Case ID: so2d_574/html/0363-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "LEMMON, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

AETNA CASUALTY & SURETY COMPANY, et al. v. HANOVER INSURANCE COMPANY, et al.
    No. 90-CC-2653.
    Supreme Court of Louisiana.
    Feb. 8, 1991.
   Granted. There is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the employee notified the employer or the employer’s insurer of the suit filed by the employee against the third party tortfeasor as required by La.R.S. 23:1102. The legal issue discussed by the court of appeal, that is, whether there is a duty of the third party tortfeasor or its insurer to give notice to the employer or its insurer of the employee’s tort suit, should not be addressed until the case has been tried on the merits. Therefore, that issue is pretermitted. The judgment denying summary judgment is affirmed. The case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings.

LEMMON, J.,

concurs. The court of appeal granted certiorari in this case to decide a legal issue which would not terminate the litigation as to any party. Cf. Herlitz Construction Co. v. Hotel Investors, 396 So.2d 878 (La.1981). Although I have doubt as to the correctness of the court of appeal on the legal issue, it is appropriate to defer addressing this issue until after the trial on the merits required by the intermediate court’s decision.