Court Affirms Judgment for Employer Accused of Intentional Tort

BATON ROUGE, La. - A Louisiana appellate court has affirmed summary judgment for an employer accused of intentional torts by employees allegedly exposed to workplace mold who are seeking damages outside the workers' compensation system. Jones, et al. v. State of Louisiana, No. 2008 CA 1646 (La. Ct. App., 1st Cir.).

Louisiana's First Circuit Court of Appeal noted in its May 8 opinion that plaintiffs Debra Jones and Susan Marino have already been paid workers' compensation benefits because of illnesses attributable to the same workplace exposures.

Jones and Marino contended in a 2003 lawsuit that they were exposed to mold …