GREGORY JONES, JR. * NO. 2022-CA-0154
VERSUS * COURT OF APPEAL THE BOOT BAR & GRILL, C. * NAPCO, INC., CRAIG NAPOLI, FOURTH CIRCUIT NANCY NAPOLI, ALINE * NAPOLI, ROBERT HARRIS, STATE OF LOUISIANA JOHN DOE *******
APPEAL FROM CIVIL DISTRICT COURT, ORLEANS PARISH NO. 2014-11174, DIVISION “D” Honorable Nakisha Ervin-Knott, Judge ****** Judge Dale N. Atkins ****** (Court composed of Judge Joy Cossich Lobrano, Judge Paula A. Brown, Judge Dale N. Atkins)
G. Karl Bernard KARL BERNARD LAW, LLC 1615 Poydras Street, Suite 101 New Orleans, LA 70112
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT
Joanne P. Rinardo Denia S. Aiyegbusi Melissa M. Lessell DEUTSCH KERRIGAN, L.L.P. 755 Magazine Street New Orleans, LA 70130
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE
AFFIRMED October 5, 2022 DNA JCL PAB
Plaintiff/Appellant, Gregory Jones, Jr. (“Mr. Jones”), seeks review of the
trial court’s November 30, 2021 judgment, which granted the Motion for Summary
Judgment filed by Defendant/Appellee, CJN Inc. d/b/a The Boot (“CJN”), and
dismissed with prejudice all claims against CJN. The November 30, 2021
judgment also granted CJN’s Motion to Strike portions of Mr. Jones’ affidavit and
exhibits attached to his opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment. For the
following reasons, we affirm.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This case arises out of a physical altercation between Mr. Jones and Robert
Harris Elledge (“Mr. Elledge”) that occurred late on November 22, 2013. On that
evening, Mr. Jones, who was a student at Loyola University, went with his friend
Jonathan Malbrue (“Mr. Malbrue”) to the Boot, a bar near Loyola and Tulane
Universities located at Zimple and Broadway Streets. After spending some time
inside the Boot, Mr. Jones and Mr. Malbrue walked outside where they
encountered Wynn O’Donnell (“Ms. O’Donnell”), a Tulane University student
who was waiting for a pizza from a restaurant called the Dough Bowl. Although
the Dough Bowl was located inside the Boot, it had an outdoor window for takeout
1 service, and it was a separate entity from the Boot. All parties agree that Mr. Jones
approached Ms. O’Donnell and engaged her in conversation. Ms. O’Donnell was
accompanied that night by her boyfriend, Mr. Elledge. Mr. Jones and Mr. Elledge
exchanged words regarding Mr. Jones’ interaction with Ms. O’Donnell, and
following soon thereafter the two men engaged in a scuffle. During this
altercation, Mr. Jones suffered injuries to his eye. The manager of the Dough
Bowl separated the men, and Ms. O’Donnell and Mr. Elledge subsequently left the
scene.
MR. JONES’ PETITION FOR DAMAGES
On November 20, 2014, Mr. Jones filed a Petition for Damages (“Petition”)
naming the Boot, the purported corporation owning the Boot; the individual
owners of the Boot; Mr. Elledge, alleging him to be an employee of the Boot;1 and
John Doe, a supposed employee of the Boot whom Mr. Jones contends held him
from behind while Mr. Elledge punched him. A previous Motion for Summary
Judgment dismissed the individual owners; and Mr. Jones subsequently amended
his Petition several times to correct the names of the parties, including substituting
an unknown legal successor for Mr. Elledge, who is deceased.2
CJN’S JULY 14, 2021 MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
On July 14, 2021, CJN filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, contending
that it was entitled to summary judgment because Mr. Jones would be unable to
show that Mr. Elledge was working for the Boot at the time of the altercation.
Regarding John Doe, CJN noted that Mr. Jones had neither identified him nor
1 Mr. Jones initially listed Mr. Elledge as “Mr. Harris.”
2 According to the record before this Court, Mr. Elledge died by suicide
sometime after the events in this case occurred.
2 demonstrated that he was an employee of the Boot. Alternatively, CJN argued that
whether Mr. Elledge or John Doe were working the night of the subject incident
was immaterial “because an alleged assault off CJN’s premises would have been
totally unrelated to [their] duties and, thus, outside the course and scope of [their]
employment with CJN.” In sum, CJN argued that “[a]ny claims of negligence
against CJN must be dismissed because no on-duty Boot employee was involved in
the altercation.”
CJN also attached numerous exhibits to its Motion for Summary Judgment,
including (1) Mr. Jones’ January 25, 2016 deposition; (2) Mr. Malbrue’s
September 28, 2015 and January 22, 2016 affidavits; (3) Mr. Elledge’s August 13,
2015 affidavit; (4) Ms. O’Donnell’s August 30, 2015 affidavit; (5) Mr. Brinich’s
June 7, 2016 affidavit; (6) Chad Maiuri’s (“Mr. Maiuri”) September 3, 2015
affidavit; (7) Mr. Maiuri’s January 18, 2017 deposition; and (8) Aline Napoli’s
(“Ms. Napoli”) February 2, 2016 affidavit. Each of these exhibits is discussed in
turn.
(1) Mr. Jones’ January 25, 2016 Deposition
CJN attached Mr. Jones’ January 25, 2016 deposition as an exhibit to its
Motion for Summary Judgment. At the deposition, Mr. Jones testified that he
encountered Ms. O’Donnell and Mr. Elledge at the Dough Bowl’s outdoor tables.
When asked whether Mr. Elledge had been inside the Boot prior to the altercation,
Mr. Jones answered, “I [do not] know.” Mr. Jones further explained that “[t]he first
time that [he] saw [Mr. Elledge] was when [Mr. Elledge] approached [him] when
[he] was having a conversation with [Ms. O’Donnell].”
When asked why he presumed that Mr. Elledge worked for the Boot on the
night of the subject incident, Mr. Jones responded that “one of the employees told
3 [him] that [Mr. Elledge] was working at The Boot.” He described the employee
who provided the information as “[o]ne of the bouncers” and as “a large white
male” whose height he estimated to be six feet, two inches. In particular, Mr. Jones
testified that the employee “told [him] that [Mr. Elledge’s] name was Harris and
that he does work at The Boot.” However, when asked whether the employee told
him that Mr. Elledge had worked that evening, Mr. Jones answered, “[N]o.”
Regarding John Doe, Mr. Jones testified that he turned and looked at a man
who grabbed him from behind during the altercation and that the man was wearing
a Boot t-shirt, so he assumed that the man was an employee. He admitted he had
not seen the man inside the Boot earlier that evening, and he did not know if the
man was on duty at the time of the altercation.
(2) Mr. Malbrue’s September 28, 2015 and January 22, 2016 Affidavits
While in his initial, September 28, 2015 affidavit Mr. Malbrue stated that
both Mr. Elledge and the unknown man who held Mr. Jones were wearing Boot
employee t-shirts, he admitted in his subsequent, January 22, 2016 affidavit that he
had no firsthand knowledge if the man who fought with Mr. Jones was working at
the Boot that night or at the time of the fight. Further, he stated that he had no
knowledge if the person who broke up the fight, whom he stated was wearing a
Boot t-shirt, was an employee or was working there that night.
(3) Mr. Elledge’s August 13, 2015 Affidavit
CJN attached Mr. Elledge’s August 13, 2015 affidavit to its Motion for
Summary Judgment. Therein, Mr. Elledge stated that while he was employed by
the Boot on the date of the subject incident, he “was off that evening” and “spent
the evening with [his] girlfriend and some other friends.” Additionally, he attested
4 that “[n]o [other] Boot employee was involved in the brief altercation” and that
“[n]o one was holding [Mr.] Jones . . . .”
(4) Ms. O’Donnell’s August 30, 2015 Affidavit
In her affidavit, Ms. O’Donnell attested that on the night of the subject
altercation, she “spent the entire evening with” her then-boyfriend, Mr. Elledge.
Though she identified Mr. Elledge as an employee of the Boot, she stated that
“[h]e had been off from work all that day and evening.” Additionally, she provided
that “[a]t no time during the brief altercation, did [she] see any other person grab or
hold [Mr.] Jones.”
(5) Mr. Brinich’s June 7, 2016 Affidavit
In his affidavit, Mr. Brinich identified himself as the manager of the Dough
Bowl. He attested that CJN did not own the Dough Bowl. He provided that he
knew Mr. Elledge and Ms. O’Donnell from his job at the Dough Bowl.
Mr. Brinich stated that he was working on the night of the subject incident
and that Mr. Elledge and Ms. O’Donnell were waiting for a pizza in front of the
convenience store attached to the Boot prior to the altercation. Further, Mr. Brinich
attested that Mr. Elledge “was not working that night and was on a date with” Ms.
O’Donnell. He stated that he “observed no one holding [Mr. Jones] during the
altercation” and “observed no on-duty Boot employee involved in the altercation.”
He declared that he broke up the altercation between Mr. Jones and Mr. Elledge
and was wearing a Dough Bowl t-shirt at the time.
(6) Mr. Maiuri’s September 3, 2015 Affidavit
CJN attached both the deposition and the affidavit of Mr. Maiuri as exhibits
to its Motion for Summary Judgment. In his September 3, 2015 affidavit, Mr.
Maiuri identified himself as the general manager of the Boot on the night of the
5 altercation. He attested that as part of his general manager duties, he scheduled the
work shifts of the employees and that Mr. Elledge did not work on the night of the
subject altercation because he had not scheduled Mr. Elledge to work.
Mr. Maiuri stated that “[t]he Dough Bowl was not part of [t]he Boot.” He
further explained that he found out about the fight from Mr. Brinich after it
occurred. He declared that “[n]o on-duty Boot employee was involved in the
incident as they would have reported any altercation to” him.
(7) Mr. Mauri’s January 18, 2017 Deposition
Likewise, in his deposition, Mr. Maiuri testified that while he was the
general manager of the Boot and its attached convenience store, he had no
authority over the Dough Bowl. He stated that the Dough Bowl had a table outside
its walk-up window with benches.
Mr. Maiuri testified that the Boot “uniform” consisted of a navy blue t-shirt
with “The Boot” and “Staff” written in white on the front and “Staff” written in
white on the back. Further, he stated that he told his employees not to wear their
shirts when not working, but the employee manual did not mention this. He also
noted that the Boot sells t-shirts with its name on it, and some sold at that time
were blue with white writing on them.
Regarding Mr. Elledge, Mr. Maiuri stated that he was employed as a door
person by the Boot but was not working on the night of the altercation. Mr. Maiuri
stated that the Boot usually had two or three security men who worked per night.
He explained that he did not file an incident report or report the subject altercation
to the police because it did not happen at the Boot and his security personnel were
not involved in breaking up the fight.
6 (8) Ms. Napoli’s February 2, 2016 Affidavit
Attached to CJN’s Motion for Summary Judgment was the February 2, 2016
affidavit of Ms. Napoli. Therein, she identified herself as “a current officer for
CJN, Inc., which owns and operates The Boot,” explaining that she has “been
involved in the business since 1986[.]” Ms. Napoli identified the Dough Bowl as a
separate entity from the Boot.
Regarding shirts with the Boot logo, she attested that the Boot did not have a
policy whereby “(1) an employee may not wear a shirt with a Boot logo when not
working or when no longer employed, (2) must change out of the shirt when his or
her shift has ended, (3) that the shirt may not be given away to a non-employee, or
(4) that the shirt must be returned to the Boot when the individual is no longer
employed[.]”
Additionally, Ms. Napoli stated in her affidavit that the Boot has a policy
requiring on-duty employees to report any involvement in an altercation with a
customer to the manager on duty upon penalty of termination of employment. She
identified Mr. Maiuri as the manager on duty on the night of the subject
altercation.
As to the security guards or “bouncers,” Ms. Napoli stated that, at the time
of her affidavit, the Boot had employed the same bouncers for almost five years,
identifying them as “African-American and over 6’ in height.” She also declared
that the Boot did not employ any Caucasian bouncers at the time of the subject
incident.
7 Mr. JONES’ AUGUST 19, 2021 OPPOSITION TO CJN’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Mr. Jones filed an Opposition to CJN’s Motion for Summary Judgment
(“Opposition”) on August 19, 2021. Therein, he asserted that “[t]here exists a
material issue of fact as to whether [CJN is] vicariously liable under the doctrine of
respondeat superior[.]” In support of his Opposition, Mr. Jones attached his
affidavit, which was dated August 19, 2021. In pertinent part, the affidavit stated:
17. [Mr. Jones] asked Ms. O’Donnell if she were a student at Loyola. In response, Ms. O’Donnell smiled and told him that she was enrolled at Tulane.
....
19. [Mr. Jones] heard someone yell at him from behind, “What are you doing talking to her?”
22. [Mr.] Elledge yelled angrily at [Mr.] Jones, telling him to “leave.”
27. [An] unidentified individual yelled at [Mr.] Elledge and instruct[ed] him to “leave.”
30. Before leaving, [Mr. Jones] spoke with another Boot employee at the scene. He was told that the guy that hit him was “Harris” and that he was employed by The Boot.
34. On January 24, 2014, [Mr.] Elledge was charged with Battery and was arraigned. See Exhibit P-1.
37. On January 20, 2016, [Mr. Jones], through his attorney, requested the opportunity to depose [Mr.] Elledge. See Exhibit P-2.
8 ....
40. [Mr. Jones’] attorney[] made several attempts to serve a Notice of Deposition on [Ms.] O’Donnell but [was] unsuccessful. See Exhibit P-3.
41. [The] Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office attempted to serve Ms. O’Donnell at the Superdome during her college graduation ceremony.
42. The Sheriff was unsuccessful.
43. Upon information and belief, Ms. O’Donnell relocated to California.
Mr. Jones also attached multiple exhibits to his Opposition, including a May
4, 2016 “New Orleans Municipal Court Case Chronology Report” concerning Mr.
Elledge (P-1); a January 20, 2016 e-mail from counsel for Mr. Jones to counsel for
CJN asking to depose Mr. Elledge and Ms. O’Donnell (P-2); and a May 17, 2017
letter from counsel for Mr. Jones to the Clerk of Court for Orleans Parish Civil
District Court requesting the issuance of a subpoena to Ms. O’Donnell (P-3).
CJN’S SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 REPLY IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
On September 21, 2021, CJN filed a “Reply in Further Support of Motion
for Summary Judgment” (“Reply”). In the Reply, CJN put forth, in part, a “Motion
to Strike Portions of [Mr.] Jones’ Affidavit and Exhibit[s] P[-]1[, P-2, and] P[-]3
Submitted with Opposition Memorandum” (“Motion to Strike”). In particular, CJN
sought to strike portions of Mr. Jones’ August 19, 2021 affidavit (Paragraphs 17,
19, 22, 27, and 30), contending that they constituted incompetent summary
judgment evidence because they were inadmissible hearsay. CJN also argued that
other portions of Mr. Jones’ affidavit (Paragraphs 34, 37, 40-43) should be struck
because they were not based on his personal knowledge. Further, CJN sought to
strike Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3 attached to Mr. Jones’ Opposition and asserted
9 that these were also incompetent pieces of evidence for summary judgment
because they were not “authenticated by [Mr.] Jones or even identified as true and
correct copies of the documents they purport to be.” In sum, CJN argued that those
portions of Mr. Jones’ affidavit and Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3 should be struck and
disregarded for purposes of the Motion for Summary Judgment.
October 27, 2021 HEARING ON CJN’s MOTION
The trial court conducted a hearing on the Motion for Summary Judgment
on October 27, 2021, and orally found that CJN “met its burden in establishing that
it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” The trial court noted that CJN had
“provided evidence that its employee was off duty at the time the altercation
occurred and that the altercation occurred outside of the premises” but that Mr.
Jones had not provided “anything [to] rebut[] [CJN]’s motion . . . .” Regarding
CJN’s Motion to Strike, the trial court stated that “[the subject portions of the
affidavit to which CJN objected are] based on assumptions and not personal
knowledge, even though they are in the document entitled Affidavit. So because of
that, the affidavit and those other exhibits that are not properly attached, they will
be stricken from the record.” At the close of the hearing, the trial court orally
granted CJN’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
NOVEMBER 30, 2021 JUDGMENT
In a November 30, 2021 judgment, the court granted CJN’s Motion for
Summary Judgment and also struck several paragraphs of Mr. Jones’ affidavit and
Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3 filed in support of his Opposition. The judgment stated,
in pertinent part:
After considering the Motion for Summary Judgment and accompanying Memorandum in Support and all exhibits thereto, the Opposition Memorandum and all exhibits thereto, the Reply
10 Memorandum, and the undisputed facts, applicable law, and for reasons orally assigned at the hearing;
(1) IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Motion to Strike Portions of Jones’ Affidavit and Exhibit[s] P1-P3 Submitted with Opposition Memorandum as filed by CJN, Inc. be and is hereby GRANTED, and accordingly that Paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 27, 30, 34, 37, 40-43 of the Affidavit and Exhibits P1-P3 are stricken;
(2) IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Defendant, CJN, Inc. d/b/a The Boot, be and is hereby GRANTED; and, accordingly;
(3) IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that all of Gregory Jones, Jr.’s claims against CJN, Inc. d/b/a The Boot and The Boot Bar & Grill are dismissed with prejudice; and
(4) IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that this constitutes a Final Judgment
Mr. Jones’ timely appeal of the judgment follows.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
In his sole assignment of error, Mr. Jones contends that the trial court erred
in granting summary judgment in favor of CJN because “such [a] determination
required the weighing of evidence, which is impermissible on summary judgment.”
Though he does not specifically list it as an assignment of error, Mr. Jones also
argues in his appellate brief that the trial court erred by granting CJN’s Motion to
Strike. We begin our discussion with the standard of review and the principles
applicable to the summary judgment procedure.
DISCUSSION
SUMMARY JUDGMENT PRINCIPLES
“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). It
11 “is favored and shall be construed to accomplish these ends.” Id. See also Citron v.
Gentilly Carnival Club, Inc., 2014-1096, p. 10 (La. App. 4 Cir. 4/15/15), 165 So.3d
304, 311-12. “After an opportunity for adequate discovery, a motion for summary
judgment shall be granted if the motion, memorandum, and supporting documents
show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact and that the mover is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law.” La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(3).
An appellate court applies the de novo standard of review in examining the
trial court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment and utilizes “the same
criteria that govern the trial court’s determination of whether summary judgment is
appropriate.” Knox v. Elite Prot. Sols. & Willie’s Chicken Shack, LLC, 2021-0419,
p. 9 (La. App. 4 Cir. 10/13/21), ___ So.3d ___, ___, 2021 WL 4771758, at *4
(quoting Pilet v. Pilet Distribs., 2020-0319, p. 5 (La. App. 4 Cir. 12/30/20), 312
So.3d 1154, 1159). “Thus, appellate courts ask the same questions the trial court
does in determining whether summary judgment is appropriate: whether there is
any genuine issue of material fact, and whether the mover is entitled to judgment
as a matter of law.” Hood v. Cotter, 2008-0215, 2008-0237, p. 9 (La. 12/2/08), 5
So.3d 819, 824 (citing Smith v. Our Lady of the Lake Hosp., 1993-2512, p. 26 (La.
7/5/94), 639 So.2d 730, 750).
On a motion for summary judgment, “[t]he burden of proof rests with the
mover.” La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(1). The party seeking summary judgment has the
burden of proving there is no genuine issue of material fact. Suire v. Lafayette
City-Par. Consol. Gov’t, 2004-1459, 1460, 1466, pp. 26-27 (La. 4/12/05), 907
So.2d 37, 56 (citing La. C.C.P. art. 966(C)(2); Champagne v. Ward, 2003-3211
(La. 1/19/05), 893 So.2d 773, 776). If the movant satisfies the initial burden, the
burden shifts to the party opposing summary judgment to present factual support
12 sufficient to show he will be able to satisfy the evidentiary burden at trial. Id.; see
also La. High Sch. Athletics Ass’n, Inc. v. State, 2012-1471, p. 18 (La. 1/29/13),
107 So.3d 583, 598.
“However, if the mover will not bear the burden of proof at trial on the
matter that is before the court on the motion for summary judgment, the mover’s
burden on the motion does not require him to negate all essential elements of the
adverse party’s claim, action, or defense, but rather, to point out to the court that
there is an absence of factual support for one or more elements essential to the
adverse party’s claim, action, or defense.” Knox, 2021-0419, p. 9, ___ So.3d at
___, 2021 WL 4771758, at *5 (quoting Pilet, 2020-0319, p. 6, 312 So.3d at 1159).
“It is only after the motion has been made and properly supported that the burden
shifts from the mover to the non-moving party.” Id., 2021-0419, p. 10, ___ So.3d
at ___, 2021 WL 4771758, at *5 (quoting Pilet, 2020-0319, p. 6, 312 So.3d at
1159). Thereafter, “the adverse party [must] produce factual support sufficient to
establish the existence of a genuine issue of material fact or that the mover is not
entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(1). The adverse
party may not rely on mere allegations or denials to defeat a motion for summary
judgment but must provide specific facts showing that a genuine issue remains for
trial, and failure to do so will result in the rendering of the summary judgment. La.
C.C.P. art. 967(B). “[I]f the adverse party fails to provide factual evidence
sufficient to establish that he will be able to satisfy his evidentiary burden of proof
at trial, there is no genuine issue of material fact” and summary judgment is
appropriate. Knox, 2021-0419, pp. 9-10, ___ So.3d at ___, 2021 WL 4771758, at
*5 (quoting Pilet, 2020-0319, p. 6, 312 So.3d at 1159).
13 In considering a motion for summary judgment, the trial court cannot make
credibility determinations but must construe reasonable factual inferences in favor
of the party opposing the motion, resolving all doubt in favor of the opponent.
Citron, 2014-1096, p. 12, 165 So.3d at 312. “A genuine issue is a triable issue.”
Knox, 2021-0419, p. 10, ___ So.3d at ___, 2021 WL 4771758, at *5 (quoting Pilet,
2020-0319, p. 6, 312 So.3d at 1159). “More precisely, an issue is genuine if
reasonable persons could disagree.” Id. However, “[i]f on the state of the evidence,
reasonable persons could reach only one conclusion, there is no need for a trial on
that issue.” Id. “A fact is material when its existence or non-existence may be
essential to the plaintiff’s cause of action under the applicable theory of recovery.”
Id. “Facts are material if they potentially insure or preclude recovery, affect a
litigant’s ultimate success, or determine the outcome of the legal dispute.” Id.
“Because it is the applicable substantive law that determines materiality, whether a
particular fact in dispute is material can be seen only in light of substantive law
applicable to the case.” Id. Thus, in order to determine whether the trial court’s
grant of summary judgment was proper in the matter sub judice, we must analyze
the applicable substantive law regarding vicarious liability (respondeat superior).
Before we reach that portion of our analysis, however, we first review Mr.
Jones’ contention that the trial court erred in granting CJN’s Motion to Strike. We
do so to determine whether the stricken portions of Mr. Jones’ affidavit and
Exhibits P1, P-2, and P-3 are admissible pieces of summary judgment evidence
that should be considered in connection with our de novo review of whether
summary judgment was proper in this matter.
14 STRIKING OF PARAGRAPHS OF AFFIDAVIT AND EXHIBITS
As discussed, CJN filed a September 21, 2021 Reply, within which CJN
included a Motion to Strike regarding (1) portions of Mr. Jones’ affidavit and (2)
three exhibits attached to his Opposition. In the November 30, 2021 judgment, the
trial court granted the Motion to Strike and struck eleven paragraphs of Mr. Jones’
affidavit attached to his Opposition, namely Paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 27, 30, 34, 37,
and 40-43, as well as Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3. In his brief to this Court, Mr.
Jones argues that the trial court erred in striking these portions of his affidavit and
those exhibits. Because the trial court considered Mr. Jones’ affidavit and the
exhibits as part of its ruling on CJN’s Motion for summary judgment, we review
this portion of the trial court’s judgment de novo.
Regarding the summary judgment procedure, La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(2)
provides that “[a]ny objection to a document shall be raised in a timely filed
opposition or reply memorandum.” Comment (k) of the 2015 revision comments to
La. C.C.P. art. 966 states:
Subparagraph [(D)(2)] maintains the requirement that any objection to any supporting document must be raised in a timely-filed opposition or reply memorandum. The provision changes prior law by specifically removing the motion to strike as a means of raising an objection to a document offered by an adverse party in support of or in opposition to a motion for summary judgment and does not allow a party to file that motion.
Interpreting the foregoing, the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal has held that
“[f]iling a ‘Motion to Strike’ in a reply memorandum is not proper” because “[t]he
filing of such a motion in a reply memorandum would necessarily allow a party an
opportunity to have a contradictory hearing and introduce evidence even though
La. C.C.P. art. 966(B)(3) specifically states that ‘[n]o additional documents may be
filed with [a] reply memorandum.’” Adolph v. Lighthouse Prop. Ins. Corp., 2016-
15 1275, p. 6 (La. App. 1 Cir. 9/8/17), 227 So.3d 316, 320 (citing La. C.C.P. art. 966,
La. C.C.P. art. 966, cmt. (k) (2015)).
Nevertheless, “[i]t is well-settled that a pleading’s nature is determined by
its substance, not its caption.” Adolph, 2016-1275, p. 1, 227 So.3d at 323 (Welch,
J., concurring) (citing La. C.C.P. art. 865; Revere v. Reed, 1995-1913, p. 2 (La.
App. 1 Cir. 5/10/96), 675 So.2d 292, 297, n.1; Fussell v. Reed, 1995-0398, p. 2
(La. App. 1 Cir. 11/9/95), 664 So.2d 1214, 1215, n.1). Moreover, “[t]he
characterization of a pleading by the litigant is not controlling and the duty of the
courts is to look through a pleading’s caption to ascertain its substance and do
substantial justice to the parties.” Adolph, 2016-1275, p. 1, 227 So.3d at 324
(Crain, J., concurring) (citing Smith v. Cajun Insulation, Inc., 392 So.2d 398, 402,
n.2 (La. 1980); Greene v. Succession of Alvarado, 2015-1960, p. 29 (La. App. 1
Cir. 12/27/16), 210 So.3d 321, 339). With these precepts in mind and when
considering CJN’s Reply in light of the applicable summary judgment procedure, it
is clear that in substance, CJN objected to portions of Mr. Jones’ affidavit based on
lack of personal knowledge; portions of Mr. Jones’ affidavit as inadmissible
hearsay; and Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3 due to Mr. Jones’ alleged failure to
authenticate the exhibits and to identify them as true and correct copies of the
documents they purport to be. Procedurally, these were objections raised in a reply
pursuant to La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(2). Thus, regardless of CJN’s decision to
caption its objections as a “Motion to Strike,” the substance of the objections was
set forth in the Reply memorandum. Hence, CJN sufficiently pled its objections.
See La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(2); Adolph, 2016-1275, p. 1, 227 So.3d at 323 (Welch,
J., concurring). Therefore, we turn our analysis to the objections raised in CJN’s
Reply to determine whether to consider the subject paragraphs in Mr. Jones’
16 affidavit and Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3 in our de novo review of the motion for
summary judgment. See Adolph, 2016-1275, p. 8, 227 So.3d at 321. See also
Labarre v. Occidental Chem. Co., 2021-1331, p. 1 (La. App. 1 Cir. 3/30/22), 2022
WL 1008928, at *1.
(1) Portions of Mr. Jones’ Affidavit
As discussed, CJN objected in its Reply to Paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 27, 30, 34,
37, and 40-43 of Mr. Jones’ affidavit. “The trial court, and [the appellate] court on
de novo review, may only consider evidence [on a motion for summary judgment]
that is admissible under the express provisions of La. C.C.P. [a]rts. 966-67.”
Huggins v. Amtrust Ins. Co. of Kan., Inc., 2020-0516, p. 5 (La. App. 1 Cir.
12/30/20), 319 So.3d 362, 366 (citing Horrell v. Alltmont, 2019-0945 (La. App. 1
Cir. 7/31/20), 309 So.3d 754, 761-62). Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article
967(A) states, in pertinent part, that “[s]upporting and opposing affidavits [in
connection with a motion for summary judgment] shall be made on personal
knowledge” and “shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence . . .
.” This Court has defined “personal knowledge” for the purpose of a supporting
affidavit as “something which a witness actually saw or heard, as distinguished
from something a witness learned from some other person or source.” Harris v.
Boh Bros. Constr. Co., 2020-0248, p. 8 (La. App. 4 Cir. 5/26/21), 322 So.3d 397,
405 (quoting Capital One Bank (USA), NA v. Sanches, 2013-0003, p. 6 (La. App. 4
Cir. 6/12/13), 119 So.3d 870, 873-74). It “encompasses only those facts which the
affiant saw, heard or perceived with his [or her] own senses.” Id. Further, the
affidavit must establish how the affiant obtained the knowledge. Id. Regarding
admissibility, La. C.E. art. 802 states that “[h]earsay is not admissible except as
otherwise provided by this Code or other legislation.” The Louisiana Code of
17 Evidence defines “hearsay” as “a statement, other than one made by the declarant
while testifying at the present trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth
of the matter asserted.” La. C.E. art. 801(C).
In Paragraphs 34, 37, and 40-43 of his affidavit, Mr. Jones stated that Mr.
Elledge was charged with battery on January 24, 2014; that his counsel requested
to depose Mr. Elledge on January 20, 2016; that Mr. Jones’ attorney through the
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office made several unsuccessful attempts to serve a
notice of deposition on Ms. O’Donnell, including one at her college graduation;
and that Ms. O’Donnell relocated to California. This information does not
constitute personal information because it is not comprised of “facts which [Mr.
Jones] saw, heard or perceived with his own senses.” See Harris, 2020-0248, p. 8,
322 So.3d at 405. Moreover, Mr. Jones does not establish in the affidavit how he
obtained the information contained in these paragraphs. Id. Paragraphs 17, 19, 22,
27, and 30 of Mr. Jones’ affidavit each contain statements from someone other
than Mr. Jones, namely Ms. O’Donnell (Paragraph 17); an unidentified person
(Paragraphs 19 and 27); Mr. Elledge (Paragraph 22); and an employee of the Boot
(Paragraph 30). Accordingly, Paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 27, and 30 constitute hearsay.
See La. C.E. art. 801(C).
We note that Mr. Jones argues in his brief on appeal that these portions of
his affidavit are admissible as present sense impressions3 or statements against
3 Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 803 is titled “[h]earsay exceptions;
availability of declarant immaterial.” It provides, in pertinent part:
The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule, even though the declarant is available as a witness:
18 interest,4 which are two exceptions to the Code of Evidence’s prohibition on
hearsay. However, Mr. Jones failed to raise these arguments before the trial court
and cannot raise them for the first time on appeal. See La. High Sch. Athletics
Ass’n, Inc., 2012-1471, p. 14, 107 So.3d at 596, n.13 (citing Segura v. Frank,
1993-1271, p. 15 (La. 1/14/94), 630 So.2d 714, 725); In re: Precept Credit
Opportunities Fund, L.P., 2021-0428, p. 5 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1/19/22), ___ So.3d
___, ___, 2022 WL 178603, at *4, writ denied, 2022-00341 (La. 5/10/22), 337
So.3d 910; Uniform Rules, Courts of Appeal, Rule 1-3).
(3) Then existing mental, emotional, or physical condition. A statement of the declarant’s then existing state of mind, emotion, sensation, or physical condition (such as intent, plan, motive, design, mental feeling, pain, and bodily health), offered to prove the declarant’s then existing condition or his future action. A statement of memory or belief, however, is not admissible to prove the fact remembered or believed unless it relates to the execution, revocation, identification, or terms of declarant’s testament.
La. C.E. art. 803(3). 4 Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 804 is titled “[h]earsay exceptions;
declarant unavailable.” It states, in pertinent part:
B. Hearsay exceptions. The following are not excluded by the hearsay rule if the declarant is unavailable as a witness:
(3) Statement against interest. A statement which was at the time of its making so far contrary to the declarant’s pecuniary or proprietary interest, or so far tended to subject him to civil or criminal liability, or to render invalid a claim by him against another, that a reasonable man in his position would not have made the statement unless he believed it to be true. A statement tending to expose the declarant to criminal liability and offered to exculpate the accused is not admissible unless corroborating circumstances clearly indicate the trustworthiness of the statement.
La. C.E. art. 804(B)(3).
19 Thus, per La. C.C.P. art. 967, Paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 27, 30, 34, 37, and 40-
43 are inadmissible evidence on a motion for summary judgment. Next, we
consider whether Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3 are admissible.
(2) Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3
As discussed, CNJ also objected to three exhibits attached to Mr. Jones’
Opposition, including a May 4, 2016 “New Orleans Municipal Court Case
Chronology Report” concerning Mr. Elledge (P-1); a January 20, 2016 e-mail from
counsel for Mr. Jones to counsel for CJN asking to depose Mr. Elledge and Ms.
O’Donnell (P-2); and a May 17, 2017 letter from counsel for Mr. Jones to the
Clerk of Court for Orleans Civil District Court requesting the issuance of a
subpoena to Ms. O’Donnell (P-3). Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article
966(A)(4) states that “[t]he only documents that may be filed in support of or in
opposition to the motion [for summary judgment] are pleadings, memoranda,
affidavits, depositions, answers to interrogatories, certified medical records,
written stipulations, and admissions.” Comment (c) to the 2015 revision comments
to La. C.C.P. art. 966 explains that “[s]ubparagraph (A)(4) . . . contains the
exclusive list of documents that may be filed in support of or in opposition to a
motion for summary judgment.” It further provides that “[s]ubparagraph [(A)(4)]
intentionally does not allow the filing of documents that are not included in the
exclusive list . . . unless they are properly authenticated by an affidavit or
deposition to which they are attached.” See also Raborn v. Albea, 2016-1468, p. 10
(La. App. 1 Cir. 5/11/17), 221 So.3d 104, 111 (citing La. C.C.P. art. 966, cmt. (c)
(2015)). Regarding authentication, the Louisiana Code of Evidence provides that
“[t]he requirement of authentication or identification as a condition precedent to
20 admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support a finding that the matter
in question is what its proponent claims.” La. C.E. art. 901(A).
Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3 are not included within the exclusive list of
documents that may be admitted into evidence and considered in support of or in
opposition to a motion for summary judgment. See La. C.C.P. art. 966(A)(4).
Additionally, our review of Mr. Jones’ Opposition reveals that he failed to identify
or authenticate these documents with “evidence sufficient to support a finding that
the matter in question is what its proponent claims.” La. C.E. art. 901(A). Instead,
his affidavit merely references them by stating in Paragraphs 34, 37, and 40,
respectively, “See Exhibit P-1”; “See Exhibit P-2”; and “See Exhibit P-3”:
34. On January 24, 2014, [Mr.] Elledge was charged with Battery and was arraigned. See Exhibit P-1.
37. On January 20, 2016, [Mr. Jones], through his attorney, requested the opportunity to depose [Mr.] Elledge. See Exhibit P-2.
40. [Mr. Jones’] attorney[] made several attempts to serve a Notice of Deposition on [Ms.] O’Donnell but [was] unsuccessful. See Exhibit P-3.
Without the proper identification and authentication, we conclude that these
exhibits were not admissible with Mr. Jones’ Opposition.
In sum, CJN’s Motion to Strike was procedurally improper; however, CJN
properly raised its objections in a reply pursuant to La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(2), and
the trial court correctly excluded Paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 27, 30, 34, 37, and 40-43,
as well as Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3, as inadmissible summary judgment evidence.
Because those paragraphs and exhibits are not proper summary judgment evidence,
21 we will not consider them in connection with our de novo review of CJN’s Motion
for Summary Judgment. We now turn to the substantive law concerning vicarious
liability to determine whether the grant of summary judgment was proper in this
matter.
VICARIOUS LIABILITY (RESPONDEAT SUPERIOR)
We next consider Mr. Jones’ assignment of error contending that the trial
court incorrectly granted summary judgment in favor of CJN because such a
determination required the weighing of evidence, which is impermissible on
summary judgment. In particular, Mr. Jones asserts that the record before the trial
court established the existence of a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Mr.
Elledge and John Doe were employees of CJN acting in the course and scope of
their employment on the night of the fight. In his Petition as amended, Mr. Jones
argued that CJN was vicariously liable for the injuries he sustained in the fight
with Mr. Elledge because Mr. Elledge was employed by the Boot at the time. As
discussed, the applicable substantive law determines materiality on a motion for
summary judgment; so, in order to determine whether the trial court's grant of
summary judgment was proper in the matter sub judice, we turn our analysis to the
applicable substantive law regarding the vicarious liability of employers for the
actions of their employees. See Knox, 2021-0419, p. 10, ___ So.3d at ___, 2021
WL 4771758, at *5 (quoting Pilet, 2020-0319, p. 7, 312 So.3d at 1159).
“Every act whatever of man that causes damage to another obliges him by
whose fault it happened to repair it.” La. C.C. art. 2315(A). “Louisiana courts
employ the duty/risk analysis when deciding whether to impose liability under La.
C.C. art. 2315.” Duronslet v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2022-0019, p. 17 (La. App. 4
Cir. 7/27/22), ___ So.3d ___, ___, 2022 WL 2965529, at *8 (citing Cosey on
22 Behalf of Hilliard, 2019-0756, 2019-0785, p. 17 (La. App. 4 Cir. 11/12/20), ___
So.3d ___, ___, 2020 WL 6687515, at *8). Under the duty/risk analysis, a plaintiff
must prove five elements:
(1) the defendant had a duty to conform his or her conduct to a specific standard of care (the duty element); (2) the defendant failed to conform his or her conduct to the appropriate standard (the breach of duty element); (3) the defendant’s substandard conduct was a cause- in-fact of the plaintiff’s injuries (the cause-in-fact element); (4) the defendant’s substandard conduct was a legal cause of the plaintiff’s injuries (the scope of liability or scope of protection element); and, (5) actual damages (the damages element).
Id. The defendant is not liable if the plaintiff fails to prove even one of the
duty/risk analysis elements. Id. (citing James v. Ernest N. Morial New Orleans
Exhibition Hall Authority, 2018-0198, p. 6 (La. App. 4 Cir. 12/26/18), 262 So.3d
958, 963). The threshold determination in a negligence action is the first element,
i.e., whether the defendant owed a duty to the plaintiff. Id., 2022-0019, p. 18, ___
So.3d at ___, 2022 WL 2965529, at *8. “Louisiana Civil Code Article 2320
establishes the duty element for employers by enumerating the doctrine of
respondeat superior [or vicarious liability], by which ‘employers are answerable
for the damage occasioned by their employees in the exercise of the functions in
which they are employed.’” Id. (citing Grabowski v. Smith & Nephew, Inc., 2014-
0433, 2013-1409, p. 24 (La. App. 3 Cir. 10/1/14), 149 So.3d 899, 915).5
This liability for employers, however, “extends only to those acts which are
within the course and scope of the tortfeasor employee’s employment.” Robinson
v Ky Quang Nguyen, 2016-0258, p. 6 (La. App. 4 Cir 9/21/16), 201 So.3d 922, 927
(citing Baumeister v. Plunkett, 1995-2270, p. 3 (La. 5/21/96), 673 So.2d 994, 996;
5 Louisiana Civil Code Article 2320 provides, in pertinent part, that “[m]asters and employers are answerable for the damage occasioned by their servants and overseers, in the exercise of the functions in which they are employed.”
23 Orgeron on Behalf of Orgeron v. McDonald, 1993-1353, p. 4 (La. 7/5/94), 639
So.2d 224, 226). “The course of employment test refers to time and place.” Benoit
v. Capitol Mfg. Co., 617 So.2d 477, 479 (La. 1993). “The scope of employment
test examines the employment-related risk of injury.” Id. The Louisiana Supreme
Court has established a test for determining the vicarious liability of an employer,
which includes consideration of the following factors: (1) whether the tortious act
was primarily employment-rooted; (2) whether the violence was reasonably
incidental to the performance of the employment duties; (3) whether the act
occurred on the employer’s premises; and (4) whether the act occurred during the
hours of employment. In determining whether an employee was in the course and
scope of his employment at the time of the employee’s tortious conduct each case
must be decided on its own facts. Robinson, 2016-0258, p. 7, 201 So.3d at 927
(citing LeBrane v. Lewis, 292 So.2d 216, 218-19 (La. 1974)). This Opinion will
refer to these as the “LeBrane factors.”
In Robinson, the plaintiff, Mr. Robinson, engaged in an altercation inside a
store with a clerk and was forced to leave. 2016-0258, p. 2, 201 So.3d at 924.
After he crossed the street, an unknown person came up to him and stabbed him.
Id. Mr. Robinson insisted the assailant was a store owner or employee, but he
could not identify him and presented no evidence that the assailant actually worked
at the store. Id., 2016-0258, pp. 2-3, 201 So.3d at 925. In reviewing the claim of
vicarious liability, the Court stated:
For the employer to be vicariously liable, “the tortious conduct of the [employee must be] so closely connected in time, place, and causation to his employment duties as to be regarded as a risk of harm fairly attributable to the employer’s business, as compared with conduct instituted by purely personal considerations entirely extraneous to the employer’s interest.” Baumeister, [19]95-2270[,] p. 3, 673 So.2d at 966 (quoting LeBrane v. Lewis, 292 So.2d 216, 217 (La. 1974)). “An
24 employer is not vicariously liable merely because his employee commits an intentional tort on the business premises during working hours.” Id. “Vicarious liability will attach in such a case only if the employee is acting within the ambit of his assigned duties and also in furtherance of his employer’s objectives.” Id., [1995-]2270[,] pp. 3-4, 673 So.2d at 996. Nonetheless, the employee’s conduct need only be reasonably incidental to the performance of the employee’s official duties, and need not be exclusively employment rooted for liability to attach.
Robinson, 2016-0258, pp. 6-7, 201 So.3d at 927. Ultimately, this Court found that
Mr. Robinson failed to show that the stabbing committed by the unidentified
assailant was closely related in time, place, and causation to any employee’s duties
as to be a risk of harm attributable to the store’s business. Id., 2016-0258, p. 8, 201
So.3d at 928. Instead, it classified the assailant’s actions as “conduct motivated by
purely personal considerations entirely extraneous to the interests of [the store].”
Id., 2016-0258, p. 9, 201 So.2d at 928. Finding that the stabbing was not within
the course and scope of the unnamed assailant’s employment, the Court concluded
that the store was not vicariously liable for his tortious act. Id.
Likewise, in Jackson v. Bally’s Louisiana, Inc., the plaintiff, Ms. Jackson,
was knocked down at a casino by someone she could not identify but whom she
believed to be a casino employee because he wore clothing similar to a uniform.
2009-1574, p. 1 (La. App. 4 Cir. 4/7/10), 36 So.3d 1001, 1002. In part, this Court
found that Ms. Jackson’s affidavits in opposition to the casino’s motion for
summary judgment were based solely on inadmissible hearsay. Id., 2009-1574, p.
5, 36 So.3d at 1004. This Court affirmed the granting of the Motion for Summary
Judgment, finding that Ms. Jackson could not satisfy her burden of showing that
the person who knocked her down was an employee acting within the course and
scope of his employment. Id. We now consider if the record demonstrates a
25 genuine issue of material fact regarding whether CJN has vicarious liability for the
actions of (1) Mr. Elledge and (2) John Doe.
(1) Whether CJN has Vicarious Liability Regarding Mr. Elledge
Applying the foregoing principles to the matter sub judice, we examine the
record and assume facts most favorable to Mr. Jones as the plaintiff. See
Robinson, 2016-0258, p. 8, 201 So.3d at 927. Considering the facts in light of the
LeBrane factors, we find that the affidavits and the deposition testimony support
the trial court’s granting of summary judgment. CJN has demonstrated that Mr.
Jones will be unable to prove that Mr. Elledge was acting in the course and scope
of his employment at the time of the altercation. Mr. Elledge and Ms. O’Donnell’s
affidavits assert that Mr. Elledge was not on duty on the day and evening of the
fight. Mr. Maiuri’s affidavit and his deposition both state that Mr. Elledge was not
working on that date. Moreover, Mr. Elledge’s actions in punching Mr. Jones
could not have been in furtherance of any of his duties as a door man for the Boot;
instead, his actions were purely personal. See Robinson, 2016-0258, p. 9, 201
So.2d at 928.
After CJN so demonstrated, the burden shifted to Mr. Jones to counter this
evidence. Mr. Jones’ deposition testimony, however, shows that any knowledge he
had about Mr. Elledge’s employment at the Boot was based upon what he was told
by someone on the scene. According to his testimony, which would be
inadmissible hearsay at trial, he learned only that Mr. Elledge was employed by the
Boot: his testimony fails to indicate that he knew that Mr. Elledge was on duty at
the time of the altercation. Contrary to Mr. Jones’ assertion that the trial court
weighed contradictory evidence from him and CJN and found CJN’s evidence
more credible, the trial court properly found that Mr. Jones would not be able to
26 provide competent evidence if the case went to trial to show that Mr. Elledge was
acting in the course and scope of his employment when he punched Mr. Jones.
(2) Whether CJN has Vicarious Liability Regarding John Doe
Mr. Jones also has not demonstrated that he would be able to present any
competent evidence to show that John Doe, who allegedly held him while Mr.
Elledge punched him, was a Boot employee engaged in the course and scope of his
employment. Indeed, Mr. Jones admitted in his deposition that other than his
observation that the man was wearing a Boot t-shirt, he had no other knowledge
that the man worked there or was on duty that night. Like the plaintiff in Jackson,
Mr. Jones’ sole reason for alleging that the man was an employee was because of
his attire. He has never identified this person, and he has not shown that he could
carry his burden of showing the man was an on-duty employee of the Boot if the
matter were to proceed to trial.
APPARENT AUTHORITY
Alternatively, Mr. Jones argues that because Mr. Elledge and John Doe were
wearing Boot t-shirts, they evidenced apparent authority to act on the Boot’s
behalf, thereby imputing their actions to the company. “Apparent authority is
defined as ‘the power to affect the legal relations of another person by transactions
with third persons, professedly as agent for the other, arising from and in
accordance with the other’s manifestations to such third persons.’” Duronslet,
2022-0019, p. 28, ___ So.3d at ___, 2022 WL 2965529, at *13 (quoting Indep.
Fire Ins. Co. v. Able Moving & Storage Co., Inc., 1994-1982, p. 4, 650 So.2d 750,
752). In discussing the doctrine of apparent authority, the Louisiana Third Circuit
Court of Appeal has explained:
27 Apparent authority is a doctrine by which an agent is empowered to bind his principal in a transaction with a third person when the principal has made a manifestation to the third person, or to the community of which the third person is a member, that the agent is authorized to engage in the particular transaction, although the principal has not actually delegated this authority to the agent. In an actual authority situation the principal makes the manifestation first to the agent; in an apparent authority situation the principal makes this manifestation to a third person. However, the third person has the same rights in relation to the principal under either actual or apparent authority. Further, apparent authority operates only when it is reasonable for the third person to believe the agent is authorized and the third person actually believes this.
Louisiana courts have utilized the doctrine of apparent authority to protect third persons by treating a principal who has manifested an agent’s authority to third persons as if the principal had actually granted the authority to the agent.
Grabowski, 2014-0433, 2013-1409, pp. 21-22, 149 So.3d at 913-14 (quoting
Tedesco v. Gentry Dev., Inc., 540 So.2d 960, 963 (La. 1989)). The burden of proof
rests with the party seeking to bind the principal. Id., 2014-0433, 2013-1409, p. 22,
149 So.3d at 914 (citing Eakin v. Eakin, 2007-0693, p. 6 (La. App. 3 Cir.
12/19/07), 973 So.2d 873, 877).
In Luccia v. Cummings, the defendant, Mr. Cummings, was a levee board
policeman who was working a paid detail in uniform at a nightclub when he
injured a worker. 1994-0416, p. 1 (La. App. 5 Cir. 11/16/94), 646 So.2d 1142,
1143. The court held that the fact that the officer was in uniform did not prove that
the levee board was liable for his tortious actions under the doctrine of apparent
authority. Id., 1994-0416, p. 3, 646 So.2d at 1144 (citing Washington v. Reed, 624
So.2d 465, 469 (La. App. 2 Cir. 1993)).
In the matter sub judice, Mr. Jones points to Mr. Maiuri’s testimony that he
told employees not to wear their uniform t-shirts when not on duty. However, Mr.
28 Maiuri also testified that there was nothing in the employee manual so specifying;
and Ms. Napoli’s affidavit indicated that the company had no such policy.
Moreover, as previously discussed, Mr. Jones has not presented any
evidence that Mr. Elledge and John Doe were on duty and were engaged in the
course and scope of their duties when the altercation occurred. Instead, their
actions were personal in nature. Based upon our de novo review of the record, we
conclude that the trial court did not err by granting CJN’s Motion for Summary
Judgment, and this assignment of error has no merit.6
DECREE
For the foregoing reasons, we find that CJN’s Motion to Strike was
procedurally improper; however, we conclude that CJN properly raised its
objections in a reply pursuant to La. C.C.P. art. 966(D)(2) and that the trial court
correctly excluded Paragraphs 17, 19, 22, 27, 30, 34, 37, and 40-43, as well as
Exhibits P-1, P-2, and P-3, as inadmissible summary judgment evidence.
Additionally, we affirm the trial court’s grant of CJN’s Motion for Summary
Judgment.
AFFIRMED
6 Additionally, we note that based on the record, it is unlikely that Mr. Jones
could prove that the altercation occurred on the Boot’s premises. The evidence presented by both parties shows that the altercation took place outside the Dough Bowl’s walk-up window, which was a separate entity from the Boot and its convenience store.