Wynn Rung, Jr. v. Hilcorp Energy Company

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

CA 12-1109 consolidated with CA 12-1110

ROWDY SMITH

VERSUS

HILCORP ENERGY CORPORATION, ET AL.

****consolidated with****

WYNN RUNG

VERSUS

HILCORP ENERGY CORPORATION, ET AL.

**********

APPEAL FROM THE
SIXTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF ST. MARTIN, NO. 75502 & 75580
HONORABLE CHARLES LEE PORTER, DISTRICT JUDGE

**********

JAMES T. GENOVESE

JUDGE

**********

Court composed of Elizabeth A. Pickett, James T. Genovese, and Shannon J.
Gremillion, Judges.

MOTION TO STAY PROCEEDINGS DENIED.

Karen W. Shipman
Amanda Howard Lowe
Kean Miller
909 Poydras Street, Ste 1450
New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 585-3050
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT:
Performance Wellhead & Frac Components, Inc.

John Edmund McElligott, Jr.
Kevin M. Dills
Davidson, Meaux, etc.
Post Office Box 2908
Lafayette, LA 70502-2908
(337) 237-1660
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS:
First Mercury Ins. Co.
Hookup and Pipeline Construction, Inc.

Musa Rahman
Johnson, Stiltner & Rahman
2237 S. Acadian Thruway, #700
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-0986
(225) 231-0756
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
Louisiana Workers' Compensation Fund

Patrick J. McShane
Danica C. Benbow
Kathleen Pontier Rice
Frilot L.L.C.
1100 Poydras St., #3700
New Orleans, LA 70163
(504) 599-8000
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS:
Hookup and Pipeline Construction, Inc.
First Mercury Ins. Co.

Robert Michael Kallam
Jonathan L. Woods
Preis, Kraft, & Roy
Post Office Drawer 94-C
Lafayette, LA 70509
(337) 237-6062
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
Greene's Energy Group

Michael J. Remondet, Jr.
Jeansonne & Remondet
Post Office Box 91530
Lafayette, LA 70509
(337) 237-4370
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
EPI Consulting Co.

Kevin Paul Merchant
Cliff A. Lacour
Laborde & Neuner
Post office Box 52828
Lafayette, LA 70505
(318) 237-7000
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
Hilcorp Energy Company

Jason P. Bergeron
Attorney at Law
Post Office Box 52008
Lafayette, LA 70502-2008
(337) 232-7424
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
Hilcorp Energy Company

Vanessa L. Waguespack
Liskow & Lewis
Post Office Box 52008
Lafayette, LA 70505
(337) 232-7424
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE:
Hilcorp Energy Company

Rusty Galloway
Galloway & Jeffcoat, LLP
1925 Dulles Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 984-8020
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLEES:
Wynn Rung, Jr.
Rowdy Smith

GENOVESE, Judge.

Appellants, Performance Wellhead & Frac Components, Inc.; Hookup and

Pipeline Construction, Inc.; and First Mercury Insurance Company, filed a Motion to

Stay Proceedings directly with this court. Specifically, Appellants seek an order

staying the trial court proceedings pending resolution of the captioned consolidated

appeals.

The underlying suits arise from a flash fire from which plaintiffs, Wynn Rung,

Jr., and Rowdy Smith, sustained damages. The captioned appeals, however, arise

from adverse judgments enforcing defense and indemnity demands against Appellants.

Because the defense and indemnity issues before this court are separate and distinct

from the liability issues before the trial court, we find that jurisdiction over the

liability issues, as well as any other issues not raised in the instant appeals, remains

with the trial court. La.Code Civ.P. art. 2088.

We find it significant to note that Appellants requested similar stays of the trial

court proceedings in November of 2011 and May of 2012. In both instances, the trial

court issued interlocutory judgments denying Appellants’ motions. Appellants failed

to seek supervisory review of these judgments. We further note that the trial judge, in

denying Appellants’ most recent request for a stay, stated that he was open to

reconsidering Appellants’ request to stay the trial court proceedings if a ruling had not

been issued by this court when the trial date approached. The trial date of these

consolidated matters has since been set for January 7, 2013. Thus, Appellants’ have

the available remedy to re-urge their motion to stay the proceedings with the trial

court.

For the reasons assigned, we hereby deny Appellants’ motion.

MOTION TO STAY PROCEEDINGS DENIED.

THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION.
Rule 2-16.3 Uniform Rules, Court of Appeal.