Opinion
2022 CW 1057
12-01-2022
BROWN & ROOT INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC v. ANTHONY E. FARRIS, JR., KEVIN D. STEED, AND FIDES CONSULTING, LLC
Anthony E. Farris, Jr., applying for supervisory writs, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, No. 705222.
BEFORE: WHIPPLE, C.J., GUIDRY AND WOLFE, JJ.
WRIT GRANTED. The trial court's August 26, 2022 judgment denying the motion for partial summary judgment filed by the defendant, Anthony E. Farris, Jr., is reversed. When the words of a contract are clear and explicit and lead to no absurd consequences, no further interpretation may be made in search of the parties' intent, and the contract is interpreted by the court as a matter of law. La. Civ. Code art. 2046. Here, the words of the Termination Agreement clearly and explicitly reflect the parties' intent to replace the 2018 Employment Agreement with the terms expressed in the 2020 Employment Agreement. The 2020 Employment Agreement prohibited only the solicitation of Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC employees. Plaintiffs, Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC and BRIS Engineering, LLC, failed to provide evidence of a genuine issue of material fact as to Anthony E. Farris, Jr.'s solicitation of individuals employed by Brown & Root Industrial Services, LLC. Accordingly, the writ is granted and the plaintiffs' breach of contract claim against Anthony E. Farris, Jr. is dismissed.
VGW
JMG
EW 1