Bergeron v. Gifford-Hill & Co.

137 So. 2d 63, 1962 La. App. LEXIS 1519
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 29, 1962
DocketNo. 481
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 137 So. 2d 63 (Bergeron v. Gifford-Hill & Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bergeron v. Gifford-Hill & Co., 137 So. 2d 63, 1962 La. App. LEXIS 1519 (La. Ct. App. 1962).

Opinion

FRUGÉ, Judge.

On May 29, 1956 one Joseph I. Bergeron, the plaintiff herein, and one Alcee Richard were injured in an accident in Allen Parish, Louisiana, with a truck being then driven by one George O’Banion.

Plaintiff, Bergeron, instituted suit alleging O’Banion’s negligence, alleging that O’Banion was an employee of Gifford-Hill and Co., Inc. and seeking judgment against Gifford-Hill and 'Co., Inc. and O’Banion, jointly, severally, and in solido. By amending and supplementing petition, Standard Accident Insurance Company was made defendant with Gifford-Hill and Co., Inc. and O’Banion, alleging that said insurance company was the liability insurer of Gifford-Hill and Co., Inc. and, accordingly, liable as insurer.

In said suit, in the alternative, plaintiff alleged that if it were found that Gifford-Hill and Co., Inc., was not, at the time of the accident, the employer of O’Banion, then, that William Savant was his employer, and judgment was sought, jointly, severally and in solido against O’Banion, Savant, and Canal Insurance Company as insurer of Savant, for the negligence of O’Banion.

In the further alternative, it was prayed that if it were found that no employer-employee relationship existed as pleaded against Gifford-Hill and Co., Inc., and al[64]*64ternatively, as pleaded against William Savant, plaintiff alleged that W. P. Sharp was the employer of O’Banion, and sought judgment against W. P. Sharp, O’Banion, and National Surety Corporation as insurer of W. P. Sharp, for the negligence of O’Banion.

Subsequent to the filing of these suits, plaintiff entered into negotiations with National Surety Corporation, insurer of W. P. Sharp, whereby, for a stated consideration, O’Banion, W. P. Sharp and National Surety Corporation were released of all further liability on account of the accident of which plaintiff complained, reserving plaintiff’s rights to proceed against all other parties and insurers.

The defendants filed pleas of estoppel, exceptions of no cause or right of action and a motion for summary judgment. The trial judge overruled the various exceptions and pleas filed by the defendants but found that the defendants were entitled to a summary judgment and from this judgment plaintiff has appealed to this Court.

The issue before the Court is whether or not the release executed by the plaintiff had the effect, legally, of releasing all remaining defendants.

The receipt and release executed by the plaintiff stated that in consideration

“ * * * he does hereby release, acquit, discharge and covenant to hold harmless George O’Banion, W. P. Sharpe, and National Surety Corporation, their heirs, successors, and assigns, of and from any and all actions, causes of actions, claims, demands, damages, costs, loss of services, expenses and compensation as against said parties only, on account of or in any way growing out of any and all known and unknown personal injuries and property damage which he may now have or hereafter have, resulting or to result from a certain accident which occurred on or about May 29, 1956 * * *.”

In addition, the release contained an indemnification agreement which read as follows :

“Appearer further declared that he does hereby bind himself, his heirs, administrators and assigns, to repay to the said George O’Banion, W. P. Sharpe and National Surety Corporation, their heirs, successors and assigns, any sum of money, except the sum above mentioned, which they may hereafter be compelled to pay because of injuries or damages sustained by the said Joseph I. Bergeron as a result of the accident described herein.”

The appellees contend that the only basis of the claim against Savant or Gifford-Hill is under the theory that O’Banion was the servant of one or the other, or both, because there is no allegation that either of these parties were guilty of any negligence whatsoever, and accordingly, they are liable secondarily or vicariously. This 'Court agrees with appellees in this contention. There is no allegation in the petition of plaintiff that Savant or Gifford-Hill were negligent in any respect. Plaintiff contends, in his pleadings, that Savant or Gifford-Hill are liable to him for damages because O’-Banion was the employee of one or the other.

In the case of Garvey v. Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, La.App., 125 So.Zd 634, the court stated:

“It is clear also that the liability of Great Atlantic is vicarious or technical only, arising as it does as a result of respondeat superior without negligence on its part, and that the general rule to the effect that an employer may recover from his employee the damages which the latter’s negligent conduct has caused the employer to pay a third party is applicable here. See Cox v. Shreveport Packing Co., 213 La. 53, 34 So.2d 373; Costa v. Yochim, 104 La. 170, 28 So. 992; Brannan, Patterson & Holliday v. Hoel, 15 La.Ann. 308; see also Spurlock v. Boyce-Harvey Mach.
[65]*65supra [La.App.], 90 So.2d [417] at page 427.”

When plaintiff released O’Banion, the alleged negligent servant, he automatically released all of the other defendants, regardless of any attempt to reserve his claim against them.

The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana in the recent case of Williams v. Marionneaux, 240 La. 713, 124 So.2d 919, was presented with practically the same issues. In this case plaintiff, Williams, was injured in an accident involving a truck owned by the defendant, Marionneaux, which vehicle was being driven at the time by one Blanchard. Plaintiff alleged that Blanchard was negligent and that he was the employee of Marionneaux and, at the time of the accident, was proceeding in said vehicle under the direction and control of his employer. In his petition Williams did not claim that Marionneaux himself was negligent. The General Accident Fire and Life Insurance Corporation, Ltd., was the public liability insurer of the Marionneaux truck and was included as a party defendant. In their answer, the defendants denied that Blanchard was Marionneaux’ employee, claiming that he was an independent contractor and filed a third-party complaint against Blanchard and his public liability insurer asking for judgment against them in the event that they were compelled to pay plaintiff. Williams made a settlement with Blanchard and his insurer. The Supreme Court observed that under Article 2315 of the LSA-Civil Code of Louisiana, the liability of servant for his tort was primary. It concluded that the liability of the non-negligent master for the servant’s tort was derivative, or secondary.

At page 922 of said case of Williams v. Marionneaux, supra, the court stated:

“In Louisiana, the liability of the servant for damages under Article 2315 of the Civil Code for injuries to another caused through his negligence is primary. Conversely, the liability imposed on the master by Article 2320 of the Code in favor of third persons for the damages occasioned by his servant’s negligence, while exercising the functions in which the servant is employed, rests solely on the principle of re-spondeat superior and is derivative or secondary in all cases where the master himself is not at fault.”

Further, at page 922 of said opinion the Supreme Court said:

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Related

GHR Energy Corp. v. Carboline Co.
744 F. Supp. 1408 (E.D. Louisiana, 1990)
Wirick v. Wyble
300 So. 2d 571 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1974)
Futch v. Fidelity & Casualty Company
166 So. 2d 274 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1964)
Richard v. Gifford-Hill & Co.
137 So. 2d 67 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1962)

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Bluebook (online)
137 So. 2d 63, 1962 La. App. LEXIS 1519, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bergeron-v-gifford-hill-co-lactapp-1962.