LA STATELouisiana Court of Appeal
2001

Snearl v. Mercer

780 So. 2d 563Louisiana Court of Appeal • Decided 2001Enforced
Change OrderCited 49 times

HOLDING

A dump truck carrying workers hit a defective bridge railing in Louisiana, injuring passengers. The state highway department knew the railing was unsafe but failed to fix it. A jury found the state 90% liable and awarded over $9 million in damages. This case shows that property owners and government agencies can face massive liability when they know about hazards and don't fix them.

KEY FINDINGS

Change Order

Document all safety hazards you discover on job sites immediately and notify the property owner or general contractor in writing—failure to address known dangers creates liability exposure

FULL COURT OPINION