Rodney Nash v. Crown Oilfield Services, Inc. and Starstone National Insurance Company

Summary

The Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit denied supervisory writs sought by Crown Oilfield Services, Inc. and Starstone National Insurance Company in a workers' compensation matter. The majority concluded that the criteria under Herlitz Construction Co., Inc. v. Hotel Investors of New Iberia, Inc. were not met, while Judge Edwards dissented and would have found good cause under La. R.S. 23:1121(B)(1) to refuse authorization for the claimant's choice of an initial orthopedic specialist.

Holdings

1. The supervisory writ was denied because the criteria set forth in Herlitz Construction Co., Inc. v. Hotel Investors of New Iberia, Inc. were not met.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the defendants established grounds for supervisory-writ relief from the Office of Workers' Compensation ruling.
2. Whether the employer showed good cause under La. R.S. 23:1121(B)(1) to refuse authorization for the claimant's choice of an initial specialist.

Disposition

writ_denied