The Babcock & Wilcox Company v. Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining and Marketi

United States Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Louisiana·Decided May 16, 2025·No. 21-01014·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

§ IN RE: § CASE NO: 00-10992 § THE BABCOCK & WILCOX § CHAPTER 11 COMPANY, § § SECTION A DEBTOR. § § § THE BABCOCK & WILCOX § COMPANY, § § PLAINTIFF, § § ADV. NO. 21-1014 V. § § PHILADELPHIA ENERGY SOLUTIONS § REFINING AND MARKETING LLC, § PES LIQUIDATING TRUST, § WESTPORT INSURANCE COMPANY, § XL INSURANCE AMERICA, INC., § ALLIANZ GLOBAL RISKS US § INSURANCE COMPANY, HDI GLOBAL § INSURANCE COMPANY, AND § CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT § LLOYD’S LONDON-SYNDICATE 1221 § (NAVIGATORS), ZURICH AMERICAN § INSURANCE COMPANY, CERTAIN § UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S § SUBSCRIBING TO ENNMG1800181, § CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT § LLOYD’S SUBSCRIBING TO § ENNMG1800281, CERTAIN § UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD’S § SUBSCRIBING TO ENNMG1800282, § CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT § LLOYD’S SUBSCRIBING TO EN100070- § 18, § § DEFENDANTS. § MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER This Court held a trial on April 7, 8, 10, and 11, 2025, to decide the claims alleged in the above-captioned adversary proceeding by The Babcock & Wilcox Co. (“B&W”) against Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining and Marketing LLC and PES Liquidating Trust (together,

the “PES Entities”). A review of the background and posture of this case can be found in this Court’s Order dated July 2, 2024, denying cross-motions for summary judgment. [ECF Doc. 199]. Pursuant to this Court’s Joint Pretrial Order dated April 4, 2025, the parties designated excerpts of deposition testimony given by four witnesses to be offered into evidence in lieu of live testimony. [ECF Doc. 254, ¶ K]. Before the Court are the following evidentiary objections to deposition designations: (i) the Plaintiff’s Objections to Deposition Designation of Defendants (the “B&W Objection”), [ECF Doc. 260]; (ii) the Defendants’ Objections to Plaintiff’s Page/Line Deposition Excerpts and Memorandum in Support (the “PES Entities Objection”), [ECF Doc. 261]; (iii) B&W’s response to the PES Entities Objection, [ECF Doc. 266]; and (iv) The PES Entities’ response to the B&W Objection, [ECF Doc. 267]. For the reasons below, the Court SUSTAINS IN PART and OVERRULES IN PART both the B&W Objection and the PES Entities Objection. JURISDICTION AND VENUE This Court has jurisdiction to grant the relief provided for herein pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b). The confirmed plan of reorganization in B&W’s bankruptcy case also reserved to this Court post-confirmation jurisdiction to resolve matters including, but not limited to, “all controversies, suits, and disputes that may relate to, impact upon, or arise in connection with this Plan or any other Plan Documents or their interpretation, implementation, enforcement, or consummation.” [No. 00-10992, ECF Doc. 7003, § 9.5.3]. The matter presently before the Court constitutes a core proceeding that this Court may hear and determine on a final basis under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2). Venue is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409. BACKGROUND

The parties designated excerpts from the following depositions: (i) June 7, 2023, deposition of Timothy Kocis. Kocis is the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(6) corporate designee for Sunoco, LP. He has worked at the company for 24 years and currently is employed as an environmental engineer. In that role, Kocis manages health, safety, and environmental risks and has developed programs to protect workers and ensure regulatory compliance. (ii) October 7, 2024, deposition of Dominic Giampino (fact witness for B&W). Giampino was formerly employed by Philadelphia Energy Solutions (“PES”) as a technical manager from 2012 through 2020. In that position, Giampino was responsible for monitoring operations of the refinery, developing improvement items, and solving operating issues. Prior to working with PES, Giampino worked for Sunoco in various capacities including as a process-design engineer, technical supervisor, business-planning supervisor, and process-design supervisor. (iii) November 22, 2024, deposition of John Sitler (fact witness for B&W). Sitler has experience with inspections of petrochemical facilities. He held inspector roles with various companies. Starting in 1998, he served as an inspection subcontractor for MISTRAS/QSL, then for Sunoco from 2003 to 2012, and finally for PES from 2012 until 2020. He is currently employed by Hilco Redevelopment Partners and works in a management role that is involved with developing the former PES land where the refinery at issue was located. (iv) January 16, 2025, deposition of Brandy Johnson. Johnson is the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(6) corporate designee for B&W. Johnson has worked at B&W for over thirty years in a variety of roles. She previously served as the Vice President of Engineering and Technology at B&W before being promoted to Chief Technology Officer. The parties stipulate to or do not object to the admission of the following deposition excerpts into evidence (collectively, the “Stipulated Excerpts”): (i) Timothy Kocis Tr. 9:07–10:10; 18:23–19:24; 21:11–24:09; 27:23–28:12; 49:11–52:02; 78:15–79:10; 87:08–88:08; 88:19–89:13; 89:17–90:25; 92:05–24; 93:10–22.

(ii) Dominic Giampino Tr. 4:08–10; 7:11–12:10; 15:14–16:05; 16:11–13; 18:15–17; 20:10–16; 21:15–35:06; 35:24–36:09; 37:20–42:07; 42:13–44:02; 44:08–45:05; 55:04–07; 62:08–18; 65:07–66:21; 67:09–12; 71:19–73:15; 77:24–78:05; 79:14– 80:04; 92:09–94:19; 95:22–96:21; 98:02–10; 99:08–100:07; 123:15–124:11.

(iii) John Sitler Tr. 8:05–9:04; 10:02–11; 12:16–14:04; 14:08–16:07; 28:10–32:23; 38:14– 22; 39:19–40:16; 42:01–43:13; 44:13–45:18; 47:09–48:25; 49:22–53:19; 59:10–64:17; 81:15–82:05; 83:11–24; 100:15–101:07; 152:12–153:02; 154:01–165:15.

(iv) Brandy Johnson Tr. 9:08–23:25; 24:07–10; 27:07–28:23; 29:12–25; 35:09–36:10; 41:05– 41:25; 64:10–67:21.

Following the trial, the parties filed written objections to the designated depositions into the record. [ECF Docs. 260, 261, 266 & 267]. The B&W Objection and the PES Entities Objection raise the following evidentiary objections to certain designated excerpts: (i) lack of personal knowledge or speculation under Federal Rule of Evidence 602, (ii) optional completeness under Federal Rule of Evidence 106. (iii) hearsay under Federal Rule of Evidence 802, (iv) relevance under Federal Rules of Evidence 401 and 402, (v) expert opinion testimony prohibited under Federal Rule of Evidence 701, and (vi) cumulative testimony. DISCUSSION A. General Rules on Use of All or Part of a Deposition Transcript at Trial “To the extent that the parties can stipulate to testimony and/or the admission of evidence, the Court encourages them to do so.” Little v. Frederick, No. CV 6:17-0724, 2018 WL 6314730, at *2 (W.D. La. Dec. 3, 2018). “The party objecting to the admissibility of evidence bears the burden of showing that the evidence is inadmissible.” Chevron TCI, Inc. v. Capitol House Hotel Manager, LLC, 541 F. Supp.

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The Babcock & Wilcox Company v. Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining and Marketi, (La. 2025).

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