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James Carnez Burns v. Loomis Armored US, LLC, Lavette Dooley Gay, Arch Insurance Company

Supreme Court of Louisiana January 07, 2026

Chief Deputy Clerk of Court For the Court

The Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana

JAMES CARNEZ BURNS

VS.

LOOMIS ARMORED US, LLC, LAVETTE

DOOLEY GAY, ARCH INSURANCE COMPANY

No. 2025-C-01635 _ _ _ _ _ _

IN RE: Loomis Armored, US, LLC - Applicant Defendant; Applying For Writ Of Certiorari, Parish of Caddo, 1st Judicial District Court Number(s) 644,046, Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, Number(s) 56,689-CA;

_ _ _ _ _ _

January 07, 2026

Writ application granted. See per curiam. Penzato, J., dissents in part and assigns reasons.

JDH

JLW

JBM

PDG

JMG

CRC

01/07/2026 "See News Release 001 for any Concurrences and/or Dissents."

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SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

No. 2025-C-01635

JAMES CARNEZ BURNS

VS.

LOOMIS ARMORED US, LLC, LAVETTE DOOLEY GAY, ARCH

INSURANCE COMPANY

On Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, Parish of Caddo

PER CURIAM

Writ granted. Applicant Loomis Armored US, LLC seeks review of a trial court's dismissal of its claims against Asphalt Transport, Inc. on summary judgment as well as review of the appellate opinion which affirmed the ruling. The opinion of the appellate court affirmed the district court judgment granting summary judgment "in favor of third-party defendants, Asphalt Transit, Inc. and James Carnez Burns." Mr. Burns, the driver of the ATI semi-truck, was not a party to the summary judgment filed by ATI. Further, both drivers acknowledge the existence of a third vehicle which precipitated the accident. The trial court erred in apportioning fault through a motion for summary judgment. Ordinarily, the determination of whether negligence exists is a question of fact. Freeman v. Teague, 37,932 (La. App. 2 Cir. 12/10/03), 862 So.2d 371, 373. Cases involving a question of negligence ordinarily are not appropriate for summary judgment. Id. This principle extends to questions of comparative fault. Id. However, where reasonable minds cannot differ, a question of comparative fault is a question of law that may be resolved by summary judgment. Id. Here, where three vehicles could possibly be determined to bear some fault, the apportionment of fault should be determined by the trier of fact.

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Accordingly, the rulings of the lower courts are reversed, and this matter is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.

JUDGMENT REVERSED AND REMANDED.

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James Carnez Burns v. Loomis Armored US, LLC, Lavette Dooley Gay, Arch Insurance Company
(Jan 7, 2026)