Opinion
NO. 2020 CW 0738
10-26-2020
LAKENDRIC BRANDON v. JAMES RICHARD, ED PRICE BUILDING MATERIALS, INC., AND PENNSYLVANIA LUMBERMENS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
In Re: James Richard and Ed Price Building Materials, Inc., applying for supervisory writs, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, No. 628843. BEFORE: WHIPPLE, C.J., WELCH AND CHUTZ, JJ.
WRIT GRANTED. The district court's August 13, 2020 judgment denying the motion for partial summary judgment filed by Defendants, James Richard and Ed Price Building Materials, Inc., is hereby reversed. A plaintiff cannot maintain direct negligence claims, such as negligent hiring, entrustment, supervision, etc., against an employer while simultaneously maintaining claims against the employer for vicarious liability after the employer has admitted that the employee was in the course and scope of employment at the time of the alleged conduct. Wheeler v. United States Fire Insurance Company, 2018-1422 (La. App. 1st Cir. 6/13/19), 2019 WL 2612903, at *2 (unpublished) (per curiam); Elee v. White, 2019-1633 (La. App. 1st Cir. 7/24/20), ___ So.3d ___, 2020 WL 4251974, at *4. In this case, the employer, Ed Price Building Materials, Inc., admitted that its employee was in the course and scope of his employment at the time of the accident. Accordingly, the motion for partial summary judgment filed by Defendants, James Richard and Ed Price Building Materials, Inc., is granted and all claims of independent negligence against Ed Price Building Materials, Inc. for negligent hiring, training, and/or supervision are dismissed with prejudice.
VGW
JEW
WRC
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT /s/_________
DEPUTY CLERK OF COURT
FOR THE COURT