect him from injury and, in doing so, acted with knowledge that its actions were substantially certain to produce injury). Furthermore, continues the Government’s argument, the allegation of “wanton and willful” conduct in Eagle-Picher’s Eighth Claim does not meet the standard of specific intent. See W. Prosser & W. Keeton, The Law of Torts, § 8 p. 3 (5th ed. 1984). In summary, Eagle-Picher’s claims do not allege specific facts amounting to “deliberative intent” by the Government.

Finally, the Government argues that even if a private employer were liable under RCW 51.24.020, Eagle-Picher cannot state a claim for contribution or indemnity under Washington law because the United States is not a joint tortfeasor by virtue of the FECA. FECA immunity extends to intentional torts. Yam v. United States, No. 82-4525 (9th Cir.

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649 F. Supp. 161, 1986 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21507, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/armstrong-v-ac-s-inc-wawd-1986.