Silicosis Personal Injury Plaintiff Can't Proceed with Discrimination Claims

NEW ORLEANS - A Louisiana appeals court has upheld summary judgment for the employers of a former sandblaster who claimed that their discriminatory practices led to his development of silicosis. In Re: Asbestos Plaintiffs v. Borden, Inc., et al., No. 2001-CA-1379 (La. Ct. App., 4th Cir.)

In an opinion issued Aug. 14, the Fourth Circuit Louisiana Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court decision to award summary judgment to Avondale Industries and Equitable Shipyards in a lawsuit filed by Merlin Charlot, a former employee of both companies.

Summary judgment had been entered on Equitable's behalf because Charlot waited too long …