Paz v. BP Exploration & Production, Inc. ( 2023 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA CEZAR PAZ, INDIVIDUALLY AND CIVIL ACTION ON BEHALF OF HIS MINOR CHILDREN, C.P., JR., L.P., AND K.P., Plaintiff VERSUS NO. 17-4557 BP EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION SECTION: “E” (4) INC., ET AL., Defendants ORDER AND REASONS Before the Court is a motion for summary judgment filed by BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP America Production Company, BP p.l.c., Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Transocean Holdings, LLC, Transocean Deepwater, Inc., and Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling, Inc. (collectively “Defendants”)1 against Cezar Paz, individually and on behalf of his minor children, C.P., Jr., L.P., and K.P. (“Plaintiff”). The motion was filed on March 28, 2023.2 Plaintiff’s opposition to the motion was due on April 4, 2023.3 As of the date of this Order and Reasons, no opposition to the instant motion has been filed, and Plaintiff has not moved for an extension of his deadline to file an opposition brief. Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is, therefore, unopposed. Although this dispositive motion is unopposed, summary judgment is not automatic, and the Court must determine whether Defendants have shown they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.4 1 R. Doc. 42. Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Transocean Holdings, LLC, Transocean Deepwater, Inc., and Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling, Inc. joined in the motion for summary judgment filed by BP Exploration & Production, Inc., BP America Production Company, and BP p.l.c. Id. at p. 1 n.1. 2 Id. 3 R. Doc. 42-7. 4 See, e.g., Johnson v. Pettiford, 442 F.3d 917, 918 (5th Cir. 2006); FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). Defendants’ instant motion is nearly identical to the one filed by Defendants, and granted by this Court, in other B3 cases.5 Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the Orders & Reasons issued in the cited B3 cases; IT IS ORDERED that the motion for summary judgment® is GRANTED. Judgment is granted in favor of Defendants BP Exploration & Production Inc., BP America Production Company, BP p.|.c., Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Transocean Holdings LLC, Transocean Deepwater, Inc., and Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling, Inc. and against Plaintiff Cezar Paz, individually and on behalf of his minor children, C.P., Jr., L.P., and K.P., on all claims. New Orleans, Louisiana, this 5th day of April, 2023. SUSIE tonga UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 5 See Davis v. BP Exploration & Production Inc., et al., Civ. A. 17-3141 at R. Doc. 48 (E.D. La. 7/5/22) (Morgan, J.); see also Brown v. BP Exploration & Production Inc., et al., Civ. A. 17-3101 at R. Doc. 59 (E.D. La. 11/18/22) (Morgan, J.). ®R. Doc. 42.