Kenia Lorenzo v. the Cajun Co.

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: February 12, 2014
• Docket: WCA-0013-1373
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

WCA 13-1373

KENIA LORENZO

VERSUS

THE CAJUN CO.

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APPEAL FROM THE OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION - # 4 PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, NO. 07-08745 ADAM C. JOHNSON, WORKERS COMPENSATION JUDGE

SHANNON G. GREMILLION

JUDGE

Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Jimmie C. Peters, and Shannon G. Gremillion, Judges.

Cooks, J., dissents and assigns written reasons.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

James D’Arensbourg Hollier Laborde & Neuner Post Office Drawer 52828 Lafayette, LA 70505-2828 (337) 237-7000 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE: The Cajun Co. Kenia Lorenzo In Proper Person 1551 London Cross Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 957-1455 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT: Kenia Lorenzo GREMILLION, Judge.

This court issued a rule for plaintiff-appellant, Kenia Lorenzo, to show

cause, by brief only, why her appeal should not be dismissed as taken from a non-

appealable judgment. For the following reasons, we dismiss the appeal.

This is a workers’ compensation case. In November of 2007, Lorenzo filed

a disputed claim for compensation, alleging that she injured her back while

insulating a pipe rack. Originally, Lorenzo was represented by an attorney who

later withdrew; another attorney enrolled, but also withdrew. The record indicates

that the trial date has been continued numerous times in this matter. Eventually, in

October of 2012, Lorenzo’s former employer moved for summary judgment. The

Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWC) judge held the hearing on the motion,

after which it issued “a partial final judgment pursuant to Louisiana Code of Civil

Procedure Articles and 966 and 1915.” The judgment states that Lorenzo “was

served with the Rule to Show Cause on October 27, 2012, but failed to appear at

the hearing or oppose” the employer’s motion.

In response to this court’s rule, Lorenzo, pro se, asserts that she would like

this court to consider her appeal because she had no notice of the OWC hearing

and could not oppose the employer’s summary judgment motion.

Appeals from partial final judgments pursuant to La.Code Civ.P. art. 1915

are not applicable in workers’ compensation cases. See Rhodes v. Lewis, 01–1989

(La. 5/14/02), 817 So.2d 64. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 1915 “has

been held to be inapplicable to workers’ compensation cases.” Poché v. Huey P.

Long Med. Ctr., 08-311, p. 1 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/21/08), 983 So.2d 986, 987. Where

an issue of penalties and attorney fees was left to be decided in a workers’

compensation case, this court dismissed the appeal and stated: “[t]he law is clear, and we are bound to follow the supreme court’s dictates, that a piecemeal appeal is

not permissible in a workers’ compensation case. . . . Until all issues have been

decided in this case, this appeal is premature.” Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries

v. Wallace, 05-1343, p. 7 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/5/06), 926 So.2d 759, 763.

This is a workers’ compensation case. The trial court’s judgment, by its own

terms, indicates that it is a partial judgment. Therefore, it is not an appealable

judgment. We note that Lorenzo’s arguments to this court, regarding notice, go to

the merits of the judgment, i.e., that the judgment is null because of insufficient

notice. Because this appeal is premature, this court does not reach the issue of

nullity at this time.

THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION. Rule 2-16.3 Uniform Rules, Court of Appeal.

2 STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

Cooks, J., Dissents. I find that the trial court’s judgment, which dismissed

Lorenzo’s claim for benefits, is a final judgment on that issue. Therefore, Lorenzo

should be allowed to proceed by appeal or by supervisory writs. Accordingly, I

respectfully dissent.