Fred Defrancesch, M.D., LLC et al v. Republic Fire & Casualty Insurance Company, No. 2:2013cv05583 - Document 83 (E.D. La. 2014)
Court Description: ORDER AND REASONS granting 62 Motion in Limine to Preclude Testimony and/or Evidence Regarding Mental Anguish, Emotional Distress, Inconvenience, or Loss of Enjoyment of Life. Signed by Judge Susie Morgan. (bwn)
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Fred Defrancesch, M.D., LLC et al v. Republic Fire & Casualty Insurance Company Doc. 83 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA FRED DEFRANCESCH, MD, LLC et al., Plaintiffs CIVIL ACTION VERSUS NO. 13-5583 REPUBLIC FIRE & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY, Defendant SECTION “E” ORDER AND REASONS Before the Court is defendant Republic Fire and Casualty Insurance Company's ("Republic") Motion in Limine to Preclude Testimony and/or Evidence Regarding Mental Anguish, Emotional Distress, Inconvenience, or Loss of Enjoyment of Life.1 Plaintiff, Fred DeFrancesch, M.D., LLC ("Plaintiff"), opposes Republic's motion.2 Republic moves to preclude any testimony or evidence at trial regarding mental anguish, emotional distress, inconvenience, or loss of enjoyment of life. Plaintiff, an LLC, has requested that the jury be instructed regarding general damages, "such as loss of enjoyment of life and mental anguish."3 Plaintiff also requests that the jury determine an amount of general damages in its proposed jury verdict form.4 Louisiana federal courts have consistently held that a juridical entity such as an LLC or a corporation can suffer only economic damage. See e.g. Walle Corp v. Rockwell Graphics Systems, Inc., 1992 WL 245963, at *5 (E.D. La. Sept. 21, 1992) ("As an entity designed to produce profits, the only type of loss a corporation can suffer is economic"). 1 R. Doc. 62. 2 R. Doc. 71. 3 R. Doc. 58, p. 18. 4 R. Doc. 52, p. 3. Dockets.Justia.com Thus, an LLC "cannot suffer non-pecuniary damages in the form of, inter alia, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, loss of enjoyment, inconvenience and, in general, mental and emotional damages." Kelly v. Porter, Inc., 687 F. Supp. 2d 632, 638 (E.D. La. 2010). Because Plaintiff cannot recover general damages for mental anguish, emotional distress, inconvenience, or loss of enjoyment of life, the Court finds it appropriate to preclude any testimony or evidence related to such damages. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Republic's motion in limine precluding testimony and/or evidence regarding mental anguish, emotional distress, inconvenience, or loss of enjoyment of life be and hereby is GRANTED. New Orleans, Louisiana, this 25th day of July, 2014. _____________________________ SUSIE MORGAN UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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