Louisiana Court Denies Insurer’s Motion for Summary Judgment in Asbestos Action, Says It’s Premature

BATON ROUGE, La. –– A Louisiana federal court has denied an insurer’s motion for summary judgment in an asbestos case without prejudice, arguing that, since discovery has yet to take place, the motion is premature.

In the July 21 order, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana said that the insurer filed the motion prior to the commencement of formal discovery and, as such, the insurance company’s motion “is simply premature.”

Plaintiff William D. Coleman asserted the claims, contending that he was exposed to asbestos at the Libbey-Owens-Ford Plant in Louisiana. The plant is owned by Pilkington …