NEW ORLEANS – A Pennsylvania insurance company is suing a business it insures, Huntington Ingalls, to determine the right to select counsel in several workplace injury cases against Avondale Industries, a shipyard Huntington owns.
Lamorak Insurance Co. filed a lawsuit Nov. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against Huntington Ingalls Inc., alleging breach of contract and seeking declaratory relief.
According to the complaint, Huntington Ingalls withdrew from a memorandum of understanding that allowed Lamorak the right to select defense council for a number of asbestos exposure cases facing Avondale Industries, a business Lamorak insures. Huntington’s withdrawal from this agreement prompted the breach of contract allegation, the suit says.
Lamorak seeks damages of more than $75,000 and enforcement of its right to choose counsel. It is represented by attorneys Judy Y. Barrasso, Stephen L. Miles and Bradley D. Cousins of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District Case number 2:15-cv-06265