Opinion
NO. 2016 CW 1585
04-04-2017
KRISTIAN HILL ELLIOTT, INDIVIDUALLY AND IN HER CAPACITY AS ADMINISTRATRIX OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL HILL, JON-MICHAEL HILL AND MICHAEL CHASE HILL v. TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CO., LLC, THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC., WILLIAMS PARTNERS L.P., MAGELLAN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP, DANOS AND CUROLE MARINE CONTRACCTORS, LLC, ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY & HEALTH CONSULTING SERVICES, INC., AND PLUG-IT PRODUCTS, INC. AND/OR CHERNE INDUSTRIES, INC.
In Re: Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co., LLC, The Williams Companies, Inc., Williams Partners L.P., Magellan Midstream Partners, LP, Danos And Curole Marine Contractors, LLC, Environmental Safety & Health Consulting Services, Inc., and Plug-It Products, Inc. and/or Cherne Industries, Inc., applying for supervisory writs, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, No. 648,603. BEFORE: PETTIGREW, McDONALD, WELCH, CRAIN, AND HOLDRIDGE, JJ.
WRIT GRANTED. The trial court's ruling of November 9, 2016, denying the joint motions to transfer on the basis of forum non conveniens, is hereby reversed and the matter transferred to Terrebonne Parish. Terrebonne Parish, where the explosion occurred and where a majority of the parties and witnesses live and in the interest of justice, is the more convenient forum. Holland v. Lincoln General Hospital, et al., 2010-0038, 2010-0047 (La. 10/19/10), 48 So.3d 1050.
JEW
WJC
JTP
McDonald and Holdridge, JJ., dissent and would deny the writ. COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT /s/_________
DEPUTY CLERK OF COURT
FOR THE COURT