Transamerica Life Insurance Company Versus Bruce Fusulier, Jr., Tonya I. Gegenheimer, and Susan Bunny

• Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
• Decided: December 16, 2022
• Docket: 22-C-548
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

TRANSAMERICA LIFE NO. 22-C-548 INSURANCE COMPANY FIFTH CIRCUIT VERSUS COURT OF APPEAL BRUCE FUSULIER, JR., TONYA I. GEGENHEIMER, AND SUSAN BUNNY STATE OF LOUISIANA

December 16, 2022

Linda Wiseman First Deputy Clerk

IN RE TONYA GEGENHEIMER

APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE ROBERT J. BURNS, JUDGE PRO TEMPORE, DIVISION "M", NUMBER 759-140

Panel composed of Judges Jude G. Gravois, Marc E. Johnson, and Robert A. Chaisson

WRIT GRANTED

On the showing made, we find that the trial court legally erred when it failed to fix the bond for a suspensive appeal of the September 21, 2022 partial final judgment. We further find that the trial court erred when it converted relator’s motion for a suspensive appeal into a devolutive appeal. While an appellant must file both the petition for appeal and furnish the security within the delay period allowed in La. C.C.P. art. 2123, when the motion for appeal has been timely filed, the appeal may still be perfected if the tardy filing of the security is imputable to the court system rather than the appellant. Blue, Williams & Buckley v. Brian Investments, Ltd., 96-1451 (La. App. 1 Cir. 6/20/97), 706 So.2d 999, 1002, writ denied, 97-2192 (La. 11/21/97), 703 So.2d 1311. Accordingly, we grant relator’s writ and instruct the trial court to set the bond amount for a suspensive appeal of the September 21, judgment. We additionally instruct the trial court to amend its October 27, 2022 order of appeal to grant the suspensive appeal requested, provided that relator posts the bond within 15 days from the date the bond is set.

Gretna, Louisiana, this 16th day of December, 2022.

RAC JGG MEJ

22-C-548 SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL

CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER INTERIM CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN STEPHEN J. WINDHORST FIRST DEPUTY CLERK HANS J. LILJEBERG JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS DAY 12/16/2022 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

22-C-548 E-NOTIFIED 24th Judicial District Court (Clerk) Honorable Robert J. Burns, Judge Pro Tempore (DISTRICT JUDGE) Honorable Frank A. Brindisi (DISTRICT JUDGE) Gretchen F. Richards (Respondent) Kate C. Casanova (Relator) Kelly Gayle Juneau Rookard (Respondent)

MAILED Edward W. Trapolin (Respondent) John E. Sudderth (Relator) Attorney at Law Leo M. Prange, III (Relator) 400 Poydras Street Attorney at Law Suite 2700 917 North Causeway Boulevard New Orleans, LA 70130 Metairie, LA 70001 SENDER: COMPLETE THIS SECTION

• Complete Items 1, 2, and 3. • Print your name and adc:IAISS on the reverse ao that we can return the card to you. • Attach this card to the back of the mallplece, C. Date of Oellvery or on the front If space permits. 1. Article Add~ to: D. Is delivery addreea different from ll8m 1? D Yes If YES, enter dellVery address below: 0 No EdW3rd W. Trapolin Attorney c:t Law 400 Poydras Street Suite 2700 New Orleans, LA 70130 22-C-548 12-16-22

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PS Form 3811, July 2015 PSN 7530-02--000-9053 Domestic Return Receipt ' ---.I

• Complete Items 1, 2, and 3, • Print your name and address on the reverse 0Agent so that we can retum the card to you. a AddTessee c. Date of Delivery • Attach this card to the back of the mallplece, or on the front If space permits. 1. Article Addressed to: D. addr9S8 dllferent from Item 1? 0 Yes If YE6, enter dellvely address below: 0 No Leo M. Prange, III Attorney at Law 917 North Causeway Boulevard Metairie, LA 7000 I 22-C-548 12-16-22

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