Opinion
No. 95-C-1332
September 15, 1995
IN RE: Derouen, Raymond; — Plaintiff(s); Applying for Writ of Certiorari and/or Review; to the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, Number CA94-1590; Parish of Vermilion Fifteenth Judicial District Court Div. "G" Number 90-57,799
Granted with order. (See per curiam)
JCW
PFC
WFM
JLD
HTL
CDK
BJJ
VICTORY, J. not on panel.
Writ granted. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment for defendant Quintana Petroleum Corporation (USA), Inc. based on its application of La.R.S. 23:1061 and the statutory employer defense when the court had not yet resolved the constitutional attack on the statute raised in Plaintiffs' First Amended Petition for Damages. La.C.C.P. art. 966 (B) states in pertinent part:
The [summary] judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact, and that mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (emphasis added).
As the question of the constitutionality and legality of La.R.S. 23:1061 is pending before the trial court by virtue of plaintiffs' amended petition, summary judgment "as a matter of law" is premature.
Accordingly, the writ application is granted. The judgment granting defendant's motion for summary judgment is reversed and this matter is remanded for further proceedings.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.