Avondale Shipyard Asbestos: Can Family Members Sue for Secondhand Exposure?

Did your father or spouse work at the Avondale Shipyard? While they were building the vessels that powered our nation, they may have unknowingly brought a deadly passenger home. Mesothelioma isn’t just a ‘worker’s disease’; it is a family tragedy caused by ‘take-home’ asbestos fibers. The landmark ruling in the Legendre case proves that Louisiana families have the power to hold industrial giants accountable—and keep their fight for justice in our local state courts.

The Legendre Case: A Sister’s Death from “Take-Home” Asbestos

For decades, workers at the Avondale Shipyard unknowingly brought toxic asbestos dust home on their clothing. In the case of the Legendre brothers, their father worked building tugboats for the U.S. government, using raw asbestos for engine room insulation. Tragically, their sister was exposed to these “sticky” fibers while doing the family laundry or greeting her father after work. Decades later, she died of mesothelioma—proof that the dangers of Avondale weren’t confined to the shipyard gates.

If your family has been affected by toxic exposure at a Louisiana shipyard, visit our main Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer page to learn about your legal options.

The four Legendre brothers filed a lawsuit against Huntington Ingalls, Inc. (formerly known as Avondale) in Louisiana state court. The Legendres claimed Avondale exposed their sister to asbestos, resulting in her death from mesothelioma. 

The Legendres’ father had worked at Avondale’s shipyard building tugs for the United States government. He used asbestos for insulation in the tugs’ engine rooms. The Legendres claimed asbestos had stuck to their father’s body and clothing, which exposed their sister to asbestos when he returned home from work. 

The Jurisdictional Battle: Why Corporations Fear Louisiana State Court

When the Legendre family filed their lawsuit, Huntington Ingalls (formerly Avondale) immediately tried to “remove” the case to Federal Court. Large corporations often prefer federal jurisdiction, hoping for a more favorable legal environment. They invoked the Federal Officer Removal Statute (28 U.S.C. § 1442), claiming they were merely following government orders while building tugboats. However, as our firm frequently argues, simply having a government contract does not give a company a “get out of jail free” card for safety failures.

Federal Officer Removal: Proving the Lack of a “Causal Nexus”

Avondale removed the lawsuit from Louisiana state court to federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 1442, the federal officer removal statute. The federal officer removal statute allows a lawsuit against an officer of the United States related to any act under color of their office to be removed to federal court. One of the requirements for removal to federal court is there must be a causal nexus between the federal officer’s actions and the claims in the lawsuit. 

The federal district court sent the case back to state court because there was a causal nexus between the actions and the plaintiff’s claims. An appeal of the ruling occurred, challenging this finding. 

The appellate court reviewed the district court’s order sending the case back to state court from federal court de novo, which means it did not have to defer to the district court’s decision. The appellate court explained the federal officer removal statute does not support removal of a claim to federal court where the defendants were government contractors who could have adopted safety measures plaintiffs claim would have prevented the injuries because the government did not limit implementation of such safety precautions. See Bartel v. Alcoa S.S. Co. In Bartel, the court found there was no nexus between plaintiffs’ claims in the lawsuit that their employers acted negligently around the use of asbestos and their actions under color of federal office because there was no evidence the government issued orders related to safety measures involving asbestos. 

Similarly, the Legendres presented evidence that although the government required the use of asbestos in building the tugs, it did not take any action to restrict Avondale’s safety practices. Additionally, Avondale did not present any evidence the government did to try to limit what safety measures it could have implemented. Therefore, the appellate court affirmed the district court’s order removing the case from federal court to state court because Avondale did not show the required causal nexus between its actions under color of their office and the claims the Legendres raised in their lawsuit, as required for federal jurisdiction under the federal officer removal statute. 

Understanding jurisdiction is crucial when pursuing legal action, as it can significantly impact the outcome of your case. While the Legendre brothers’ lawsuit against Huntington Ingalls, Inc. serves as an example of the complexities surrounding federal court jurisdiction, it also highlights the importance of demonstrating a causal nexus between the actions of federal officers and the claims in a lawsuit. Seeking guidance from a knowledgeable attorney can provide invaluable insight into navigating jurisdictional considerations and maximizing your chances of a favorable outcome in your legal proceedings.

Additional Sources: Legendre v. Huntington Ingalls, Inc (formerly known as Avondale). 

Article Written By Berniard Law Firm 

Additional Berniard Law Firm Article on Jurisdiction in Asbestos Case: Asbestos Lawsuit Demonstrates Why Asbestos Cases Move to Federal Court  & What is the “Substantial Factor Test” in Louisiana Asbestos and Mesothelioma Litigation?

What This Means for Louisiana Families

Large corporations like Avondale often try to move asbestos lawsuits into Federal Court, arguing they were operating under government contracts. They do this hoping for a more favorable ruling. However, as this case proves, Louisiana courts will force these companies back into State Court if they failed to implement basic safety measures for their workers. If your family is facing a massive corporation, you need an attorney who knows how to keep your case where it belongs.

Corporate giants like Huntington Ingalls will use every procedural trick in the book to avoid a Louisiana jury. But as the Legendre case demonstrates, those tricks don’t always work. If your family has been devastated by secondhand asbestos exposure from the Avondale Shipyard, you need a legal team that knows how to navigate the complexities of federal jurisdiction and toxic torts. Contact the Berniard Law Firm today for a free review of your family’s history.