Lutz v. Jefferson Parish School Bd.

503 So. 2d 106, 38 Educ. L. Rep. 842
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 9, 1987
Docket86-CA-596
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 503 So. 2d 106 (Lutz v. Jefferson Parish School Bd.) 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
Lutz v. Jefferson Parish School Bd., 503 So. 2d 106, 38 Educ. L. Rep. 842 (La. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

503 So.2d 106 (1987)

Shirley Isemann Wife of/and Francis LUTZ
v.
JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL BOARD.

No. 86-CA-596.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit.

February 9, 1987.

*107 Joseph Bernstein, New Orleans, for plaintiffs-appellants.

Jo Ellen McMillen, Gretna, for defendant-appellee.

Before CHEHARDY, WICKER and GOTHARD, JJ.

WICKER, Judge.

This appeal arises from a worker's compensation claim filed on behalf of plaintiffs/appellants Shirley Isemann (Isemann), wife of and Francis Lutz (Lutz) seeking benefits after these had been terminated by defendant/appellee, Jefferson Parish School Board. Appellants also seek attorneys' fees, interest and penalties. The trial judge rendered judgment on January 31, 1986 declaring Isemann to be totally and permanently disabled and that compensation be paid in accordance with L.S.A.-R.S. 23:1221.[1] He also denied Isemann's claim *108 for attorneys' fees and penalties and found that the school board had not acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it terminated her weekly compensation benefits. Isemann now appeals the judgment denying her claim for attorneys' fees and penalties. She also urges this court to determine the amount of compensation to which she is entitled. We affirm in part and reverse in part and remand.

On October 19, 1984 Isemann and Lutz filed a "Rule to Show Cause Why Employee Benefits Are Not Being Paid." In their rule, petitioners assert that Isemann is totally disabled and that she had not received benefits for over two years from the school board. They also sought all accrued interest, penalties and attorneys fees as well as all past and future benefits due. On December 11, 1984, the school board filed an answer to the original petition which had been filed on June 19, 1980. Their answer generally denied all of the allegations contained in the original petition.

In their original petition styled "Petition For Workmen Compensation Benefits", Isemann sought compensation and all medical expenses. An exception of prematurity was filed by the school board in which they averred that all compensation and medical benefits which had been submitted were paid.

In opposition to the exception petitioners, through counsel, filed a memorandum in opposition which stated in pertinent part that "Petitioner, Shirley Isemann, wife of Francis Lutz filed a suit for workmen compensation benefits after the Jefferson Parish School Board refused to supply her with orthopedic shoes but at the time of the filing of the petition there was a genuine issue between the parties."

Although a minute entry dated October 13, 1980 reflected that the exception had been granted and the suit dismissed, this was evidently not the case. On November 29,1984, the trial judge entered a judgment in response to a motion to strike wherein he ordered that the minute entry of October 13, 1981 be stricken. He particularly decreed that the suit was not dismissed.

On June 11, 1985, the trial judge, in response to plaintiffs' "Motion to Set Contested Workmen's Compensation Claim for Trial" set a trial date of July 8, 1985. In this motion, plaintiffs assert that they were notified by letter dated June 5, 1985 that the defendant would stop paying weekly compensation, effective immediately. Isemann alleged that she was unable to perform any job whatsoever. Petitioners further asserted that the actions of the defendant were arbitrary and capricious and that they were entitled to interest and penalties as well as to attorneys' fees.

On June 8, 1985 the matter was partially heard and held open for the purpose of receiving depositions. On January 31,1986 the trial judge rendered judgment.

In response to their suit for relief from the termination of benefits on June 5, 1985, the trial judge declared Isemann to be totally and permanently disabled; however, he did not determine a specific dollar amount for compensation.

Appellant specifies the following errors:

1. That the trial judge was manifestly erroneous when he failed to find that Jefferson Parish School Board acted arbitrarily and capriciously in denying her claim for attorneys' fees, interest and penalties, and
2. That this court determine "the proper calculation of the benefits to which Isemann is entitled" under the trial court's judgment.

Appellant contends that she is not receiving the full amount of weekly benefits which are due to her. She asserts that Jefferson Parish School Board is deducting from her weekly compensation the amount she is receiving from her retirement income. She urges this court to address the issue of whether or not appellee is entitled to such a credit.

The trial court's judgment reads in pertinent part as follows:

IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that plaintiff be declared totally and permanently disabled and that compensation be paid in accordance with R.S. 23:1221.
*109 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that there be judgment in favor of defendant, Jefferson Parish School Board, in that termination of plaintiff's weekly compensation benefits were not arbitrary and capricious.

Appellant notes in brief that the trial judge awarded compensation "subject to any credits to which defendant may be entitled." However, as indicated above, the trial judge did not include this phrase in his judgment; instead, the phrase is included in his reasons for judgment. Louisiana jurisprudence has held that reasons for judgment do not constitute a judgment. See L.S.A.-C.C.P. Art. 1918; Pearce ex. rel. Livestock Sanitary Board v. Johnson, 250 So.2d 567 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1971).

The trial judge clearly distinguished his judgment from his reasons for judgment by labeling each accordingly. Unlike the case of Hinchman v. International Bro. of Elec. W.L.U. # 130, 292 So.2d 717 (La. 1974) on remand 299 So.2d 818 (La.App. 4th Cir.1974) writ denied 302 So.2d 618 (La.1974) cert. denied 421 U.S. 950, 95 S.Ct. 1683, 44 L.Ed.2d 104 (1975) there is no confusion regarding the intention of the judge as to which portion constitutes his judgment.

Recently, our brothers in the Fourth Circuit have noted that "[o]n appeal, this court reviews judgments — not "cases" or "reasons for judgment." Succession of Velasquez-Bain, 471 So.2d 731, 751 (La.App. 4th Cir.1985) writ denied 476 So.2d 354 (La. 1985).

Thus, the trial court made no ruling relative to any credits. In fact, neither party sought through any pleading a clarification regarding credits in the trial court. The transcript further reveals that no testimony or evidence was introduced regarding any credits to be given the school board. Moreover, there is no evidence or testimony regarding the actual amounts of compensation owed to Isemann.

While there was a joint stipulation at trial that appellant was injured in the course and scope of her employment for the School Board, there was no stipulation nor any evidence regarding her wages on the date of the accident.

L.S.A.-R.S. 23:1021(7) (pre-1983) defines "wages" as:

`Wages' means average weekly wage at the time of the accident.

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Bluebook (online)
503 So. 2d 106, 38 Educ. L. Rep. 842, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lutz-v-jefferson-parish-school-bd-lactapp-1987.