Opinion
2024-C-00117
03-12-2024
CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AT LLOYD'S, LONDON, ET AL. v. ALLIANCE DRILLING CONSULTANTS, L.L.C., ET AL.
Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London - Applicant Plaintiff; Applying For Writ Of Certiorari, Parish of LaSalle, 28th Judicial District Court Number(s) 39558, Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, Number(s) 23-265 c/w 23-270;
Writ application denied.
PDG
JLW
JDH
SJC
JTG
WJC
JBM
GRIFFIN, J., additionally concurs in the denial and assigns reasons.
I write separately to note two splits among the circuits, not discussed by the parties, that this Court may need to address when an appropriate case arises. There is a split as to whether comparative fault applies in contract-based claims. There is also a split as to whether, under La. R.S. 13:366, fees can be awarded for experts who did not testify at trial.
For examples of some courts holding comparative fault is applicable, see Chevron U.S.A. Inc. v. Aker Mar., Inc., No. 03-2027, 2008 WL 594648, at *1 (E.D.La. Feb. 29, 2008) rev'd on other grounds by 604 F.3d 888 (5th Cir.2010); Petroleum Rental Tools v. Hal Oil & Gas Co., Inc., 95,1820 (La.App. 1 Cir. 8/22/97), 701 So.2d 213, See also Frank L. Maraist and Thomas C. Galligan, Jr., Burying Caesar: Civil Justice Reform and the Changing Face of Louisiana Tort Law, 71 Tul. L.Rev. 339, 382 (1996). For examples courts holding it is not applicable, see Hostetler v. W. Gray & Co., 523 So.2d 1359, 1368 (La.App. 2 Cir. 03/30/1988), Dual Construction, Inc. v. City of Alexandria, No. 10-1039, 2011 WL 759604, at *3 (W.D.La. Feb. 24, 2011), Touro Infirmary v. Sizeler Architects, 04-634, p.5 (La.App. 4 Cir. 3/23/05), 900 So.2d 200, 203-204, Justiss Oil Co., Inc. v. Oil Country Tubular Corp., 2015-1148 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/5/17), 216 So.3d 346. In Touro, the panel was also split. Judge Murray would have found comparative fault was applicable to contract claims.
For examples of cases holding that expert fees may be awarded when that expert did not testify, see Roach v. State Through Dep't of Transp. & Development, 20-211 p. 105-106 (La.App. 3 Cir. 9/22/21), 329 So.3d 974, 1028, Mace v. Turner, 18-339, p 5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/6/18) (unpublished), Burtner v. Lafayette Parish Consolidated Gov., 14-1180, p. 12 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/15/15), 176 So.3d 1056, 1065, Saden v. Kirby, 01-2253, p. 3 (La.App. 4 Cir. 8/7/02), 826 So.2d 558, 561, Reynolds v. Louisiana Dep't of Transp., 2015-1304, p. 6 (La.App. 1 Cir. 4/13/16), 194 So.3d 56, 61. For examples of cases holding that expert fees cannot be awarded where those experts did not testify, see Brecheen v. News Grp., L.P., 11-1173, p. 37 (La.App. 5 Cir. 12/11/12), 105 So.3d 1011, 1035, Bourgeois v. Heritage Manor of Houma, 96-0135, p. 6 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2/14/97), 691 So.2d 703, 708, Allstate Ins. Co. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 634 So.2d 49, 50-51 (La.App. 1 Cir. 03/11/1994), Hussain v. Bos. Old Colony Ins. Co., 311 F.3d 623, 646 (5th Cir. 2002).