STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
21-374
B.D.
VERSUS
M.T.
**********
ON WRIT OF REVIEW FROM THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ACADIA, NO. 2020-10864 HONORABLE KRISTIAN D. EARLES, DISTRICT JUDGE
CHARLES G. FITZGERALD JUDGE
Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Chief Judge, Jonathan W. Perry and Charles G. Fitzgerald, Judges.
Cooks, S., Chief Judge, concurs and assigns written reasons.
APPEAL CONVERTED TO APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT; WRIT DENIED. Jennifer O. Robinson Law Offices of Jennifer O. Robinson 345 Doucet Road, Suite 219 Lafayette, Louisiana 70503 (337) 237-0503 Counsel for Defendant/Appellant: M.T.
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr. Attorney at Law 210 North Washington Street Abbeville, Louisiana 70510 (337) 898-8332 Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee: B.D. FITZGERALD, Judge.
The issue before us is whether an avowal action was timely filed under
La.Civ.Code art. 198.
On March 17, 2016, M.T. (the Mother) gave birth to J.S.G.1 Nearly five years
later, B.D. filed a petition to establish paternity, alleging that he was J.S.G.’s
biological father. In response, the Mother filed several exceptions, including the
peremptory exceptions of peremption and no right of action.
The hearing on the exceptions was limited to the arguments of counsel. After
listening to the arguments, the trial court overruled the exceptions in open court. A
written judgment was signed on March 9, 2021. This appeal by the Mother followed.
In her sole assignment of error, the Mother asserts that the trial court erred in
overruling her “Exception of Peremption/Prescription and/or No Right of Action[.]”
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Subject Matter Jurisdiction
A trial court judgment that overrules an exception, as in the case before us, is
not a final judgment. Barnett & Assoc., LLC v. Whiteside, 20-362 (La.App. 5 Cir.
12/11/20), 308 So.3d 1218. Rather, it is a non-appealable interlocutory judgment.
Id. We therefore lack appellate jurisdiction.
The proper procedural vehicle to seek review of a non-appealable
interlocutory judgment is an application for supervisory writ. La.Code Civ.P. art.
2201. While this court has the discretion to convert the appeal of an interlocutory
judgment into an application for supervisory writ, this should only be done if the
motion for appeal has been filed within the thirty-day period allowed for the filing
1 The initials of the parties and minor child are used pursuant to Rules 5–1 and 5–2 of the Uniform Rules of Louisiana Courts of Appeal. of a writ application. Duckering v. Rapides Healthcare Sys., 15-1049 (La.App. 3 Cir.
3/2/16), 187 So.3d 548. See also Uniform Rules—Courts of Appeal, Rule 4–3.
The trial court here overruled the Mother’s exceptions in open court on
February 24, 2021. The ruling was reduced to a written judgment signed on March
9, 2021. Notice of signing was mailed on March 15, 2021. And the very next day,
on March 16, 2021, the Mother filed her motion for appeal. Because the Mother
filed her motion for appeal within thirty days of notice of judgment, we will convert
her appeal into an application for supervisory writ.
Exception of Peremption
The objection of peremption is raised by the peremptory exception. La.Code
Civ.P. art. 927(A)(2). “Peremption has been likened to prescription; namely, it is
prescription that is not subject to interruption or suspension.” Rando v. Anco
Insulations, Inc., 08-1163, 08-1169, p. 20 (La. 5/22/09), 16 So.3d 1065, 1082.
Importantly, the rules governing the burden of proof as to prescription also
apply to peremption. Id. This means that the burden of proving prescription or
peremption “lies with the party asserting it unless the plaintiff’s claim is barred on
its face, in which case the burden shifts to the plaintiff.” Bailey v. Khoury, 04-620,
p. 9 (La. 1/20/05), 891 So.2d 1268, 1275 (citation omitted).
At the hearing on the exception of prescription or peremption, evidence may
be introduced to support or to controvert the exception. La.Code Civ.P. art. 931. “If
no evidence is introduced, then the reviewing court simply determines whether the
trial court’s finding was legally correct.” Dugas v. Bayou Teche Water Works, 10-
1211, pp. 4-5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/6/11), 61 So.3d 826, 830. “In the absence of
evidence, the exception of prescription [or peremption] must be decided on the facts
alleged in the petition, which are accepted as true.” Denoux v. Vessel Mgmt. Servs.,
2 Inc., 07-2143, p. 6 (La. 5/21/08), 983 So.2d 84, 88.
Here, the record is clear that no evidence was introduced at the hearing on the
Mother’s exception of peremption. Therefore, the standard of our review is de novo;
and in determining the appropriateness of the trial court’s judgment, we will limit
our review to the facts alleged in B.D.’s petition, and the alleged facts will be
accepted as true.
In his petition, B.D. pleads a cause of action under La.Civ.Code art. 198. That
article states:
A man may institute an action to establish his paternity of a child at any time except as provided in this Article. The action is strictly personal.
If the child is presumed to be the child of another man, the action shall be instituted within one year from the day of the birth of the child. Nevertheless, if the mother in bad faith deceived the father of the child regarding his paternity, the action shall be instituted within one year from the day the father knew or should have known of his paternity, or within ten years from the day of the birth of the child, whichever first occurs.
In all cases, the action shall be instituted no later than one year from the day of the death of the child.
The time periods in this Article are peremptive.
Id. (emphasis added).
Article 198 establishes one of the five separate causes of action that are
relevant to the filiation of a child. The action under Article 198 is commonly referred
to as the avowal action. The avowal action is brought by a man to prove his paternity
of a child. The action may be filed at any time unless (1) the child is presumed to
be the child of another man, or (2) the child has died. These two circumstances are
respectively addressed in paragraphs two and three of Article 198. And if either
circumstance is established, the filing of the avowal action becomes subject to a
3 peremptive time period. Id.
Turning back to B.D.’s petition. The petition states that B.D. believes he is
J.S.G.’s biological father. The petition also contains the facts that support B.D.’s
belief as to his paternity. On the other hand, the petition does not allege any facts
that would trigger the peremptive time periods in paragraphs two or three of Article
198. Therefore, on the face of the petition, B.D.’s avowal action is not barred,
meaning that the Mother had the burden of proving peremption at the hearing on this
exception.
Before going further, it bears repeating that no evidence was introduced at the
hearing on this exception. No witnesses were called to testify; no exhibits were
admitted into evidence; and no stipulations of fact were recited to the court.
The Mother nevertheless asserts in her writ application that the minor child is
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
21-374
B.D.
VERSUS
M.T.
**********
ON WRIT OF REVIEW FROM THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ACADIA, NO. 2020-10864 HONORABLE KRISTIAN D. EARLES, DISTRICT JUDGE
CHARLES G. FITZGERALD JUDGE
Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Chief Judge, Jonathan W. Perry and Charles G. Fitzgerald, Judges.
Cooks, S., Chief Judge, concurs and assigns written reasons.
APPEAL CONVERTED TO APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT; WRIT DENIED. Jennifer O. Robinson Law Offices of Jennifer O. Robinson 345 Doucet Road, Suite 219 Lafayette, Louisiana 70503 (337) 237-0503 Counsel for Defendant/Appellant: M.T.
Anthony J. Fontana, Jr. Attorney at Law 210 North Washington Street Abbeville, Louisiana 70510 (337) 898-8332 Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee: B.D. FITZGERALD, Judge.
The issue before us is whether an avowal action was timely filed under
La.Civ.Code art. 198.
On March 17, 2016, M.T. (the Mother) gave birth to J.S.G.1 Nearly five years
later, B.D. filed a petition to establish paternity, alleging that he was J.S.G.’s
biological father. In response, the Mother filed several exceptions, including the
peremptory exceptions of peremption and no right of action.
The hearing on the exceptions was limited to the arguments of counsel. After
listening to the arguments, the trial court overruled the exceptions in open court. A
written judgment was signed on March 9, 2021. This appeal by the Mother followed.
In her sole assignment of error, the Mother asserts that the trial court erred in
overruling her “Exception of Peremption/Prescription and/or No Right of Action[.]”
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Subject Matter Jurisdiction
A trial court judgment that overrules an exception, as in the case before us, is
not a final judgment. Barnett & Assoc., LLC v. Whiteside, 20-362 (La.App. 5 Cir.
12/11/20), 308 So.3d 1218. Rather, it is a non-appealable interlocutory judgment.
Id. We therefore lack appellate jurisdiction.
The proper procedural vehicle to seek review of a non-appealable
interlocutory judgment is an application for supervisory writ. La.Code Civ.P. art.
2201. While this court has the discretion to convert the appeal of an interlocutory
judgment into an application for supervisory writ, this should only be done if the
motion for appeal has been filed within the thirty-day period allowed for the filing
1 The initials of the parties and minor child are used pursuant to Rules 5–1 and 5–2 of the Uniform Rules of Louisiana Courts of Appeal. of a writ application. Duckering v. Rapides Healthcare Sys., 15-1049 (La.App. 3 Cir.
3/2/16), 187 So.3d 548. See also Uniform Rules—Courts of Appeal, Rule 4–3.
The trial court here overruled the Mother’s exceptions in open court on
February 24, 2021. The ruling was reduced to a written judgment signed on March
9, 2021. Notice of signing was mailed on March 15, 2021. And the very next day,
on March 16, 2021, the Mother filed her motion for appeal. Because the Mother
filed her motion for appeal within thirty days of notice of judgment, we will convert
her appeal into an application for supervisory writ.
Exception of Peremption
The objection of peremption is raised by the peremptory exception. La.Code
Civ.P. art. 927(A)(2). “Peremption has been likened to prescription; namely, it is
prescription that is not subject to interruption or suspension.” Rando v. Anco
Insulations, Inc., 08-1163, 08-1169, p. 20 (La. 5/22/09), 16 So.3d 1065, 1082.
Importantly, the rules governing the burden of proof as to prescription also
apply to peremption. Id. This means that the burden of proving prescription or
peremption “lies with the party asserting it unless the plaintiff’s claim is barred on
its face, in which case the burden shifts to the plaintiff.” Bailey v. Khoury, 04-620,
p. 9 (La. 1/20/05), 891 So.2d 1268, 1275 (citation omitted).
At the hearing on the exception of prescription or peremption, evidence may
be introduced to support or to controvert the exception. La.Code Civ.P. art. 931. “If
no evidence is introduced, then the reviewing court simply determines whether the
trial court’s finding was legally correct.” Dugas v. Bayou Teche Water Works, 10-
1211, pp. 4-5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/6/11), 61 So.3d 826, 830. “In the absence of
evidence, the exception of prescription [or peremption] must be decided on the facts
alleged in the petition, which are accepted as true.” Denoux v. Vessel Mgmt. Servs.,
2 Inc., 07-2143, p. 6 (La. 5/21/08), 983 So.2d 84, 88.
Here, the record is clear that no evidence was introduced at the hearing on the
Mother’s exception of peremption. Therefore, the standard of our review is de novo;
and in determining the appropriateness of the trial court’s judgment, we will limit
our review to the facts alleged in B.D.’s petition, and the alleged facts will be
accepted as true.
In his petition, B.D. pleads a cause of action under La.Civ.Code art. 198. That
article states:
A man may institute an action to establish his paternity of a child at any time except as provided in this Article. The action is strictly personal.
If the child is presumed to be the child of another man, the action shall be instituted within one year from the day of the birth of the child. Nevertheless, if the mother in bad faith deceived the father of the child regarding his paternity, the action shall be instituted within one year from the day the father knew or should have known of his paternity, or within ten years from the day of the birth of the child, whichever first occurs.
In all cases, the action shall be instituted no later than one year from the day of the death of the child.
The time periods in this Article are peremptive.
Id. (emphasis added).
Article 198 establishes one of the five separate causes of action that are
relevant to the filiation of a child. The action under Article 198 is commonly referred
to as the avowal action. The avowal action is brought by a man to prove his paternity
of a child. The action may be filed at any time unless (1) the child is presumed to
be the child of another man, or (2) the child has died. These two circumstances are
respectively addressed in paragraphs two and three of Article 198. And if either
circumstance is established, the filing of the avowal action becomes subject to a
3 peremptive time period. Id.
Turning back to B.D.’s petition. The petition states that B.D. believes he is
J.S.G.’s biological father. The petition also contains the facts that support B.D.’s
belief as to his paternity. On the other hand, the petition does not allege any facts
that would trigger the peremptive time periods in paragraphs two or three of Article
198. Therefore, on the face of the petition, B.D.’s avowal action is not barred,
meaning that the Mother had the burden of proving peremption at the hearing on this
exception.
Before going further, it bears repeating that no evidence was introduced at the
hearing on this exception. No witnesses were called to testify; no exhibits were
admitted into evidence; and no stipulations of fact were recited to the court.
The Mother nevertheless asserts in her writ application that the minor child is
presumed to be the child of another man, thereby triggering the one-year peremptive
period set forth in paragraph two of Article 198. In support, she points to documents
attached to her trial memorandum, including a copy of the child’s birth certificate.2
However, documents attached to a trial memorandum do not constitute record
evidence that can be considered in our de novo review. Denoux, 983 So.2d 84.
In short, the Mother failed to meet her burden of proving that B.D.’s avowal
action was untimely. The trial court correctly overruled the Mother’s peremptory
exception of peremption.
2 At the time of J.S.G.’s birth on March 17, 2016, the signing of the birth certificate by the father was a means of accomplishing a formal acknowledgment of a child. La.Civ.Code art. 196 (2006).
4 Exception of No Right of Action
“When the facts alleged in the petition provide a remedy under the law to
someone, but the plaintiff who seeks the relief is not the person in whose favor the
law extends the remedy, the proper objection is no right of action, or want of interest
in the plaintiff to institute the suit.” Howard v. Administrators of Tulane Educ. Fund,
07-2224, p. 16 (La. 7/1/08), 986 So.2d 47, 59.
The objection of no right of action—like the objection of peremption—is
raised by the peremptory exception. La.Code Civ.P. art. 927(A)(6). And here too,
because no evidence was introduced at the hearing on this exception, the appropriate
standard of review is de novo. Distributors Corp., Inc. v. LUBA Workers’ Comp.,
13-0749 (La. 10/15/13), 144 So.3d 825.
To this end, “An appellate court considering an exception of no right of action
should focus on whether the particular plaintiff has a right to bring the suit and is a
member of the class of persons that has a legal interest in the subject matter of the
litigation, assuming the petition states a valid cause of action for some person.” Id.
at 833.
As noted previously, B.D.’s petition states a valid cause of action under
La.Civ.Code art. 198: B.D. believes he is J.S.G.’s biological father based on certain
facts, and all this is alleged in the petition. In addition, “the avowal action is strictly
personal to the alleged father.” La.Civ.Code art. 198 cmt. (a). The essence of the
avowal action is that an alleged biological father, such as B.D., has a legal interest
in establishing his paternity of a child. Thus, on the face of the petition, B.D. has a
legal right to bring the avowal action, meaning that the Mother had the burden of
proving otherwise at the hearing on her exception. But without supporting evidence,
the Mother failed to meet her burden of proof.
5 In sum, the trial court correctly overruled the Mother’s peremptory exception
of no right of action.
DECREE
The application for supervisory writ filed by M.T. is denied. All costs
associated with the writ application are assessed to M.T.
APPEAL CONVERTED TO APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT; WRIT DENIED.
6 STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
21-374 B.D. VERSUS M.T.
Cooks, S., Chief Judge, concurring with reasons. Chief Judge Cooks joins the majority and writes separately to emphasize that
the trial court delayed the proceedings to give M.T. an opportunity to testify but she
did not appear at the hearing to offer testimony in support of her exception. M.T.’s
recitation in her exception that she ‘offers, files, and introduces the following
Exhibits in support of the motion’ included the purported offering of J.S.G.’s birth
certificate. At the hearing, none of M.T.’s referenced documents were in fact
formally submitted for acceptance and inclusion into the record of the proceedings.