Full Opinion

Judgment rendered Sept. 30, 2026. Application for rehearing may be filed within the delay allowed by Art. 2166, La. C.C.P. No. 56,894-CW No. 56,895-CW No. 56,896-CW (Consolidated Cases) COURT OF APPEAL SECOND CIRCUIT STATE OF LOUISIANA No. 56,894 GEORGE REAGAN HARDAWAY, Plaintiffs-Respondents NEELY HARDAWAY, CASSIE HARDAWAY, AND RAYLA HARDAWAY MCKISSACK Versus AEROPRES CORPORATION Defendant-Respondent ***** consolidated with ***** No. 56,895-CW JUANITRIK JONES AS THE Plaintiffs-Respondents ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF HER MINOR CHILD, KASON HAWK; TAMEKIA ALLUMS AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF HER MINOR CHILD, MAKEL HAWK; AND CHASITY HAWK AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF HER MINOR CHILD, TATYANA HAWK ALL ON HER BEHALF OF THE DECEASED, CHANCEY HAWK Versus AEROPRES CORPORATION Defendant-Respondent ***** consolidated with ***** No. 56,896-CW DANIEL PAYNE Plaintiff-Respondent Versus AEROPRES CORPORATION Defendant-Respondent ***** Appealed from the Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court for the Parish of Webster, Louisiana Trial Court Nos. 80,686; 80,687; 80,688 Honorable Frank H. Thaxton, III, Judge Ad Hoc ***** RONALD J. MICIOTTO, LLC Counsel for Plaintiffs- By: Ronald J. Miciotto Respondents, George Hardaway, Neely UNGLESBY LAW FIRM Hardaway, Cassie By: Lewis Owens Unglesby Hardaway, and Rayla Hardaway McKissack JOHN SCHUYLER MARVIN MORRIS & DEWITT, LLC Counsel for Plaintiffs- By: Josh L. Powell Respondents, Juanitrik Jones, Kason Hawk, UNGLESBY LAW FIRM Tatyana Hawk, and By: Lewis Owens Unglesby Chasity Hawk, Tameika Allums, Chancey Hawk and Makel Hawk, Daniel Payne JUGE, NAPOLITANO, RULI, Counsel for Defendant- PUTFARK & PITTMAN Respondent, Aeropres By: Jeffrey Charles Napolitano PETTIETTE, ARMAND, DUNKLEMAN, Counsel for Defendant- WOODLEY, and CROMWELL Applicant, XTO Energy By: Robert Dunkleman Valerie Ann DeLatte LISKOW & LEWIS By: Cherrell R. Sims Taplin Melanie N. Derefinko Trinity A. Morale ARMOUR LAW FIRM Counsel for Intervenor- By: Bonita Kay Preuett-Armour Respondent, National Fire Insurance Company ***** Before ROBINSON, MARCOTTE, and ELLENDER, JJ. MARCOTTE, J. These consolidated civil writs arise from the 26th Judicial District Court, Parish of Webster, the Honorable Frank Thaxton, III presiding. Defendant XTO Energy, Inc. (“XTO”) seeks review of the trial court’s denial of its motion for partial summary judgment on strict liability. The matter was granted to docket for arguments and briefing in accordance with La. C.C.P. art. 966(H). For the following reasons, we grant the writ, reverse the trial court’s denial of XTO’s motion for partial summary judgment on strict liability, and dismiss plaintiffs’ strict liability claims with prejudice. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY This litigation arises from a flash fire and explosion that occurred at a propane bulk storage and transportation facility (the “Facility”) owned by XTO, leased and operated by Aeropres Corporation (“Aeropres”), and located at 164 Marathon Tank Road in Cotton Valley, Louisiana. On May 9, 2022, Aeropres employees George Hardaway (“Hardaway”), Chancey Hawk (“Hawk”), and Daniel Payne (“Payne”) were transferring liquid propane from a storage tank into an Aeropres tanker truck when they heard a hissing sound and realized that a hose was leaking propane. The connection failed and the hose came loose, spewing over 200 pounds of liquid propane into the air. The propane instantly vaporized and ignited, resulting in an explosion that severely burned Hardaway, Hawk, and Payne. On June 30, 2022, Hawk died from his injuries. Payne, Hardaway and his family members, and Hawk’s surviving family separately filed petitions for damages, including a wrongful death and survival action in Hawk’s case, against Aeropres, making various claims, including strict liability; the three cases were consolidated by the trial court. Plaintiffs filed supplemental petitions adding XTO as a defendant, alleging the same claims against it. Plaintiffs said that XTO was the owner of the Facility and it supplied the liquid propane involved in the explosion to Aeropres through a pipeline it controlled and owned. Payne identified the cause of the flash fire, stating that a male coupling and hose assembly connected to the back of an Aeropres tanker failed. Payne claimed that the defects in the Facility subjected XTO to strict liability under Louisiana law. XTO answered the petitions and denied all claims. XTO filed a “Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Strict Liability.” XTO argued that, under Louisiana law, strict liability attached only in certain circumstances, none of which applied in this case. Plaintiffs opposed the motion. On November 7, 2025, the trial court signed a ruling denying XTO’s motion for partial summary judgment on strict liability. XTO seeks review of that ruling, and this court granted its writ to docket. DISCUSSION XTO’s single assignment of error states that the trial court erred in denying its motion for partial summary judgment on strict liability. Plaintiffs stated at oral argument that they no longer wish to pursue their strict liability claims against XTO and opposed its motion for partial summary judgment on strict liability to preserve their claims against Aeropres. The summary judgment procedure is designed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action. La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(2). The procedure is favored and shall be construed to accomplish these ends. Id. Appellate courts review summary judgments de novo under 2 the same criteria governing the district court’s consideration of whether summary judgment is appropriate. Seaberry v. GoAuto Ins. Co., 56,181 (La. App. 2 Cir. 7/16/25), 417 So. 3d 1197. Because plaintiffs have said that they are abandoning their strict liability claims against XTO, we reverse the trial court and grant XTO’s motion for partial summary judgment on strict liability. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court denying summary judgment is reversed, and judgment is entered granting partial summary judgment in favor of XTO Energy Inc. for its motion for partial summary judgment on strict liability. Plaintiffs’ strict liability claims against XTO Energy, Inc. are dismissed with prejudice. Costs of the appeal are assessed to plaintiffs. REVERSED; CLAIMS DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. 3