Carolyn M. Gautier v. Anco Insulation, Inc.

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

CAROLYN M. GAUTIER NO. 2026 CW 1038

VERSUS

ADRIATIC INSURANCE COMPANY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

ET AL.

In Re: Johnson & Johnson, applying for supervisory writs, 19th
Judicial District Court, Parish of Fast Baton Rouge, No.
753560.

BEFORE: THERIOT, GREENE, AND EDWARDS, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED. While recognizing that in ruling on discovery
matters, the trial court is vested with broad discretion, we have
found an abuse of discretion in this matter. The trial court’s
July 13, 2026 judgment requiring Johnson & Johnson to produce
documents responsive to Topic No. 4 of Plaintiff’s First Amended
Notice, including documents sufficient to show payments made to
experts witnesses in cosmetic talc litigation (other than the
experts in this case) over the past fifteen years is overbroad,
unduly burdensome, and outside the scope of La. Code Civ. P. art.
1425(B). See Stolzle v. Safety & Sys. Assurance Consultants, Inc.,
2002-1197 (La. 5/24/02), 819 So.2d 287, 289 (per curiam); See also
DirecTV, LLC v. Bridges, 2021-646 (La. App. 5th Cir. 1/21/22),
2022 WL 198864 (unpublished). Accordingly, the trial court’s July
13, 2026 judgment is reversed to the extent the judgment ordered
Johnson & Johnson to produce expert compensation discovery
relating to experts not designated to testify in Ms. Gautier’s
case. For the reasons stated, the August 21, 2026 judgment ordering
the deposition of Kristen Fournier concerning the contents of her
“Declaration” is also reversed.

MRT

HG
BDE

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

T RK OF COURT
\_) FOR THE COURT