2016 Updates to the Code of Civil Procedure

In 2016, the Louisiana legislature amended or enacted 16 articles of the Code of Civil Procedure. The text of the articles is copied below. These changes are incorporated in our edition of the 2017 Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure. Copies are available through www.GulfCoastLegalPublishing.com and Amazon.

Art. 10. Jurisdiction over statusLouisiana Code of Civil Procedure 2017
A. A court which is otherwise competent under the laws of this state has jurisdiction of the following actions or proceedings only under the following conditions:
(1) An adoption proceeding in accordance with Title XII of the Children’s Code, if the surrendering parent of the child, a prospective adoptive parent, the adoptive parent or parents, or any parent of the child has been domiciled in this state for at least eight months, or if the child is in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services; and an adoption proceeding in accordance with Civil Code Article 212, if either party to the adoption of an adult is domiciled in this state.
(2) An emancipation proceeding if the minor is domiciled in this state.
(3) An interdiction proceeding brought pursuant to the provisions of the Louisiana Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act.
(4) A tutorship or curatorship proceeding if the minor or absentee, as the case may be, is domiciled in this state or has property herein.
(5) A proceeding to obtain the legal custody of a minor if he is domiciled in, or is in, this state.
(6) An action to annul a marriage if one or both of the parties are domiciled in this state.
(7) An action of divorce, if, at the time of filing, one or both of the spouses are domiciled in this state.
(8) Unless otherwise provided by law, an action to establish parentage and support or to disavow parentage if the child is domiciled in or is in this state, and was either born in this state, born out of state while its mother was domiciled in this state, or acknowledged in this state. However, regardless of the location of the child or its place of birth, an action to disavow may be brought if the person seeking to disavow was domiciled in this state at the time of conception and birth and is presumed to be its parent under the laws of this state.
(9) A proceeding for support of an adult child with a disability, as provided in R.S. 9:315.22(E), if he is domiciled in, or is in, this state.
B. For purposes of Subparagraphs (6) and (7) of Paragraph A of this Article, if a spouse has established and maintained a residence in a parish of this state for a period of six months, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that he has a domicile in this state in the parish of such residence.
Amended by Acts 1968, No. 172, §1; Acts 1980, No. 764, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1009, §4, eff. Jan. 1, 1991; Acts 1999, No. 1243, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 1999, No. 1263, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 567, §2; Acts 2001, No. 1064, §1; Acts 2008, No. 351, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2015, No. 379, §2, eff. Aug. 1, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 333, §2.

Art. 1458. Interrogatories to parties; procedures for use
Each interrogatory shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath, unless it is objected to, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated in lieu of an answer. The written answer or reasons for objection to each interrogatory shall immediately follow a restatement of the interrogatory to which the answer or objection is responding. The answers are to be signed by the person making them. When interrogatories are served on a specific party, that party shall verify he has read and confirmed the answers and objections. The party upon whom the interrogatories have been served shall serve a copy of the answers, and objections if any, within thirty days after the service of the interrogatories. The court may allow a shorter or longer time. The party submitting the interrogatories may move for an order under Article 1469 with respect to any objection to or other failure to answer an interrogatory.
Acts 1976, No. 574, §1; Acts 1993, No. 416, §1; Acts 2010, No. 682, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2016, No. 132, §1.

Art. 1462. Production of documents and things; entry upon land; procedure

A. The request under Article 1461 may, without leave of court, be served upon the plaintiff after commencement of the action and upon any other party with or after service of the petition upon that party. The request shall set forth the items to be inspected either by individual item or by category, and describe each item and category with reasonable particularity. The request shall specify a reasonable time, place, and manner of making the inspection and performing the related acts. The request may specify the form or forms in which information, including electronically stored information, is to be produced.
B.(1) The party upon whom the request is served shall serve a written response within thirty days after service of the request. The court may allow a shorter or longer time. With respect to each item or category, the response shall state that inspection and related activities will be permitted as requested, unless the request is objected to, in which event the reasons for objection shall be stated. If objection is made to part of an item or category, the part shall be specified. The written answer or reasons for objection to each request for production of documents shall immediately follow a restatement of the request for production of documents to which the answer or objection is responding. The party submitting the request may move for an order under Article 1469 with respect to any objection to or other failure to respond to the request, or any part thereof, or any failure to permit inspection as requested. If objection is made to the requested form or forms for producing information, including electronically stored information, or if no form was specified in the request, the responding party shall state in its response the form or forms it intends to use.
(2) A party need not provide discovery of electronically stored information from sources that the party identifies as not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. On motion to compel discovery or for a protective order, the party from whom discovery is sought shall show that the information is not reasonably accessible because of undue burden or cost. If that showing is made, the court may nonetheless order discovery from such sources if the requesting party shows good cause. The court may specify conditions for the discovery considering the criteria and limitations of Article 1426.
C. A party who produces documents for inspection shall produce them as they are kept in the usual course of business or shall organize and label them to correspond with the categories of the request. If a request does not specify the form or forms for producing information, including electronically stored information, a responding party shall produce the information in a form or forms in which it is ordinarily maintained or in a form or forms that are reasonably usable. When electronically stored information is produced, the responding party shall identify the specific means for electronically accessing the information.
D. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, a party need not produce the same information, including electronically stored information, in more than one form.
E. If the requesting party considers that the production of designated electronically stored information is not in compliance with the request, the requesting party may move under Article 1469 for an order compelling discovery, and in addition to the other relief afforded by Article 1469, upon a showing of good cause by the requesting party, the court may order the responding party to afford access under specified conditions and scope to the requesting party, the representative of the requesting party, or the designee of the court to the computers or other types of devices used for the electronic storage of information to inspect, copy, test, and sample the designated electronically stored information within the scope of Articles 1422 and 1425.
Acts 1976, No. 574, §1. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 451, §1; Acts 2007, No. 140, §1; Acts 2010, No. 185, §1; Acts 2010, No. 682, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2014, No. 655, §1; Acts 2016, No. 132, §1.

Art. 1465.1. Requests for release of medical records
A. Any party may serve upon the plaintiff or upon any other party whose medical records are relevant to an issue in the case a request that the plaintiff or other authorized person sign a medical records release authorizing the health care provider to release to the requesting party the medical records of the party whose medical condition is at issue. The release shall be directed to a specific health care provider, shall authorize the release of medical records only, and shall state that the release does not authorize verbal communications by the health care provider to the requesting party.
B. The party upon whom the request is served, within thirty days after service of the request, shall provide to the requesting party releases signed by the plaintiff or other authorized person unless the request is objected to, in which event the reasons for the objection shall be stated. The party requesting the release of medical records may move for an order under Article 1469 with respect to any objection or other failure to respond to the request.
C. The party requesting the medical records shall provide to the party whose medical records are being sought or to his attorney, if he is represented by an attorney, a copy of the request directed to the health care provider, which copy shall be provided contemporaneously with the request directed to the health care provider.
D. The party requesting the medical records shall provide to the party whose medical records are being sought or to his attorney, within seven days of receipt, a copy of all documents obtained by the requesting party pursuant to the release.
Acts 1993, No. 823, §1; Acts 2016, No. 132, §1.

Art. 1467. Requests for admission; answers and objections
A. Each matter of which an admission is requested shall be separately set forth. The matter is admitted unless, within thirty days after service of the request, or within such shorter or longer time as the court may allow, the party to whom the request is directed serves upon the party requesting the admission a written answer or objection addressed to the matter, signed by the party or by his attorney. The written answer or reasons for objection to each request for admission shall immediately follow a restatement of the request for admission to which the answer or objection is responding. If objection is made, the reasons therefor shall be stated. The answer shall specifically deny the matter or set forth in detail the reasons why the answering party cannot truthfully admit or deny the matter. A denial shall fairly meet the substance of the requested admission, and when good faith requires that a party qualify his answer or deny only a part of the matter of which an admission is requested, he shall specify so much of it as is true and qualify or deny the remainder. An answering party may not give lack of information or knowledge as a reason for failure to admit or deny unless he states that he has made reasonable inquiry and that the information known or readily obtainable by him is insufficient to enable him to admit or deny. A party who considers that a matter of which an admission has been requested presents a genuine issue for trial may not, on that ground alone, object to the request; he may, subject to the provisions of Article 1472, deny the matter or set forth reasons why he cannot admit or deny it.
B. The party who has requested the admissions may move to determine the sufficiency of the answers or objections. Unless the court determines that an objection is justified, it shall order that an answer be served. If the court determines that an answer does not comply with the requirements of this rule, it may order either that the matter is admitted or that an amended answer be served. The court may, in lieu of these orders, determine that final disposition of the request be made at a pretrial conference or at a designated time prior to trial. The provisions of Article 1469 apply to the award of expenses incurred in relation to the motion.
Acts 1976, No. 574, §1; Acts 2010, No. 682, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2016, No. 132, §1.

TITLE IV.
FOREIGN JUDGMENTS
Art. 2541. Execution of foreign judgments

A. A party seeking recognition or execution by a Louisiana court of a judgment or decree of a court of the United States or a territory thereof, or of any other state, or of any foreign country may bring an ordinary proceeding against the judgment debtor in the proper Louisiana court, to have the judgment or decree recognized and made the judgment of the Louisiana court.
B. A duly authenticated copy of the judgment or decree must be annexed to the petition.
C. A judgment, decree, or order of a court of the United States or any other court that is entitled to full faith and credit in this state may also be enforced pursuant to R.S. 13:4241.
Acts 1985, No. 464, §2; Acts 2016, No. 132, §1.

Art. 2642. Assertion of defenses; appeal
A. Defenses and procedural objections to an executory proceeding may be asserted either through an injunction proceeding to arrest the seizure and sale as provided in Articles 2751 through 2754, or a suspensive appeal from the order directing the issuance of the writ of seizure and sale, or both.
B. A suspensive appeal from an order directing the issuance of a writ of seizure and sale shall be taken within fifteen days of service of the notice of seizure as provided in Article 2721. The appeal is governed by the provisions of Articles 2081 through 2086, 2088 through 2122, and 2124 through 2167, except that the security therefor shall be for an amount exceeding by one-half the balance due on the debt secured by the mortgage or privilege sought to be enforced, including principal, interest to date of the order of appeal, and attorney fees, but exclusive of court costs.
Amended by Acts 1964, No. 4, §1; Acts 2016, No. 132, §1.

CHAPTER 4. EXECUTION OF WRIT OF SEIZURE AND SALE
Art. 2721. Seizure of property; notice

A. The sheriff shall seize the property affected by the mortgage, security agreement, or privilege immediately upon receiving the writ of seizure and sale.
B. The sheriff shall serve upon the defendant a written notice of the seizure of the property. Such notice of seizure shall be accomplished by personal service or domiciliary service. The notice of seizure shall reproduce in full the provisions of Article 2642 and include information concerning the availability of housing counseling services, as well as the time, date, and place of the sheriff’s sale, in accordance with the form provided in R.S. 13:3852(B).
C. Since secured collateral subject to a security interest under Chapter 9 of the Louisiana Commercial Laws need only be reasonably described in the debtor’s security agreement, the sheriff shall have no liability to the debtor or to any third party for wrongful or improper seizure of the debtor’s or third party’s property of the same general type as described in the debtor’s security agreement. If necessary, the sheriff shall request the secured creditor to identify the property subject to the security agreement and shall act pursuant to the secured creditor’s instructions. The debtor’s and other owner’s sole remedy for the wrongful or improper seizure of the property shall be for actual losses sustained under R.S. 10:9-625 against the secured creditor on whose behalf and pursuant to whose instructions the sheriff may act.
Acts 1989, No. 137, §18, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 2001, No. 128, §17, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2006, No. 498, §1; Acts 2013, No. 339, §2; Acts 2016, No. 132, §1.

Art. 3396.9. Interdict or unemancipated minor
A. If a successor whose concurrence is required is an unemancipated minor, the concurrence may be made on his behalf by the administrator of his estate or his natural tutor, as appropriate, without the need for a formal tutorship proceeding or concurrence of an undertutor.
B. If a successor whose concurrence is required is an interdict, the concurrence may be made on his behalf by the curator without the need for court authorization in the interdiction proceeding or concurrence of the undercurator.
Acts 2001, No. 974, §1; Acts 2016, No. 86, §2.

CHAPTER 2. INJUNCTION
Art. 3601. Injunction, grounds for issuance; preliminary injunction; temporary restraining order

A. An injunction shall be issued in cases where irreparable injury, loss, or damage may otherwise result to the applicant, or in other cases specifically provided by law; provided, however, that no court shall have jurisdiction to issue, or cause to be issued, any temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction against any state department, board, or agency, or any officer, administrator, or head thereof, or any officer of the state of Louisiana in any suit involving the expenditure of public funds under any statute or law of this state to compel the expenditure of state funds when the director of such department, board, or agency or the governor shall certify that the expenditure of such funds would have the effect of creating a deficit in the funds of said agency or be in violation of the requirements placed upon the expenditure of such funds by the legislature.
B. No court shall issue a temporary restraining order in cases where the issuance shall stay or enjoin the enforcement of a child support order when the Department of Children and Family Services is providing services, except for good cause shown by written reasons made a part of the record.
C. During the pendency of an action for an injunction the court may issue a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or both, except in cases where prohibited, in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.
D. Except as otherwise provided by law, an application for injunctive relief shall be by petition.
E. The irreparable injury, loss, or damage enumerated in Paragraph A of this Article may result from the isolation of an individual over the age of eighteen years by any other individual, curator, or mandatary, including but not limited to violations of Civil Code Article 2995 or Code of Civil Procedure Article 4566(J).
Amended by Acts 1969, No. 34, §2; Acts 2004, No. 765, §1, eff. July 6, 2004; Acts 2016, No. 110, §2, eff. May 19, 2016.

Art. 4551. Judgment

A. In the judgment of interdiction, the court shall:
(1) Appoint a curator.
(2) Appoint an undercurator, unless an undercurator is not required by law.
(3) State that the powers of the curator commence only upon qualification.
(4) Direct the clerk of court to record the judgment in the conveyance and mortgage records of the parish where it was rendered.
(5) Set forth the name, domicile, age, and current address of the defendant.
B. In addition, a judgment of limited interdiction shall confer upon the limited curator only those powers necessitated by the interests of the limited interdict to be protected through limited interdiction and shall state that the limited interdict retains the capacity of a natural person except as expressly limited by the judgment.
C. In addition, a judgment granting or extending temporary or preliminary interdiction shall set forth the date of termination.
Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §3, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2016, No. 122, §1.

Art. 4556. Ancillary interdiction procedure

A. Upon producing proof of his appointment, a conservator who was appointed by a court outside of Louisiana may appear in court on behalf of the protected person without qualifying as a curator according to the law of Louisiana when no curator has been appointed in this state. In accordance with the authority set forth in his letters, such a conservator may perform acts affecting the protected person’s property in Louisiana when authorized by the court of the parish in which the property is located. Once so authorized, the conservator shall act in the same manner and in accordance with the same procedures as a curator appointed by a court in Louisiana. Whenever the action of an undercurator would be necessary, the court shall appoint an undercurator ad hoc.
B. In order to take possession of the protected person’s property, or to remove any of it from the state, a conservator appointed by a court outside Louisiana shall file a petition for authority to do so in the court of the parish in which any of the property is located. The court shall render a judgment granting the authority prayed for if the foreign conservator alleges in the petition that there are no Louisiana creditors of the protected person, or that all such known creditors have been paid, and if the foreign conservator attaches to the petition an irrevocable power of attorney appointing a resident of this state to receive service of process in any action or proceeding brought in Louisiana to enforce a claim against the protected person, or against any of the protected person’s property located in this state.
Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §3, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2016, No. 333, §2.

Art. 4565. Undercurators

A.(1) The court shall appoint as undercurator the qualified person best able to fulfill the duties of his office. The person appointed as undercurator qualifies by taking an oath to discharge faithfully the duties of his office.
(2) At any time prior to qualification, the court may revoke the appointment for good cause and appoint another qualified person.
(3) If a person fails to qualify within ten days from his appointment or within the period specified by the court, the court on its own motion or on motion of any interested person, may revoke the appointment and appoint another qualified person. The delay allowed for qualification may be extended by the court for good cause.
B. The undercurator shall:
(1) Notify the court when the curator has failed to qualify timely for office.
(2) Have free access to the interdict and to all records relating to the interdict relevant to his office.
(3) Review all accounts and personal reports filed by the curator.
(4) Notify the court when he has reason to believe that the curator has failed to perform any duties imposed by law, including the duties to file necessary accounts and personal reports, and to maintain adequate security.
(5) Approve or disapprove any transactions that require his concurrence.
(6) Move to appoint a successor for a curator who becomes disqualified or whose office terminates.
(7) Move to appoint a successor for a curator who violates any of the provisions of Article 4566.
C. The undercurator shall have no duties, either express or implied, other than those set forth in this Article and in Civil Code Article 393.
Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §3, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2016, No. 110, §2, eff. May 19, 2016.

Art. 4566. Management of affairs of the interdict

A. Except as otherwise provided by law, the relationship between interdict and curator is the same as that between minor and tutor. The rules provided by Articles 4261 through 4269, 4270 through 4274, 4301 through 4342, and 4371 apply to curatorship of interdicts. Nevertheless, provisions establishing special rules for natural tutors and parents shall not apply in the context of interdiction.
B. A curator who owns an interest in property with the interdict or who holds a security interest or lien that encumbers the property of the interdict may acquire the property, or any interest therein, from the interdict upon compliance with Article 4271, with prior court authorization, and when it would be in the best interest of the interdict. Except for good cause shown, the court shall appoint an independent appraiser to value the interest to be acquired by the curator.
C. A curator may accept donations made to the interdict. A curator shall not make donations of the property of the interdict except as provided by law.
D. A curator may place the property of the interdict in trust in accordance with the provisions of Article 4269.1. The trust shall be subject to termination at the option of the interdict upon termination of the interdiction, or if the interdict dies during the interdiction, at the option of his heirs or legatees.
E. A curator shall inform the undercurator reasonably in advance of any material changes in the living arrangements of the interdict and any transactions materially affecting his person or affairs.
F. A curator shall not establish or move the place of dwelling of the interdict outside this state without prior court authorization.
G. A curator may not consent to an abortion or sterilization of the interdict without prior court authorization.
H. Neither a curator nor a court shall admit or commit an interdict to a mental health treatment facility except in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 28:50 through 64.
I. A curator appointed in an order of temporary interdiction shall have no authority to admit the defendant to a residential or long- term care facility in the absence of good cause shown at a contradictory hearing.
J. A curator shall allow communication, visitation, and interaction between an interdict who is over the age of eighteen years and a relative of the interdict by blood, adoption, or affinity within the third degree, or another individual who has a relationship with the interdict based on or productive of strong affection if it would serve the best interest of the interdict.
Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §3, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2016, No. 110, §2, eff. May 19, 2016.

Art. 4568. Removal of curator or undercurator

On motion of any interested person, or on its own motion, the court may remove a curator or undercurator from office for good cause. Good cause may include but not be limited to a violation of Article 4566(J). Unless otherwise ordered by the court, removal of the curator or undercurator by the court is effective upon qualification of the appointed successor.
Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 25, §3, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2016, No. 110, §2, eff. May 19, 2016.

Art. 4570. Cause of action for visitation with the interdict

A. Any relative of an interdict by blood, adoption, or affinity within the third degree, or an individual who has a relationship with the interdict based on or productive of strong affection may file a rule to show cause seeking visitation, communication, or interaction with an interdict who is over the age of eighteen years.
B. Any person filing a cause of action pursuant to Paragraph A of this Article may request an expedited hearing on the cause of action, and upon showing of good cause, shall be entitled to an expedited hearing.
C. Good cause shall include but is not limited to a showing that the interdict suffers from an illness or condition because of which he is not likely to survive beyond six months.
Acts 2016, No. 110, §2, eff. May 19, 2016.