Case Name: Eric BORCIK, Plaintiff-Appellant v. CROSBY TUGS, L.L.C., Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-06-01
Citations: 858 F.3d 936
Docket Number: No. 15-30435
Parties: Eric BORCIK, Plaintiff-Appellant v. CROSBY TUGS, L.L.C., Defendant-Appellee
Judges: Before REAVLEY, JOLLY, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter 3d Series
Volume: 858
Pages: 936–937

Head Matter:
Eric BORCIK, Plaintiff-Appellant v. CROSBY TUGS, L.L.C., Defendant-Appellee
No. 15-30435
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
FILED June 1, 2017
Robert Broussard Landry, III, Esq., Baton Rouge, LA, James Louis Arrue- barrena, Esq., New Orleans, LA, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Miles Paul Clements, Heather Ann Mc-Arthur, Esq., Frilot, L.L.C., New Orleans, LA, for Defendant-Appellee.
Before REAVLEY, JOLLY, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Eric Borcik brought this whistleblower suit against Crosby Tugs, alleging that Crosby had fired him in retaliation for reporting environmental violations. Under Louisiana law, Borcik can only recover if he reported the violation in "good faith." La. Stat. Ann. § 30:2027. The case was tried to a jury, which was instructed that "good faith" meant that "the plaintiff had an honest belief that an environmental violation occurred and that he did not report it either to seek an unfair advantage or to try to harm his employer or another employee." The jury found via special interrogatory that Borcik did not report the violation in good faith, resulting in a defense verdict. Borcik appealed, arguing that the district court erred by failing to instruct the jury correctly on the definition of "good faith."
On appeal, we determined that we were not in a position to make an Erie guess as to the meaning of "good faith" and certified the following question to the Louisiana Supreme Court:
What is the meaning of "good faith" as that term is used in the Louisiana Environmental Quality Act, Louisiana Revised Statutes 30:2027?
Borcik v. Crosby Tugs, L.L.C., 656 Fed. Appx. 681, 685 (5th Cir. 2016). The Louisiana Supreme Court accepted the question and answered it as follows:
The term "good faith," as used in R.S. 30:2027, means an employee is acting with an honest belief that a violation of an environmental law, rule, or regulation occurred.
Borcik v. Crosby Tugs, L.L.C., 2016-1372, — So.3d -, 2017 WL 1716226 (La. 5/3/17).
Based on the definition of the term provided by the Louisiana Supreme Court, the district court erred by instructing the jury that "good faith" required more than "an honest belief that a violation of an environmental law, rule, or regulation occurred."
Accordingly, we remand for such orders and further proceedings as the district court, in its discretion, deems necessary and appropriate.
REMANDED.