Gomez v. Aardvark Contractors, Inc. (E.D. La., Jan. 22, 2020, summary judgment)

Our plain-English summary of Gomez v. Aardvark Contractors, Inc. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, January 22, 2020).

Cary Gomez sued numerous companies in 2018, alleging he developed malignant pleural mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. He claimed exposure first through his father's work at Avondale Shipyards in the 1960s, and later in his own work as a plumber for Aardvark Contractors from 1988 to 2011. Two co-defendants, Huntington Ingalls (Avondale) and the Jefferson Parish School Board, filed cross-claims against the other defendants, including Viking Pump. Viking Pump moved for summary judgment, arguing there was no evidence that Gomez or his father was exposed to asbestos from its products. It pointed to Gomez's deposition, his father's deposition in another case, and other witnesses, none of whom identified Viking Pump as a source of asbestos-containing products. Neither Gomez nor the two cross-claimants filed an opposition. The court found no genuine issue of material fact on whether Viking Pump made or sold products that exposed Gomez or his father to asbestos. It granted the motion and dismissed the claims and cross-claims against Viking Pump without prejudice.

We wrote this summary from the court's opinion with the help of AI. It is not the court's wording, and it is not legal advice. The full opinion is below.

The decision

• Court: U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
• Decided: January 22, 2020
• Docket: Civil Action No. 18-4186
• Stage: Summary judgment
• State: Louisiana

Outcome. The court granted Viking Pump's unopposed motion for summary judgment and dismissed, without prejudice, plaintiff Cary Gomez's claims and the cross-claims of Huntington Ingalls and Jefferson Parish School Board against Viking Pump.

What the court held. A defendant is entitled to summary judgment where the movant points to the absence of evidence that the plaintiff or his father was exposed to asbestos from its products and no one opposes the motion to show a genuine factual dispute.

Issues decided: Causation, Trial Procedure and Discovery, Product Identification.

The people and their exposure

• Cary Gomez: pleural mesothelioma

Who	Work	Where	When	Products
Cary Gomez	plumber	Aardvark Contractors, Inc.	1988-2011
Cary Gomez	son of a worker at Avondale Shipyards (shipyards and maritime work); dust brought home	Avondale Shipyards, Louisiana	1960s

The defendants

• Viking Pump, Inc. (manufacturer)
• Huntington Ingalls Incorporated (premises owner)
• Jefferson Parish School Board (premises owner)

Other decisions in this case

Other rulings from the same court in the same case, in our library:

• Gomez v. Aardvark Contractors, Inc. (November 1, 2018). The court granted Nicholls State's motion to dismiss the executive officer liability, products liability and punitive damages claims (the last two unopposed), denied it as to Gomez's negligence and strict liability claims, and ordered service on the Office of Risk Management within 60 days.
• Gomez v. Aardvark Contractors, Inc. (December 13, 2019). The court granted Nicholls State's motion to dismiss the Jefferson Parish School Board's cross-claims on Eleventh Amendment immunity grounds and denied the motion as moot as to Huntington Ingalls, which had already dropped its cross-claims.
• Gomez v. Aardvark Contractors, Inc. (January 6, 2020). The court granted Nicholls State's unopposed motion to dismiss plaintiff Carey Gomez's claims against it on Eleventh Amendment immunity grounds.
• Gomez v. Aardvark Contractors, Inc. (January 22, 2020). The court granted plaintiff Cary Gomez's motion to extend the deadline for his industrial hygienist expert report to February 7, 2020, and gave the defendants until March 6, 2020 to submit opposing expert reports.
• Gomez v. Aardvark Contractors, Inc. (May 13, 2020). The district court denied the Jefferson Parish School Board's motion for partial summary judgment seeking an automatic virile share credit for the Johns-Manville Trust, and denied Huntington Ingalls' withdrawn part of the motion as moot, so the plaintiffs prevailed on the motion.

The court's opinion

The text below is Google Scholar's copy of the court's opinion, a public record. Numbers in brackets, such as [*921], mark where each page of the printed reporter begins.

CAREY GOMEZ,

v.

AARDVARK CONTRACTORS, INC. ET AL., SECTION "L" (5).

Civil Action No. 18-4186.

January 22, 2020.

United States District Court, E.D. Louisiana.

Cary Gomez, Chucky R. Gomez, Norma C. Gomez, Brittany G. Ford & Chance J. Gomez, Plaintiffs, represented by Damon R. Pourciau, Ardoin Law Firm, Scott Michael Galante, Galante & Bivalacqua LLC & Stephanie Moore Hartman, Galante & Bivalacqua LLC.

Anco Insulations Inc, Defendant, represented by Jamie Hebert Baglio, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Douglas R. Elliott, Pugh, Accardo, LLC & Margaret M. Joffe, Pugh, Accardo, LLC.

Bayer CropScience, Inc., as successor to Rhone Poulene AG Company, Defendant, represented by McGready Lewis Richeson, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, David M. Stein, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Francis Xavier DeBlanc, III, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Kathleen Erin Jordan, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Milele N. St. Julien, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey & Perrey S. Lee, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC. Burmaster Land & Development Co., LLC, formerly known as E.F. Burmaster & Sons, Burmaster Land & Development Company, Inc., Defendant, represented by Kevin John Webb, Litchfield Cavo LLP & Brett F. Willie, Litchfield Cavo, LLP. CBS Corporation, A Delaware Corporation, A successor by merger to CBS Corporation, a Pennsylvania Corporation, formerly known as Viacom, Inc., Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. & Peter R. Tafaro, Frilot L.L.C.

Certain-Teed Corporation, formerly known as v, Defendant, represented by Jennifer E. Adams, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP. Certain-Teed Corporation, formerly known as Certain-Teed Products Corporation, Defendant, represented by Arthur Wendel Stout, III, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Barbara Bourgeois Ormsby, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Jason P. Franco, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP & William Claudy Harrison, Jr., Deutsch Kerrigan LLP.

Crane Company, Defendant, represented by Lawrence G. Pugh, III, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Donna M. Young, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Jacqueline Romero, Pugh, Accardo, LLC & Shelley L. Thompson, Pugh, Accardo, LLC.

FMC Corporation, improperly sued as FMC Corporation individually and as successor in interest to Crosby Valve, Inc. and Peerless Pump Corporation, Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., Barry C. Campbell, Dogan & Wilkinson, PLLC, James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C. & Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. Foster Wheeler Corporation, Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C., Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. & Peter R. Tafaro, Frilot L.L.C.

General Electric Company & Ingersoll-Rand Company, Defendants, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., Barry C. Campbell, Dogan & Wilkinson, PLLC, James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C., Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. & Peter R. Tafaro, Frilot L.L.C.

Goulds Pumps LLC, Defendant, represented by Lauren Ann McCulloch Semlinger, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius & Mitchell F. Tedesco, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Grefco, Inc. & Viking Pump, Inc., incorrectly named as IDEX Corporation f/k/a Viking Pump, Inc., Defendants, represented by Kaye N. Courington, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC & James Matthew Matherne, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, formerly known as Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Inc., Avondale Industries, Inc., Avondale Shipyards, Inc., Defendant, represented by Gustave A. Fritchie, III, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alex Tyler Robertson, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alexander R. Saunders, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alison A. Spindler, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Christopher Thomas Whelen, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Michael Melancon, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Wayne O'Quinn, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Edward Winter Trapolin, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Michael Kevin Powell, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC & Timothy Farrow Daniels, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC.

IDEX Corporation, formerly known as, Defendant, represented by James Matthew Matherne, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

International Paper Company, formerly known as Champion International Corporation, U. S. Plywood Corporation, Defendant, represented by Walter G. Watkins, III, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Chelsea Elizabeth Gaudin, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Daniel S. Roberts, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Jason K. Elam, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC, Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Thomas Peyton Smith, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

Jefferson Parish School Board, Defendant, represented by E. John Litchfield, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC, Kathy L. Torregano, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC & Michael J. Marsiglia, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC.

John Crane Inc, Defendant, represented by Kenan Slade Rand, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Lauren B. Dietzen, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Meredith R. Durham, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP & Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Defendant, represented by Jay Morton Jalenak, Jr., Kean Miller & Patrick Dale Roquemore, Kean Miller.

McCarty Corporation, Defendant, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, April Ann McQuillar, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Watson Redfearn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, James R. Guidry, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP, Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP & Nicole M. Loup, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP.

Warren Pumps, LLC, Defendant, represented by Joseph Henry Hart, IV, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Daniel E. Oser, Pugh, Accardo, LLC & Thomas A. Porteous, Pugh, Accardo, LLC.

World Trade Center of New Orleans, Inc., Defendant, represented by Timothy S. Madden, King, Krebs & Jurgens, PLLC & Nicole M. Babb, King, Krebs & Jurgens, PLLC.

A.W. Chesterton Company, Defendant, represented by Glenn Lyle Maximilian Swetman, MG+M The Law Firm, Bradley Adam Hays, MG+M The Law Firm, Brandie Mendoza Thibodeaux, MG + M The Law Firm & Helen Meredith Buckley, MGM The Law Firm.

Atwood & Morrill & Atwood & Morrill, incorrectly named Weir Valves and Controls, USA, Inc., f/k/a Atwood & Morrill, Defendants, represented by Jennifer E. Adams, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Arthur Wendel Stout, III, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Barbara Bourgeois Ormsby, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Jason P. Franco, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP & William Claudy Harrison, Jr., Deutsch Kerrigan LLP.

Zurich American Insurance Company, as successor by merger to Maryland Casualty Company and incorrectly sued as Maryland Casualty Company, Defendant, represented by Edward T. Hayes, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Lee M. LeBouef, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Marc E. Devenport, Leake & Andersson, LLP & McNeil James Kemmerly, Leake & Andersson, LLP.

Crosby Valve, LLC, incorrectly pled as FMC Corporation (individually and as successor in interest to Crosby Valve, Inc. and Peerless Pump Corporation), Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C., Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. & Roth Martin Hainkel, Frilot LLC.

John Crane Inc, Third Party Plaintiff, represented by Kenan Slade Rand, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Lauren B. Dietzen, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP & Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP.

Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Third Party Plaintiff, represented by Gustave A. Fritchie, III, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alex Tyler Robertson, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alexander R. Saunders, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alison A. Spindler, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Christopher Thomas Whelen, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Michael Melancon, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Wayne O'Quinn, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Edward Winter Trapolin, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Michael Kevin Powell, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC & Timothy Farrow Daniels, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC.

Eagle, Inc., formerly known as Eagle Asbestos & Packing Company, Third Party Defendant, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, April Ann McQuillar, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Watson Redfearn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP, Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP & Nicole M. Loup, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP.

Uniroyal Holding, Inc., Third Party Defendant, represented by Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Amy Louise Maccherone, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Chelsea Elizabeth Gaudin, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP.

Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Cross Claimant, represented by Gustave A. Fritchie, III, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alex Tyler Robertson, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alexander R. Saunders, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alison A. Spindler, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Christopher Thomas Whelen, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Michael Melancon, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Wayne O'Quinn, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Edward Winter Trapolin, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Michael Kevin Powell, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC & Timothy Farrow Daniels, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC.

Bayercropscience, Inc., formerly known as Amchem Products, Inc., Benjamin Foster Co & Bayer CropScience, Inc., as successor to Rhone Poulene AG Company, Cross Defendants, represented by McGready Lewis Richeson, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, David M. Stein, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Francis Xavier DeBlanc, III, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Kathleen Erin Jordan, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey, Milele N. St. Julien, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey & Perrey S. Lee, Kuchler Polk Weiner, LLC.

FMC Corporation, Ingersoll Rand Company & FMC Corporation, Individually and as successor in interest to Crosby Valve, Inc. and Peerless Pump Corporation, Cross Defendants, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., Barry C. Campbell, Dogan & Wilkinson, PLLC, James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C. & Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. Foster Wheeler Corporation & General Electric Company, Cross Defendants, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C. & Peter R. Tafaro, Frilot L.L.C. Goulds Pumps LLC, Cross Defendant, represented by Lauren Ann McCulloch Semlinger, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius & Mitchell F. Tedesco, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

Hopeman Brothers, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Brittney Bullock Ankersen, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Kaye N. Courington, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Blaine Augusta Moore, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Jeffrey Matthew Burg, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Mathilde Villere Semmes, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC & Troy Nathan Bell, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

Grefco, Inc. & Viking Pump, Inc., incorrectly named as IDEX Corporation f/k/a Viking Pump, Inc., Cross Defendants, represented by Kaye N. Courington, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC & James Matthew Matherne, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

International Paper Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Chelsea Elizabeth Gaudin, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Walter G. Watkins, III, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Daniel S. Roberts, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Jason K. Elam, Cosmich Simmons & Brown, PLLC, Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP & Thomas Peyton Smith, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

Jefferson Parish School Board, Cross Defendant, represented by E. John Litchfield, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC, Kathy L. Torregano, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC & Michael J. Marsiglia, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC.

Owens Illinois, Inc, Cross Defendant, represented by Walter G. Watkins, III, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP & Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

Taylor Seidenbach, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Christopher Kelly Lightfoot, Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, LLP, Edward J. Lassus, Jr., Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, LLP & Richard J. Garvey, Jr., Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, LLP.

World Trade Center of New Orleans, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by Timothy S. Madden, King, Krebs & Jurgens, PLLC & Nicole M. Babb, King, Krebs & Jurgens, PLLC.

Bexar Canyon Management, Inc., Cross Defendant, represented by David A. Barfield, Pettis, Barfield & Hester P.A. Zurich American Insurance Company, as Successor in Merger to Maryland Casualty Insurance Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Edward T. Hayes, Leake & Andersson, LLP, Lee M. LeBouef, Leake & Andersson, LLP & Marc E. Devenport, Leake & Andersson, LLP.

Jefferson Parish School Board, Cross Claimant, represented by E. John Litchfield, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC, Kathy L. Torregano, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC & Michael J. Marsiglia, Berrigan & Litchfield, LLC.

A.W. Chesterton Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Glenn Lyle Maximilian Swetman, MG+M The Law Firm, Bradley Adam Hays, MG+M The Law Firm, Brandie Mendoza Thibodeaux, MG + M The Law Firm & Helen Meredith Buckley, MGM The Law Firm.

Anco Insulations Inc, Cross Defendant, represented by Jamie Hebert Baglio, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Douglas R. Elliott, Pugh, Accardo, LLC & Margaret M. Joffe, Pugh, Accardo, LLC.

Burmaster Land & Development Co., LLC, Cross Defendant, represented by Kevin John Webb, Litchfield Cavo LLP. CBS Corporation, A Delaware Corporation, A successor by merger to CBS Corporation, a Pennsylvania Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. & Peter R. Tafaro, Frilot L.L.C.

Certain-Teed Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by Jennifer E. Adams, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Arthur Wendel Stout, III, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Barbara Bourgeois Ormsby, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP, Jason P. Franco, Deutsch Kerrigan LLP & William Claudy Harrison, Jr., Deutsch Kerrigan LLP.

Crane Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Lawrence G. Pugh, III, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Donna M. Young, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Jacqueline Romero, Pugh, Accardo, LLC & Shelley L. Thompson, Pugh, Accardo, LLC.

Crescent Materials Service Inc, Cross Defendant, represented by Lawrence G. Pugh, III, Pugh, Accardo, LLC & Donna M. Young, Pugh, Accardo, LLC.

Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Cross Defendant, represented by Gustave A. Fritchie, III, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alex Tyler Robertson, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alexander R. Saunders, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Alison A. Spindler, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Christopher Thomas Whelen, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Michael Melancon, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, David Wayne O'Quinn, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Edward Winter Trapolin, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC, Michael Kevin Powell, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC & Timothy Farrow Daniels, Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore, LLC.

IDEX Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by James Matthew Matherne, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

Ingersoll-Rand Company, Cross Defendant, represented by John Joseph Hainkel, III, Frilot L.L.C., Angela M. Bowlin, Frilot L.L.C., Barry C. Campbell, Dogan & Wilkinson, PLLC, James H. Brown, Jr., Frilot L.L.C., Kelly L. Long, Frilot L.L.C., Kelsey A. Eagan, Frilot L.L.C., Lacey Taylor McCoy, Frilot L.L.C., Magali Ann Puente-Martin, Frilot L.L.C. & Peter R. Tafaro, Frilot L.L.C.

John Crane Inc, Cross Defendant, represented by Kenan Slade Rand, Jr., Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP, Lauren B. Dietzen, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP & Scott H. Mason, Plauche, Maselli, Parkerson, LLP.

Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., as the Insurer of Wayne Manufacturing Co., Cross Defendant, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, April Ann McQuillar, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Watson Redfearn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, James R. Guidry, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP & Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP.

McCarty Corporation, Cross Defendant, represented by Susan Beth Kohn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, April Ann McQuillar, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Kinler, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Douglas Watson Redfearn, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, James R. Guidry, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP, Janice M. Culotta, Simon, Peragine, Smith and Redfearn, LLP, Louis Oliver Oubre, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP & Nicole M. Loup, Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn, LLP.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Cross Defendant, represented by Jay Morton Jalenak, Jr., Kean Miller & Patrick Dale Roquemore, Kean Miller.

Owens-Illinois Inc, Cross Defendant, represented by Walter G. Watkins, III, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP, Chelsea Elizabeth Gaudin, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP, Elizabeth Riddell Penn, Forman, Watkins, & Krutz, LLP & Mary Reeves Arthur, Forman, Watkins & Krutz LLP.

Warren Pumps, LLC, Cross Defendant, represented by Joseph Henry Hart, IV, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Daniel E. Oser, Pugh, Accardo, LLC, Kathleen Erin Jordan, Pugh, Accardo, Haas, Radecker & Carey & Thomas A. Porteous, Pugh, Accardo, LLC. Hopeman Brothers, Inc., Cross Claimant, represented by Kaye N. Courington, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Blaine Augusta Moore, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Brittney Bullock Ankersen, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Jeffrey Matthew Burg, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC, Mathilde Villere Semmes, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC & Troy Nathan Bell, Courington, Kiefer & Sommers, LLC.

ORDER & REASONS

ELDON E. FALLON, District Judge.

Before the Court is Viking Pump, Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment to dismiss all claims of Plaintiff and cross-claims of Defendants Huntington Ingalls Incorporated and Jefferson Parish School Board against it. R. Doc. 255. Neither Plaintiff nor the two Defendants have timely filed an opposition to this Motion. Accordingly, the Court now rules as follows. I. RELEVANT BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Cary Gomez filed this suit on March 7, 2018, alleging severe asbestos exposure from a number of sources throughout his life. R. Doc. 1-2. Plaintiff claims he was exposed to asbestos first as a consequence of his father's employment at Avondale Shipyards in the 1960s, and later as a result of Plaintiff's work as a plumber for Aardvark Contractors, Inc. ("Aardvark") from 1988-2011. As a result of his repeated exposure to asbestos, Plaintiff was allegedly diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. In his original Petition for Damages, Plaintiff sued, among others, Defendants Huntington Ingalls Incorporated ("Avondale"), Jefferson Parish School Board ("JPSB"), and Viking Pump, Inc. ("Viking Pump"). R. Doc. 1-2. In response to Plaintiff's Petition, Avondale and JPSB filed Answers, Affirmative Defenses, and Cross-Claims in which they named all of the other defendants as cross-claim defendants, including Viking Pump. R. Docs. 17-1, 62.

II. PRESENT MOTION

Viking Pump now files this Motion for Summary Judgment to dismiss all claims of Plaintiff and cross-claims of Avondale and JPSB against it. R. Doc. 255. Viking Pump contends that under the applicable law, Plaintiffs, Avondale, and JPSB have the burden of proving the essential legal elements of their claims with respect to Viking Pump, but have failed to do so. R. Doc. 255 at 3. Specifically, Viking Pump argues that there is no evidence of any of the following: (1) that Plaintiff or his father, Stanley Gomez, were exposed to harmful levels of asbestos from products and/or equipment manufactured or sold by Viking Pump; (2) that any alleged exposure occurred on a regular basis; (3) that the alleged exposure was for an extended period of time; (4) that either Plaintiff or his father worked in close proximity to products and/or equipment made and/or sold by Viking Pump that resulted in exposures to harmful levels of asbestos; and (5) that any alleged exposure was a substantial causal factor in Plaintiff's alleged mesothelioma. R. Doc. 254 at 2-3. Viking Pump thus asserts that because there are no issues of material fact, it is entitled to summary judgment dismissing all claims and cross-claims against it. R. Doc. 254 at 3.

Neither Plaintiff, Avondale, nor JPSB has timely filed an opposition to this Motion.

III. LAW AND ANALYSIS

Summary judgment is proper "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)). When ruling on a motion for summary judgment, a court may not resolve credibility issues or weigh evidence. See Delta & Pine Land Co. v. Nationwide Agribusiness Ins. Co., 530 F.3d 395, 398 (5th Cir. 2008); Int'l Shortstop, Inc. v. Rally's Inc., 939 F.2d 1257, 1263 (5th Cir. 1991).

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(c), the moving party bears the initial burden of "informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of [the record] which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. "Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which the party will bear the burden of proof at trial." Id. The court must find " [a] factual dispute [to be] `genuine' if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party [and a] fact [to be] `material' if it might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing substantive law." Beck v. Somerset Techs., Inc., 882 F.2d 993, 996 (5th Cir. 1989) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)). Moreover, the court must assess the evidence and "review the facts drawing all inferences most favorable to the party opposing the motion." Reid v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 784 F.2d 577, 578 (5th Cir. 1986). But "unsubstantiated assertions," "conclusory allegations," and merely colorable factual bases are insufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment. See Hopper v. Frank, 16 F.3d 92, 97 (5th Cir. 1994); Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50.

Moreover, pursuant to Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 966 (D(1), a mover's burden on a motion for summary judgment "does not require [it] to negate all essential elements of the adverse party's claim. . . but rather to point out to the court the absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the adverse party's claim." La. C.C.P. Art. 966. Louisiana law thus reflects the requirements to prevail on a motion for summary judgment under federal law. In this case, Viking Pump argues that Plaintiff's claims, as well as Avondale and JPSB's cross-claims, are "based only upon mere allegations, speculation and possibility," so Viking Pump's motion for summary judgment should be granted. R. Doc. 255-1 at 4. Specifically, Plaintiff's deposition in this case offered no testimony or evidence that he was exposed to any asbestos fibers from products made or sold by Viking Pump. R. Doc. 255-1 at 5. Moreover, Plaintiff's father, Stanley, was previously deposed in another case and he did not offer any testimony or evidence that he was exposed to asbestos fibers from products made or sold by Viking Pump. R. Doc. 255-1 at 5. Additionally, other witnesses who were deposed in this lawsuit or other asbestos lawsuits involving Avondale—including Tyrone Davis, a fact witness, Charles Bourg, Sr., a former Avondale employee, and Burton Charles Elliot, Jr., another former Avondale employee—did not identify Viking Pump as a maker or supplier of any asbestos-containing products. R. Doc. 255-1 at 5-6.

The Court concludes that no genuine issue of material fact exists regarding Viking Pump manufacturing or selling asbestos-containing products and/or equipment that resulted in Plaintiff and/or his father's exposure to asbestos. Neither Plaintiff,

Avondale, nor JPSB has filed an opposition to this Motion explaining what genuine issues of material fact exist to defeat this motion for summary judgment.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons,

IT IS ORDERED that Defendant Viking Pump, Inc's Motion for Summary Judgment, R. Doc. 255, is hereby GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims and Defendant Huntington Ingalls Incorporated and Jefferson Parish School Board's cross-claims against Viking Pump, Inc. are hereby DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

Sources

• The opinion on Google Scholar
• Louisiana asbestos laws
• Louisiana asbestos exposure sites