La. Court Awards Summary Judgment to American Optical, Phillips 66 and Citgo in Silica Case

LAKE CHARLES, La. –– A Louisiana federal court has awarded summary judgment to three defendants in a silica exposure suit, finding in part that the plaintiff had failed to establish a genuine issue of fact as to whether he used one of the defendant’s respirators.

In a series of orders –– the most recent entered on July 11 ¬–– the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana entered summary judgment in favor of American Optical Corp., Phillips 66 Co., and Citgo Petroleum Corp.

Plaintiff Keith Roach contended in his complaint that his employment at painting and sandblasting companies …