Case ID: so2d_567/html/1107-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WATSON, Justice,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Michael J. GREEN, United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. INDUSTRIAL HELICOPTERS INC. and Doug Wright.
    No. 90-C-1403.
    Supreme Court of Louisiana.
    Oct. 19, 1990.
   In re Industrial Helicopters; — Defendants); Applying for Writ of Certiorari and/or Review; to the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, Number CA88-1365; Parish of Lafayette 15th Judicial District Court Div. “J” Number 857722.

Prior report: 560 So.2d 684.

Granted. The case is remanded to the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. The Third Circuit is ordered to hold an en banc hearing and determine whether this decision is in conflict with Duhon v. Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., 554 So.2d 1270 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1989), and if so to determine which view is correct.

WATSON, J., concurs in the remand and assigns reasons.

WATSON, Justice,

concurring in the remand:

In my view, remand of this matter does not imply that Duhon v. Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., 554 So.2d 1270 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1989), writ denied, 559 So.2d 1360 (La.1990), was correctly decided.

When there is a death on the high seas, the Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) preempts any conflicting state law. Offshore Logistics, Inc. v. Tallentire, 477 U.S. 207, 106 S.Ct. 2485, 91 L.Ed.2d 174 (1986). There is a distinction between a pilot, who is performing a maritime transportation function, and a platform worker/plane passenger. See Smith v. Pan Air Corp., 684 F.2d 1102 (5th Cir.1982). The federal courts do not have exclusive jurisdiction over personal injuries on the outer continental shelf. Gulf Offshore Co. v. Mobil Oil Corp., 453 U.S. 473, 101 S.Ct. 2870, 69 L.Ed.2d 784 (1981). Strict liability under Louisiana’s codal law applies to injuries on the outer continental shelf off the shores of Louisiana. Olsen v. Shell Oil Company, 365 So.2d 1285 (La.1978).

The instant case, Green v. Industrial Helicopters, Inc., appears to have reached a correct resolution. LSA-C.C. art. 2317 applies to injuries received on the outer continental shelf off the coast of Louisiana.

I respectfully concur in the remand.