March 14, 2008 - Opinions - Louisiana Supreme Court

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March 14, 2008 
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<table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="90%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td valign="top" width="63%">FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE</td><td valign="top" width="37%"><div align="right">NEWS RELEASE #022</div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td valign="top">FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA</td><td valign="top">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Opinion handed down on the&nbsp;<span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>14th day of March, 2008</strong></span>, is as follows:</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>PER CURIAM:</strong></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="/opinions/2008/07C1915cw07C1998.opn.pc.pdf">2007-C -1915 C/W 2007-C -1998 TERRELL PARFAIT v. TRANSOCEAN OFFSHORE, INC., AND SHELL OIL PRODUCTS CO.</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans)<br />Accordingly, we now hold that, because the en banc panel of the court of appeal remains evenly split, no majority has concurred to reverse or modify the trial court's damages award and, thus, the effect of the court of appeal vote is to affirm the trial court's judgment on damages as rendered. Remaining otherwise as written, the decree of the court of appeal shall now read as follows:</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Judgment in favor of Plaintiff is reversed, in part, to dismiss his claims against Shell and to vacate the damage award. Judgment in favor of Plaintiff is amended in part, to cast Transocean 100% at fault and award Plaintiff total damages in the amount of $1,701,029.11.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Retired Judge Lemmie O. Hightower, assigned as Associate Justice Ad Hoc, sitting for Associate Justice Chet D. Traylor, recused.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">KIMBALL, J., concurs in the result and assigns reasons.<br />VICTORY, J., dissents from the per curiam and concurs in the order and assigns reasons.&nbsp;<br />WEIMER, J., dissents in part and concurs in part for the reasons assigned by Justice Victory.&nbsp;<br />HIGHTOWER, J., dissents from the per curiam for the reasons assigned by Justice Victory and concurs in the order.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="/opinions/2008/07C1915cw07C1998.opn.ord.pdf">2007-C -1915 C/W 2007-C -1998 TERRELL PARFAIT v. TRANSOCEAN OFFSHORE, INC., AND SHELL OIL PRODUCTS CO.</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans)<br />ORDER<br />Because our disposition in the accompanying per curiam opinion on the construction of the court of appeal's judgment changes the procedural posture of this case, we decline to consider the remaining assignments of error presented in the parties' writ applications in Nos. 2007-C-1915 and 2007-C-1998. However, within fourteen days from the date of this order, the parties shall be permitted to file applications raising any errors in the judgment of the court of appeal, as clarified by the accompanying per curiam opinion handed down this date.&nbsp;<br />Retired Judge Lemmie O. Hightower, assigned as Associate Justice Ad Hoc, sitting for Associate Justice Chet D. Traylor, recused.&nbsp;<br /><br />Kimball, J. dissents and would deny the opportunity for filing of additional writ applications based upon the parties' assurances at oral argument that the only procedural remedy now available is rehearing.&nbsp;<br />Knoll, J. dissents.</p><div></div><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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