State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. MLT CON.

849 So. 2d 762, 2003 WL 21362965
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 4, 2003
Docket2002-CA-1811, 2002-CA-1812
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 849 So. 2d 762 (State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. MLT CON.) 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
State Farm Fire and Cas. Co. v. MLT CON., 849 So. 2d 762, 2003 WL 21362965 (La. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

849 So.2d 762 (2003)

STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY as Subrogee to the Rights of HH & K Realty Louisiana Partnership
v.
M.L.T. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., Hibernia Roofing & Metal Work, Inc., a/k/a Hibernia Roofing and/or Hibernia Roofing & Siding, Hermitage Insurance Company, Charles Iglesias, and Iglesias & Associates.
Tracy J. Bouma and Ty G. Bouma, Individually and on Behalf of their Minor Children, Adam L. Bouma, Zachary R. Bouma, And Eva L. Bouma
v.
H.H. & K. Realty, A Louisiana Partnership, M.L.T. Construction Company, Hibernia Roofing & Metal Work, Inc., Charles Iglesias, Iglesias and Associates, Hermitage Insurance Company, ABC Insurance Company and DEF Insurance Company.

Nos. 2002-CA-1811, 2002-CA-1812.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

June 4, 2003.

*764 Rockne L. Moseley, Moseley & Associates PLC, New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiff/Appellee.

*765 James Ryan, III, J. Michael Monsour Sessions, Fishman & Nathan, LLP, New Orleans, LA, for Defendant/Appellant.

(Court Composed of Judge Charles R. Jones, Judge James F. McKay III, Judge and Max N. Tobias, Jr.).

MAX N. TOBIAS, JR., Judge.

This appeal involves a suit filed by Tracy Bouma and her husband, Ty Bouma, stemming from personal injuries suffered by Ms. Bouma, consisting of an aggravated allergic reaction to mold, mildew, and other allergens allegedly introduced into her work environment by an influx of water at the HH & K building, where Ms. Bouma was working and employed as a legal secretary.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND[1]

Tracy Bouma began her job as a legal secretary for the law firm of Herman, Herman, Katz & Cotlar ("the Herman firm") on or about 27 March 1996 and left its employ on or about 1 April 1997. Prior to and during her employment by the Herman firm, the office of the Herman firm was located in the HH & K building at 820 O'Keefe Avenue in New Orleans. Prior to the commencement of her employment, the HH & K building had sustained water intrusion as a result of its leaking roof.

Less than two months after Ms. Bouma was employed by the Herman firm, HH & K Realty, A Louisiana Partnership ("HH & K Realty"), the owner of the HH & K building, retained MLT Construction Company, Inc. ("MLT Construction") d/b/a Hibernia Roofing ("Hibernia")[2] to re-roof the building. Charles J. Iglesias and his architectural firm, Iglesias & Associates, An Architectural Corporation ("Iglesias & Associates"), were retained to design the new roof and subsequently acted as an intermediary between HH & K Realty and the roofing company.

Hibernia began working on the roofing project on 21 May 1996 and completed the roofing job on or about 18 June 1996. During the re-roofing process, rainwater entered the HH & K building during heavy rainstorms, causing damage to the building's interior, ceiling tile, wallboard, wall coverings, and carpet. Diane Share, the office administrator for the Herman firm, recounted the flooding events in a memorandum prepared on or about 18 July 1996:

On Sunday June 2, 1996, we had the first very significant rain storm which caused extensive damage inside the building. The rain poured down the walls in the library in such volume as three staff members mopped for 4 hours straight. The water was still coming down with over½ inch of water on the floor in those areas after 4 hours. Additional staff people were called to help wipe up these areas. Three people went on the roof and used brooms to push the water off the roof. On this roof above the library, there was 3 inches of standing water fueling the leak below.
On Monday June 3, 1996, Munters (a dehumidifying and cleaning company) was called to assist in the clean up and set up of dehumidifiers and fans to get the moisture from the building. A carpenter was sent by our contractor, Mr. Velez, to remove the mirrored panels *766 covering the sheet rock that was soaking wet. Later a cleaning crew was called in to try to disinfect the area and to try to kill mildew and mold growing on the sheet rock and surfaces in the hall and library. Wallpaper bubbled from trapped water and became stained and soiled. Ceiling tiles were heavily damaged, as well as carpeting in some areas of the building.
A meeting was held June 3, 1996 with Charles Iglesias, our architect, and Cynthia Salerno of Hibernia Roofing regarding the water in the building and how to prevent additional leaks. Discussion was held regarding the use of sump pumps, the consideration of the use of a huge tarp and visqueen tarps to protect the furnishings and people below. We were assured this was the end of the leaking.
On June 13, 1996, the accounting area received rain water like a waterfall, particularly in the front corner. The back of the accounting area received water as well. On June 14, 1996, water was leaking into the office of Steve Lane in front of the building and, luckily, the Yankee memorabilia there was able to be moved from his office without damage. Water was pouring like a waterfall from the ceiling of the main hallway. All the furniture had to be moved to protect the items as much as possible. Munters delivered additional equipment to remove the humidity.
On June 17, 1996, the office of the administrator and the accounting area again got soaked. At first, it was thought the water was coming in from the air conditioners. After the roof construction crew left the premises, a crack in a vent cover was found by our architect which caused this problem. This crack was a result of faulty construction and was replaced by Hibernia.

After the roofing project was completed, the interior of the building underwent extensive renovations that continued for one year, until April 1997.

Ms. Bouma experienced a series of chronic colds, headaches, and respiratory problems following the 2 June 1996 water intrusion. Her symptoms escalated, and the plaintiff sought medical treatment from Rory J. Duffour, M.D., who prescribed medications to ease her respiratory complaints. She visited Dr. Duffour approximately five (5) times between June 1996 and April 1997. Ms. Bouma's medical records do not reflect that Dr. Duffour was of the opinion that Ms. Bouma's ailments were caused by her work environment. Ms. Bouma continued to suffer from respiratory difficulties while working at the Herman firm.

On 28 April 1997, Ms. Bouma was evaluated by Hans Schuller, M.D., a pulmonologist, who opined that her condition was related to the conditions at her workplace. He stated that she suffered from "some underlying asthmatic predisposition which is aggravated by the dusty and dirty work environment." Over the course of her treatment, Ms. Bouma was determined to be highly allergic to some types of mold spores and dust mites, and more mildly allergic to cat and dog dander. The record reflects that Ms. Bouma had suffered from pneumonia three times prior to her employment at the Herman firm and had a history of respiratory problems.

In April 1998, Ms. Bouma began seeing Andrew Rogness, M.D., a pulmonologist, who testified in his deposition that she suffers from asthma. According to Dr. Rogness, asthma was, in Ms. Bouma's case, a pre-existing condition. It can remain non-symptomatic in a patient until triggered by a significant exposure to an allergen, which is known as a "heralding event." The plaintiffs maintain that Ms. *767

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