Piper v. Olinde's Hardware & Supply Company, Inc.

276 So. 2d 788
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 28, 1973
Docket9277
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 276 So. 2d 788 (Piper v. Olinde's Hardware & Supply Company, Inc.) 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
Piper v. Olinde's Hardware & Supply Company, Inc., 276 So. 2d 788 (La. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

276 So.2d 788 (1973)

Henry Lee PIPER
v.
OLINDE'S HARDWARE & SUPPLY COMPANY, INC. et al.

No. 9277.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

March 19, 1973.
Rehearing Denied May 14, 1973.
Writ Granted June 28, 1973.

*789 Ralph Brewer, Baton Rouge, for Olinde's Hardware & Supply Co.

Walton Barnes, II, Barnes & Barnes, Baton Rouge, for McGowan.

Arthur Cobb, Baton Rouge, for appellee.

Before LANDRY, TUCKER and PICKETT, JJ.

*790 TUCKER, Judge.

The above styled case has returned to this forum. We adopt as a statement of the facts those listed in the judgment previously rendered by this court on March 13, 1972, and published in 259 So.2d 655 (La.App.1st Cir. 1972), as follows:

"On January 27, 1971, defendant-appellant Olinde's Hardware & Supply Co., Inc., filed suit No. 147,364, in the Nineteenth Judicial Court of the Parish of East Baton Rouge, against Henry Lee Piper, the plaintiff-appellee in the instant suit, and Willie Mae McGowan, his mother-in-law, seeking judgment in the amount of Nine Hundred Eighty one and 18/100 Dollars ($981.18) together with interest thereon at the rate of eight (8%) per cent per annum from January 14, 1971, until paid, and twenty-five (25%) per cent additional on both principal and interest as attorney's fees, and for all costs of court. The amount sought represented the balance due on several chattel mortgage notes in favor of Olinde's and allegedly signed by Henry Lee Piper for the purchase of a color television set and several other items of furniture, all of which were delivered to the home of his mother-in-law, co-defendant in the original suit. One of the notes which was given for the color television set was signed `Henry Lee Piper by Gloria D. Piper;' the others, `Henry L. Piper by Henry L. Piper', in an obviously different handwriting.
Personal service in Suit No. 147,364, was made upon Willie Mae McGowan at her home, 1160 North 37th Street. The Sheriff's return reveals that she signed for Willie Lee Piper, too, `the said Willie Lee Piper being absent at the time of service.' On March 11, 1971, a default judgment was obtained against the two defendants solidarity. Again service was made upon Willie Mae McGowan personally at her residence 1160 North 37th Street, and she signed for Willie Lee Piper in his absence. After the expiration of the proper delays for the taking of appeals Olinde's obtained a writ of facias and instituted garnishment proceedings against the employer of Henry Lee Piper, Allied Chemical Corporation.
"The present action was brought by Henry Lee Piper on June 9, 1971 against Olinde's and Mrs. McGowan, seeking the nullity of the judgment of March 11, 1971, on the basis that he had not been properly served in the matter; had not signed the notes in question; and asking that the execution of the judgment be enjoined and his seized wages returned to him. He also prayed for damages in the amount of Twenty-five Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars and later brought in Olinde's insurer, Highlands Insurance Company, as another defendant. A hearing was set on the rule for the preliminary injunction. Olinde's filed an exception of no cause of action on June 21, 1971, the date of the hearing on the rule, alleging that, inasmuch as Piper had not attacked the service of process in Suit No. 147,364, directly, the purported domiciliary service upon him was valid, and the subsequent judgment on that suit likewise valid. At the June 21 hearing evidence was adduced on the exception and on the rule, with the result that the trial judge overruled defendant Olinde's exception and recalled and set aside plaintiff Henry Lee Piper's rule. This judgment was granted in open court and rendered and signed on June 25, 1971. Both parties applied for a new trial. Piper re-urged his application for a preliminary injunction, and Olinde's maintained that the entire proceedings should have been dismissed on the exception of no cause of action. A new hearing was granted on the application of both parties and was set for July 12, 1971. At that hearing the trial judge reversed his former ruling, annulled the default judgment, granted Piper's preliminary injunction, overruled Olinde's exception of no cause of action, and ordered Olinde's to return all wages seized from Piper.
*791 From this judgment Olinde's has appealed to this court alleging error by the trial judge in refusing to sustain its exception of no cause of action on the basis of valid service and a judgment not attacked directly for lack of service; and in granting a preliminary injunction where the loss to be sustained is money damage, without an allegation of irreparable injury and without the giving of a bond. Olinde's alleges error as well in the lower court's giving final judgment in effect annulling the default judgment of March 11, 1971, and ordering the return of wages seized under execution of that judgment, all on the mere hearing of the rule for the preliminary injunction."

The judgment of this court under date of March 13, 1972 reversed the trial court's decision awarding injunctive relief and also its judgment annulling Olinde's default judgment of March 11, 1971. The case was remanded to the District Court for trial on the merits.

The plaintiff in this suit, Henry Lee Piper, originally asked for trial by jury, but later waived the request. Olinde's posted a jury bond and requested a jury trial, which took place as requested. The trial judge refused to instruct the jury as requested by Olinde's however, and this failure forms a part of the grounds for Olinde's appeal. After due deliberation the jury returned the following verdict:

"Judgment is rendered in favor of plaintiff, Henry Lee Piper, and against the defendants, Olinde Hardware and Supply Company, Inc., and Willie Mae McGowan, jointly and in solido, annulling the judgment obtained on March 11, 1971, and in the sum of $2,000.00"

Judgment was signed accordingly by the trial judge, who interpreted the Jury's verdict as awarding plaintiff Two Thousand and no/100 ($2,000.00) Dollars as damages. He also ordered Olinde's to return to plaintiff Piper all monies taken through garnishment.

From this judgment both defendants appealed. Willie Mae McGowan specified the following errors in her appeal:

"1. The Trial Court erred in allowing the issue of fraud and/or forgery to be litigated.
2. The Trial Court erred in allowing an award of damages where the plaintiff failed to prove fraud of any nature.
3. The Trial Court erred in allowing recovery by plaintiff in a proceeding to collaterally attack a judgment where appellate procedure was open.
4. The Trial Court erred by allowing the plaintiff's pleadings to be expanded by oral testimony over objection by defendant.
5. The Trial Court erred in allowing a recovery of an award of damages for embarrassment and humiliation where the plaintiff failed to prove any special or general damages."

Olinde's assigned errors as follows:

"1. The trial court erred in refusing to sustain Olinde's exception of no cause of action filed in response to Piper's damage suit.
2. The trial court erred in refusing to dismiss Piper's damage suit as to Olinde on the basis of no cause of action.
3. The trial court erred in granting Piper any money damages against Olinde.
4.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Rivers v. Groth Corp.
680 So. 2d 762 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1996)
Scullin v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America
421 So. 2d 470 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1982)
Gant v. McGee
411 So. 2d 1191 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1982)
Homemakers Loan & Consumer Discount Co. v. Arthur
333 So. 2d 686 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1976)
Piper v. Olinde Hardware & Supply Company, Inc.
288 So. 2d 626 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1974)
Piper v. Olinde Hardware & Supply Co.
279 So. 2d 684 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1973)
Piper v. Olinde's Hardware & Supply Co.
279 So. 2d 689 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1973)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
276 So. 2d 788, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/piper-v-olindes-hardware-supply-company-inc-lactapp-1973.