5th Circuit Rejects Worker's Personal Injury, Offensive Contact Radiation Claims

NEW ORLEANS - A 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel has affirmed dismissal of environmental workers' claims that they suffered personal injuries and "offensive contact" during a radiation cleanup undertaken via government contract. Cotroneo, et al. v. Shaw Environment & Infrastructure Inc., et al., No. 07-20939 (5th Cir.).

The panel was unanimous in its April 14 opinion in affirming dismissal of the personal injury and offensive contact claims, but split on whether plaintiffs could still pursue the offensive contact claims under state law, with the majority concluding that they could not.

Dominic Cotroneo and other employees of Shaw Environmental Inc. …