Samuel Turner, Pacific Employers Insurance Company, Intervening v. International Business MacHines Corporation, Inc. Schneider Tank Lines, Inc. Safety-Kleen Corporation, C.T. Corporation Systems
Docket: 93-6349
Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; May 11, 1994; Federal Appellate Court
Samuel Turner and Pacific Employers Insurance Company appealed a district court's summary judgment in favor of International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and others in a personal injury case arising from a hazardous materials spill. Turner, while employed by Schneider Tank Lines, Inc., alleged injuries due to negligent packaging by IBM employees at their New York facility. IBM subsequently filed a third-party complaint against Turner's employer and the delivery company, Safety-Kleen, Inc. Pacific Employers Insurance was allowed to intervene for reimbursement of workers' compensation benefits paid to Turner. IBM successfully argued for summary judgment, claiming immunity from tort liability under the Kentucky workers' compensation act. Turner and Pacific Employers opposed the motion but were ultimately unsuccessful. The district court's decision was based on the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, as determined by the standards outlined in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. The appellate court reviewed the summary judgment de novo and affirmed the district court's ruling, agreeing that IBM was immune from common law tort claims in this context, referencing relevant Kentucky case law. Consequently, the judgment was upheld, and the plaintiffs' motion to vacate the judgment was denied.