Louisiana Federal Court Throws out Asbestosis Claims, Cites Workers’ Comp Law

NEW ORLEANS –– A Louisiana federal court has dismissed claims asserted against AT&T Corp. and Bellsouth Telecommunications LLC in an asbestosis suit, ruling that they are barred by the state’s Workers’ Compensation law.

In the May 7 opinion, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana rejected the pro se plaintiff’s insistence that his intentional tort and gross negligence claims were not barred by workers’ compensation law.

Louis F. Trauth Jr. contended in his lawsuit that he was exposed to asbestos while working for Avondale Shipyard Inc. and Bellsouth Telecommunications LLC. Trauth worked for Avondale from 1969 to …