Sapp v. Wood Group PSN, Inc.

153 F. Supp. 3d 947, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171764, 2015 WL 9433516
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Louisiana
DecidedDecember 23, 2015
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 15-3
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 153 F. Supp. 3d 947 (Sapp v. Wood Group PSN, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sapp v. Wood Group PSN, Inc., 153 F. Supp. 3d 947, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171764, 2015 WL 9433516 (E.D. La. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

NANNETTE JOLIVETTE BROWN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

In this litigation, Plaintiff Randall Sapp, a platform mechanic working on a platform at Eugene Island 32A, alleges that he was [949]*949severely injured when he attempted to hoist a valve from a vessel onto the platform.1 Pending before the Court is Defendant Wood Group PSN, Inc.’s (“Wood Group”) “Motion for Summary Judgment on the Negligence Claims of Plaintiff.”2 Having reviewed the motion,' the memo-randa in support, the memorandum in opposition, the record, and the applicable law, the Court will deny the motion.

I. Background,

A Factual Background

Plaintiff alleges that on October 10, 2014, he was working as a platform mechanic for Shamrock Management, LLC on a platform at Eugene Island 32A that is owned and operated by Defendant Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc. (“Energy XXI”).3 He alleges that Defendants Wood Group and Flow Petroleum Services, Inc. (“Flow Petroleum”) were also performing work on the platform;4 According to Plaintiff, on October 10, 2014, Defendant Abe’s Boat Rentals, Inc. (“Abe’s Boat Rentals”) transported a choke valve out to the platform, tied the valve to a rope, and signaled for the workers on the platform to lift the valve.5 Plaintiff alleges that he was severely injured while attempting to hoist the valve onto the platform.6

B. Procedural Background

On January 2, 2015, Plaintiff filed a complaint against Defendants, alleging that his injury was caused by the negligence of Defendants.7 On October 21, 2015, with leave of Court, Shamrock Energy Solutions, LLC (“Shamrock”) and American Longshore Mutual Association, Ltd. (“American Longshore”) filed a complaint of intervention, alleging that, having paid Plaintiff workers’ compensation benefits, they are entitled to recover “by preference and priority” any money received by Plaintiff.8

On November 23, 2015, Abe’s Boat Rentals filed a “Motion for Summary Judgment of Abe’s Boat Rentals, Inc.”9 On November 24, 2015, Defendants and Plaintiff filed a “Motion for Summary Judgment to Dismiss the Complaint of Intervention.”10 On the same day, Defendants filed a “Motion to Exclude Cumulative Expert Testimony’’11 and a “Motion to Exclude and/or Limit Expert Testimony.”12 Also on November 24, 2015, Wood Group filed two motions for summary judgment, “Motion for Summary Judgment on the Negligence Claims of Plaintiff’13 and “Motion for Surm mary Judgment on the Borrowed Employee Status of Derrick Runge and Clark Jackson.”14. On December 16, 2015, Wood Group filed a motion to withdraw its “Motion for Summary Judgment on the Borrowed Employee Status of Derrick Runge and Clark Jackson,”15 which was granted on December 17, 2015.16

[950]*950On December 4, 2015, Plaintiff filed his opposition to the instant motion.17 The same day, the Court denied Wood’ Group’s request for oral argument on the motion.18 On December 9, 2015, with leave of Court, Wodd Group filed a reply.19

II. Parties’ Arguments

A. Defendant Wood Group’s Arguments in Support of its Motion for Summary Judgment

Wood Group moves for summary judgment on Plaintiffs negligence .claim on the grounds that Plaintiff has “failed to present any- evidence of a breach of any duty by Wood Group or [that] Wood Group’s actions were the cause of his alleged injuries.”20 Wood Group asserts that in order to establish negligence under Louisiana law, Plaintiff must show: “(1) the conduct in question was the cause-in-fact of the resulting harm; (2) defendant owed a duty of care to plaintiff; (3) the requisite duty was breached by the defendant; [and] (4) the risk of harm was within the scope of protection afforded by the duty' breached.”21 Wood Group contends that Plaintiff offérs nothing more than “conclusory allegations” .and “unsubstantiated assertions” through his “self-interested testimony” in support of his claim.22 Wood Group contends that Plaintiffs evidence is insuffi-dent to defeat a motion for summary judgment.23

According to Wood Group, Plaintiffs sole allegation of negligent conduct is an alleged slip of the lifting rope by a half inch to an inch that, Plaintiff alleges, resulted in grievous injuries.24 Wood Group asserts that although every element of Plaintiffs testimony regarding the events leading up to and including his alleged injury is contradicted by the testimony of at least two other witnesses, it concedes that an evaluation of Plaintiffs credibility is improper in a motion for summary judgment.25 However, Wood Group maintains that even taking Plaintiffs statements as true, the slip of a lifting rope by a half inch to an inch cannot constitute a breach of a duty to Plaintiff.26 Wood Group contends that the lack of a breach is demonstrated by the fact that Derrick Runge (“Runge”) and Clark Jackson (“Jackson”), the men that were “actually tasked with lifting the valve,” “completed , the lifting of the valve without incident or injury once the plaintiff was out of the way.”27 Wood Group asserts that Plaintiff would have the Court believe that a slight slip subjected Plaintiffs body to the full weight of the valve, but this is unsupported by any testimony, expert or otherwise.28

Wood Group also asserts that even if Wood Group is found to have breached a duty, Plaintiffs alleged injury was not [951]*951caused by Wood Group’s actions.29 Wood Group contends that although cause-in-fact is determined using a but-for inquiry, the conduct at issue must be a substantial factor in bringing about the harm.30 However, Wood Group asserts that the real cause of Plaintiffs alleged injury was Plaintiffs “unilateral and unauthorized intervention in a controlled procedure performed by qualified and capable personnel.”31 Furthermore, Wood Group avers that the pivotal fact which is not in dispute is that “regardless of any alleged negligence involved in the way the valve was lifted — plaintiff was not injured while lifting.”32 In support, Wood Group points to the depositions of Runge and Jackson for the assertion that Plaintiffs intervention was never requested, Plaintiff was specifically instructed to stay away from the area, and Plaintiff attempted to intervene in a production operation that was unrelated to his job aboard the platform.33

In support of its argument that Wood Group’s actions were not the cause of Plaintiffs injuries, Wood Group cites the Fifth Circuit in Westchester Fire Insurance Co. v. Haspel-Kansas Investment Partnership.34

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Ross v. W&T Offshore, Inc.
357 F. Supp. 3d 554 (E.D. Louisiana, 2018)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
153 F. Supp. 3d 947, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 171764, 2015 WL 9433516, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sapp-v-wood-group-psn-inc-laed-2015.