Zeller v. Louisiana Cypress Lumber Co.

121 So. 670, 9 La. App. 609, 1928 La. App. LEXIS 371
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 29, 1928
DocketNo. 11,194
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 121 So. 670 (Zeller v. Louisiana Cypress Lumber Co.) 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
Zeller v. Louisiana Cypress Lumber Co., 121 So. 670, 9 La. App. 609, 1928 La. App. LEXIS 371 (La. Ct. App. 1928).

Opinions

WESTERFIELD, J.

Willis Zeller, a boy sixteen years of age, was accidentally killed in the course of his employment on the thirteenth day of October, 1921, in the Parish of St. James, and near the line dividing the Parish of St. James from the Parish of St. John the Baptist. The father of the boy, Ozanne Zeller, brought suit in the Parish of St. John the Baptist against the Louisiana Cypress Lumber Company, Ltd., and George Cousin, claiming- compensation in his own behalf and in behalf of his minor children. -

[610]*610The Louisiana' Cypress Lumber Company, Ltd., filed an exception to the jurisdiction of the court ratione personae, upon the ground that its domicile was in the parish of Jefferson and it had no agent in the Parish of St. John the' Baptist on whom process could be served. The lumber company also filed an exception of want of authority in plaintiff to institute the suit and of no cause of action and vagueness. George Cousin filed his same exceptions urged by his co-defendant, with the addition of an exception of prescription of one. year.

All exceptions were overruled and answers were filed denying liability, the defendant, Louisiana Cypress Lumber Company, Ltd., praying for judgment against its co-defendant, George Cousin, in the event that it should be held liable for such sum as it may be condemned by such judgment to pay.

The exception to the jurisdiction was submitted to the court with the merits of the case and plaintiff insists that in so doing the defendants have voluntarily submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court, citing: Tupery vs. Edmondson, 32 La. Ann. 1146; Iddle vs. Hamler Boiler Co., 132 La. 476, 61 So. 532; Bank vs. Johnson, 130 La. 288, 57 So. 930; Andrews vs. Sheehy, 125 La. 222, 51 So. 122; Martel vs. Block, 154 La. 863, 98 So. 398, and authorities there cited.

Strangely enough, the form of the exception to the jurisdiction seems to have been confused by defendant, for in this court counsel argues this exception as though it had been based upon the fact that the cause of action arose in the Parish of St. James and not in the Parish of St. John the Baptist. However, we. think the authorities cited by plaintiff disposes of this exception.

As to the capacity of Ozanne Zeller to maintain this action, this exception, and the exception of no cause of action will be considered together, for they involve the same contentions and are treated in that manner by counsel for defendant.

Both exceptions were based upon the fact that plaintiff has failed to qualify as tutor of his minor children. Answering this argument, plaintiff directs our attention to subsection “j” of Section 8 of the Compensation Law, which provides:

“Where there is a surviving widow or widower and child or children entitled to compensation, the compensation above described shall be paid to the widow or widower for the common benefit of such widow or widower and child and the appointment of a tutor shall not be necessary. Where there is no surviving parent, payment shall be made to the tutor.”

In reply defendants admit that the plaintiff is a widower but contend that the language of the statute can only be interpreted to mean that a widow or widower need not qualify as tutrix or tutor when the deceased for whose death compensation is claimed was the wife or husband, as the case may be; and that, whereas, in this case, the deceased is the child, the fact that the claimant, his father, is a widower, is immaterial. This argument would be more persuasive were it not for the fact that the subsection referred to, which is found in Section 8 of the Act, as amended by Act 247 of 1920, follows other provisions which enumerate the beneficiaries entitled to compensation, and include the widow, or widower alone, the widow or widower with one or more children, children alone with no widow or widower, and brothers and sisters alone. Besides, the concluding sentence in the paragraph quoted, to the effect that — “where there is no surviving parent, payment shall be made [611]*611to the duly authorized tutor” — would indicate .that the law- intended to exempt the natural tutor or tutrix from the necessity of qualifying. We see no good reason to compel the father or mother, suing for the death of their child, to qualify as the tutor, and exempt the father or mother from that requirement when suing with the child for the death of husband or wife.

The exception of vagueness, not having been pressed in limine, will not be considered.

The plea of prescription of one year is based upon the fact that the defendant, Cousin, was not served with citation until June 5, 1923, more than one year after the death of Willis Zeller. The appropriate provision of the Compensation Law, Section 31, reads:

“That in case of personal injury (including death resulting therefrom) all claims for payments shall be forever barred * * * unless within one year after the injury proceedings have been begun as provided in Sections 17 and 18 of this Act.”

Plaintiff’s position in regard to this exception is that under the terms of the quoted section, it is only necessary to begin proceedings, and that citation is not essential, and in the alternative that under R. C. C. 2090, 2097, the service upon any debtor in solido interrupts prescription as, to all. The defendant, Louisiana Cypress Lumber Company, Ltd., having been cited within a year, and this action being in solido against both defendants, it is suffi cient that one of them should have beei served.

Our attention is called to the fact tha' under Section 27 of Act 267 of 1914 the mere filing of a suit against a corporation has the effect of interrupting prescription. Norwood vs. Lake Bisteneau Oil Company, 145 La. 823, 83 So. 25.

As to the necessity of citation to interrupt prescription see Brown vs. Goodpine Lumber Co., 8 La. App. 125.

Before discussing the effect of the filing of suit, or the institution of proceedings, upon the interruption of prescription, or whether citation is necessary in all cases, except in suits against corporations, we will consider the alleged solidary liability of the two defendants, for if defendant Cousin is liable in solido with the other defendant, Article 2097, R. R. C., applies, and prescription has been interrupted as to both defendants. It is contended that the Louisiana Cypress Lumber Company is not liable at all, and that the exception of no cause of action should have been maintained, because, according to the petition, the deceased was at the time of the accident in the exclusive employ of George Cousin, for- whom he was working, and who alone had control over him.

A reference to the petition discloses the fact that it is there alleged, that Cousin was a contractor, employed in getting out timber from the cypress company by means of a skidder, and cable, and that Zeller was working for Cousin, and “incidentally, through the said George Cousin, was working in the employ of the said Louisiana Cypress Lumber Company.” Much is made out of the use of the word “incidentally” by plaintiff’s counsel, the suggestion being that it is practically conceded that the deceased was not in the employ of the Louisiana Cypress Company, in any sense, at the time of his death; and, in the alternative, it is contended that if the petition itself is not conclusive, the record is, and the record is quoted to emphasize the fact that the deceased was an employee of the defendant Cousin, and not of the cypress company.

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

Related

Cavalier v. City of New Orleans
273 So. 2d 303 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1973)
Fuentes v. District Court of Puerto Rico
73 P.R. 893 (Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, 1952)
Fuentes v. Tribunal de Distrito de Puerto Rico
73 P.R. Dec. 959 (Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, 1952)
Don George, Inc. v. Paramount Pictures, Inc.
111 F. Supp. 458 (W.D. Louisiana, 1951)
Gray v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co.
36 F. Supp. 780 (W.D. Louisiana, 1941)
Lutz v. Long-Bell Lumber Sales Corp.
153 So. 319 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1934)
Galt v. Travelers' Ins. Co.
141 So. 105 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1932)
Hoy v. T. S. Grayson Lumber Co.
130 So. 651 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1930)
Seabury v. Arkansas Natural Gas Corp.
127 So. 25 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1930)
Jackson v. Forest Product Chemical Co.
121 So. 676 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1929)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
121 So. 670, 9 La. App. 609, 1928 La. App. LEXIS 371, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/zeller-v-louisiana-cypress-lumber-co-lactapp-1928.