Joel Gangi d_b_a Gangi, Inc. v. Star Transport Logistics, Inc.

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

GENERAL SECURITY NATIONAL INSURANCE NO. 2026 CW 1231
CORPORATION

VERSUS

OTTO SALVADO CELI, SR., GOCCI U.S.
CORPORATION, AND STATE NATIONAL
INSURANCE COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED WITH

JOEL GANGI D/B/A GANGI, INC., DIANE
MARY LOUW, BRIANNA BOUCHER, SUZIE
BOUCHER, MARY C. ELLIS AND SARAH ELLIS,
INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ELLIS
ARABIANS, LLC, REBECCA BREA KRATZERT,
NATHANIEL TURNER, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON
BEHALF OF ST. MARTIN ARABIANS, LTD.,
TODD WERTS, AND MICHELLE WERTS

VERSUS

STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE

COMPANY, ALLMERICA FINANCIAL BENEFIT SEPTEMBER 22, 2026
INSURANCE COMPANY, OTTO SALVADOR CELI,

SR., GOCCI US CORPORATION, AND STAR

TRANSPORT LOGISTICS, INC.

In Re: Joel Gangi d/b/a Gangi, Inc., et al., applying for
supervisory writs, 18th Judicial District Court, Parish
of West Baton Rouge, No. 1047090 c/w 1047092.

BEFORE : WOLFE, STROMBERG, AND BALFOUR, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED. The portion of the district court’s September
21, 2026 Judgment which denied the portion of plaintiffs’ omnibus
motion in limine concerning insurance payments and subrogation
claims, allowing defendant to reference and question witnesses
about the insurance policies, is reversed. Under the collateral
source rule, a tortfeasor may not benefit, and an injured plaintiff
s tort recovery may not be reduced, because of monies received by
the plaintiff from sources independent of the tortfeasor's
procuration or contribution. As a result of the collateral source
rule, the tortfeasor is not able to benefit from the victim's
foresight in purchasing insurance and other benefits. Bozeman v.
State, 2003-1016 (La. 7/2/04), 879 So.2d 692, 697-98. See also La.
Code Evid. art. 411. Evidence regarding the equine policies is
excluded from evidence at trial.

EW
TPS
KEB

fr,
CQURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

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