Latullas v. State

658 So. 2d 800, 1995 WL 377147
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 23, 1995
Docket94 CA 2049
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 658 So. 2d 800 (Latullas v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Latullas v. State, 658 So. 2d 800, 1995 WL 377147 (La. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinion

658 So.2d 800 (1995)

Vanessa LATULLAS, individually and on Behalf of her Minor Child
v.
The STATE of Louisiana, et al.

No. 94 CA 2049.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

June 23, 1995.

*801 Rhett R. Ryland and Frank L. Leteff, Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-appellant Nettie Elliot, in her capacity as the natural/legal tutrix of the minors, Crystal Latullas and Tia Monique Latullas, and on behalf of the Estate of Vanessa Latullas.

Pamela J. LeBato, Litigation Div. Risk Management, Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellee State.

George Elliot Brown, pro se.

Before LOTTINGER, C.J., and SHORTESS and CARTER, JJ.

LOTTINGER, Chief Judge.

In this action, plaintiff, a former inmate at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women at St. Gabriel, seeks damages from the State, the prison warden, and a former prison security officer as a result of having been raped by the officer during her incarceration. Because plaintiff subsequently became pregnant and gave birth to a child, she contends that the obligation to support the child conceived by the rape was a damage proximately caused by defendants' acts. Plaintiff further asserts on behalf of her minor child a claim for emotional damages which will allegedly be incurred by the child due to the condition of her birth. Upon recommendation by the commissioner, the trial court found the security officer individually liable to plaintiff for damages and attorney fees. From a judgment dismissing the State and prison warden, plaintiff appeals.

FACTS

In August of 1985, plaintiff, Vanessa Latullas (Ms. Latullas), then 26 years of age, was incarcerated at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) at St. Gabriel, Louisiana. The prison at LCIW is comprised of approximately 30 acres of which 15 acres are enclosed within a fenced compound. The prison grounds outside of the 15-acre compound are referred to as the "outside perimeter".

Ms. Latullas was assigned to the line crew, a work detail comprised of approximately 15 to 20 women prisoners who were charged with maintaining the grounds of the outside perimeter. At all times relevant to this litigation, the line crew was supervised by Lieutenant George Elliott Brown (Lt. Brown), then a correctional security officer at LCIW.

On the afternoon of August 19, 1985, Lt. Brown singled out Ms. Latullas and instructed her to ride with him to a group of semi-abandoned mobile homes located at the rear of the outer perimeter of the prison about 100 yards from the vocational school at LCIW. Ostensibly, Lt. Brown's purpose in taking Ms. Latullas to this remote location was to have her clean the trailer; however, once inside the trailer, Lt. Brown proceeded to rape Ms. Latullas. As a result of this rape, the minor child, Crystal Latullas[1] was conceived.

Ms. Latullas did not report to the prison authorities that she had been raped by Lt. Brown, or even that she was pregnant. The prison authorities at LCIW were later advised of Ms. Latullas' condition upon their receipt of an OB-GYN report dated October 2, 1985. Ms. Latullas initially refused to disclose the identity of the father of her *802 unborn child; however, after speaking with an attorney, Ms. Latullas later said that Lt. Brown was the father of her child.

On March 18, 1986, Ms. Latullas was granted a commutation of sentence, and released from LCIW on that date. She subsequently gave birth to a daughter, Crystal Latullas, on June 1, 1986.

Ms. Latullas individually, and on behalf of her minor child, filed the instant suit on August 8, 1986, naming the State of Louisiana, Lt. George Elliott Brown, and Warden Johnny Jones (Warden Jones) as defendants. Based upon the allegations of her petition, Ms. Latullas sought to recover the sum of $250,000.00 in damages from defendants for the alleged sexual assault, fear, emotional distress, changes to her body, and violation of her constitutional rights. Ms. Latullas also sought $250,000.00 for damages and expenses related to her pregnancy and the future care, feeding, clothing, and schooling of her minor child. Additionally, Ms. Latullas, on behalf of her minor child, sought to recover for the future emotional damages which the "child will sustain as a result of the condition of his or her birth ...".

Through blood tests for paternity performed in December, 1986, Lt. Brown was determined to be the father of Crystal Latullas. Prior to this time, Lt. Brown had denied any involvement with Ms. Latullas. Following receipt of these test results, the Department of Corrections brought disciplinary action against Lt. Brown which resulted in his dismissal. On October 21, 1987, Lt. Brown was informed that he would no longer be represented by the State in this matter. The State subsequently filed a cross-claim against Lt. Brown which was answered by a general denial.

Ms. Latullas died on November 22, 1990, from injuries she received in a hit-and-run accident. On October 23, 1992, Nettie Elliot (Ms. Elliot), the mother of Ms. Latullas and the natural/legal tutrix of Ms. Latullas' minor children, Tia Monique Latullas and Crystal Latullas, was substituted as a party plaintiff in this matter.

ACTION OF THE TRIAL COURT

Through a motion filed on their behalf, Ms. Elliot sought to introduce Ms. Latullas' earlier deposition testimony in lieu of her testimony at trial. Over the objection of Lt. Brown's attorney[2], the commissioner allowed this evidence to be introduced. Following a hearing, Ms. Elliot and the State submitted post-trial briefs.

The commissioner, in his written recommendations to the trial judge found that "Lt. Brown, through force and intimidation, engaged in sexual intercourse with Ms. Latullas" during her incarceration and as a result of this act, Ms. Latullas became pregnant with Lt. Brown's child.[3] For this reason, the commissioner recommended that Lt. Brown be cast for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and La.Civ.Code art. 2315 in the amount of $150,000.00 and attorney fees in the amount of $35,000.00 and for all costs. The commissioner further recommended that plaintiffs' claims against the State and Warden Jones be dismissed. The trial judge thereafter rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs against Brown, but dismissing the claims against the State and Warden Jones. From this judgment, Ms. Elliot has appealed. Lt. Brown has not appealed[4]; therefore, the judgment has become final as to him.

*803 ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

On appeal, Ms. Elliot sets forth six assignments of error which we feel can be summarized as follows:

(1) The trial judge failed to hold all defendants liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983;

(2) The trial judge failed to hold the State and Warden Jones responsible under the theory of vicarious liability for the damages caused by Lt. Brown;

(3) The trial judge failed to hold the State and Warden Jones responsible under a theory of independent negligence for the damages caused by Lt. Brown; and

(4) The trial court failed to award child support as an item of damages.

CLAIMS UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1983

The first issue raised by Ms. Elliot is that the State and Warden Jones[5] are answerable under 42 U.S.C.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
658 So. 2d 800, 1995 WL 377147, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/latullas-v-state-lactapp-1995.