Opinion ID: 1801721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: facts

Text: On April 25, 1989, John Paul Younger, while employed by Marshall Industries, was injured offshore on the M/V MR. JEFFERY. As a result of the injury he was taken to the Hamilton Medical Center Hospital in Lafayette, where he was hospitalized for several days. On April 27, 1989, Younger was taking a shower in the hospital room bathroom. While he was sitting on a fold-out shower seat connected to the wall, the seat collapsed under him, causing subsequent injury. On October 16, 1989, Younger and his wife filed a Petition for Damages, naming Marshall Industries and the M/V MR. JEFFERY as defendants. On May 17, 1990, Marshall Industries (MI) filed a Third Party Demand against Hamilton Medical Center Hospital (HMCH), alleging it was entitled to indemnity or contribution in the event it was found liable to plaintiff. On May 25, 1990, over one year from the date of the accident with the shower chair, plaintiffs filed a Second Supplemental and Amending Petition, seeking to add HMCH as a defendant in the suit. HMCH filed an Exception of Prescription, asserting that because plaintiffs had not sought to add HMCH until May 25, 1990, over one year from the alleged shower accident which had occurred on April 27, 1989, plaintiffs' cause of action against HMCH had prescribed. In response, the plaintiffs argued that MI and HMCH are solidary obligors for the injuries occurring at the hospital, and suit timely filed against MI interrupts prescription running against HMCH. The trial judge sustained the exception of prescription, dismissing the action against HMCH. Plaintiffs appealed and the court of appeal affirmed. [1] We granted plaintiffs' writ application to resolve the issue. [2]