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460 So. 2d 1327

Tomlin v. Bush

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama

Decided November 7, 1984

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama · decided 1984-11-07

Applies 33 U.S.C. § 933

Relies on United States Steel Corporation v. Goodwin · Fillinger v. Foster

Decided 1984-11-07

WRIGHT, Presiding Judge.

¶1Charles Tomlin was injured on October 16, 1979, while employed by Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Sales, Inc., at its plant on Pinto Island in Mobile, Alabama. In September of 1980, Tomlin filed suit in Mobile County Circuit Court against co-employee Bush for damages from negligent injury. His wife, Judy Catherine Tomlin, joined the suit as plaintiff, seeking damages for loss of consortium. Plaintiffs alleged among other things that Bush was acting in a managerial capacity at the Kaiser facility at the time of the injury and was responsible for furnishing a reasonably safe place to work and safe equipment with which to work.

¶2On April 12, 1984, Bush filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the action against him was prohibited by 33 U.S.C. § 933(i) of the Federal Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA). Bush’s motion was granted and Tomlin appeals.

¶3Tomlin contends the LHWCA is not an exclusive remedy and that his action is not barred by 33 U.S.C. § 933(i).

¶4In Fillinger v. Foster, 448 So.2d 321 (Ala.1984), the Supreme Court of Alabama held that such an action is barred by 33 U.S.C. § 933(i) stating:

“We are of the opinion that the LHWCA and the law of Alabama [on worker’s compensation] are in serious conflict as to the maintenance of co-employee suits, and because that is the case, we hold that the federal law will preempt state law.” (Citations omitted.)

¶5Our review indicates that the facts and issues presented in this case are identical with those presented in Fillinger, and were determined therein adversely to the plaintiffs in this case. We therefore consider Fillingerto be dispositive of this appeal. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed. United States Steel Corp. v. Goodwin, 267 Ala. 612, 613, 104 So.2d 333, 334 (1958).

¶6AFFIRMED.

BRADLEY and HOLMES, JJ., concur.
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