Charles R. Steib v. Lamorak Insurance Company

Opinion

CHARLES R. STEIB * NO. 2020-CA-0424

VERSUS * COURT OF APPEAL

LAMORAK INSURANCE * FOURTH CIRCUIT COMPANY, ET AL. * STATE OF LOUISIANA

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SCJ

JENKINS, J., DISSENTS WITH REASONS

I respectfully dissent from the majority’s conclusion that Plaintiffs presented

insufficient evidence of causation to create a genuine issue of material fact as to

that essential element of their claims. According to the majority, Plaintiffs were

unable to present “some evidence” linking the presence of asbestos-containing

materials with the work that Mr. Steib performed for Parsons at Marathon during

the 1975 to 1977 time frame. I find that Plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence to

establish that they will be able to satisfy their evidentiary burden of proof at trial

on the element of causation.

Asbestos Was Present at the Marathon Construction Site.

Defendants concede that Parsons’ construction plans for the Marathon

facility called for the use of asbestos-containing gaskets. Mr. Steib’s co-worker,

Elton Chenier, testified that asbestos gaskets, blankets, gloves and packing were

used on the Marathon job. Robert Chenier testified that “all the gaskets in those

days was [sic] asbestos.” Mr. Alonzo testified that the gaskets used for hot piping

were asbestos gaskets. Although Defendants contend that Mr. Alonzo’s

identification of the gaskets as containing asbestos was “speculative” because Mr.

Alonzo could not remember specific style numbers or any other specific

identifying information to suggest that the gaskets contained asbestos, this Court

1 has rejected the idea that specificity – such as dates and jobsites in latent disease

cases dating back 40 or 50 years – is required to defeat summary judgment in an

asbestos exposure case. Courville v. Lamorak, 20-0073, p. 5 (La. App. 4 Cir.

5/27/20), 301 So.3d 557, 561, writ denied, 20-00812 (La. 10/14/20), 302 So.3d

1100.

Mr. Steib Was Exposed to Asbestos at the Construction Site.

Raymond Chenier stated in an affidavit that he worked with Mr. Steib at

Marathon where they removed asbestos gaskets with a scraper and wire brush, and

worked around others doing this work. Raymond Chenier confirmed that Mr.

Steib used asbestos gaskets and worked side by side with insulators on the job.

Although Raymond Chenier gave conflicting testimony at his deposition that he

never saw Mr. Steib working with gaskets, the weighing of conflicting evidence

has no place when considering a motion for summary judgment. South Cen. Bell

Tel. Co. v. Rouse Co. of Louisiana, 590 So.2d 801, 804 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1991);

Van v. Ferrell, 45,977, p 4 (La. App. 2 Cir. 3/2/11), 58 So.3d 522, 524 (finding

summary judgment inappropriate because of the conflicting testimony of the

parties regarding the most material issue of fact in the litigation).

Mr. Alonzo testified that he could see remnants of the asbestos sticking out

of the gaskets, and that he and Mr. Steib were exposed when handling the gaskets.

Mr. Alonzo also testified that he recalls Mr. Steib being exposed to asbestos and

asbestos dust, which would fall when he walked through an area in which

insulators were installing insulation on the pipes.

Elton Chenier testified that, because Mr. Steib was a foreperson, when he

trained apprentice pipefitters, he would have to cut and remove asbestos gaskets

during the testing of the lines. Defendants emphasize Elton Chenier’s

contradictory testimony on the one hand that he did not know if Mr. Steib worked

around insulators, and on the other hand that he and Mr. Steib had to work around

2 insulators, who worked on scaffolding with insulation residue on it. Making

evaluations of credibility has no place in determining a summary judgment.

Patterson v. Al Copeland Enters., Inc., 95-2288, p. 2 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1/19/96), 667

So.2d 1188, 1190.

In sum, “[i]n determining whether an issue is genuine, courts cannot

consider the merits, make credibility determinations, evaluate testimony, or weigh

evidence.” Romain v. Brooks Restaurants, Inc., 20-0243, p. 3 (La. App. 4 Cir.

11/18/20), -- So.3d --, 2020 WL 6778790, * 3. I find there are genuine issues of

material fact as to whether the presence of asbestos materials at the site can be

linked to the work that Mr. Steib performed for Parsons at the Marathon facility

from 1975 to 1977. Accordingly, I would reverse the trial court’s judgment

granting Defendants’ motion for summary judgment.