July 2, 2003 - Opinions - Louisiana Supreme Court

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<table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="90%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td valign="top" width="63%">FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE</td><td valign="top" width="37%"><div align="right">NEWS RELEASE #048</div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td valign="top">FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA</td><td valign="top">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;<div style="text-align:justify;">The Opinions handed down on the&nbsp;2nd day of July, 2003&nbsp;, are as follows:&nbsp;BY CALOGERO, C.J.&nbsp;:&nbsp; <a href="/opinions/2003/02c1479.opn.pdf">2002-C -1479 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ANR PIPELINE COMPANY v. LOUISIANA TAX COMMISSION,&nbsp;MALCOLM B. PRICE, JR., CHAIRMAN OF THE LOUISIANA TAX COMMISSION, KENNETH P. NAQUIN,JR., MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA TAX COMMISSION, AND RUSSEL R. GASPARD, MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA TAX COMMISSION</a> (Parish of E. Baton Rouge) The decision of the court of appeal reversing the trial court judgment granting the LTC'S exception of prematurity is affirmed. The case is remanded to the court of appeal for consideration of the LTC's exception of no cause of action. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.Retired Judge Walter F. Marcus, Jr., assigned as Justice ad hoc, sitting for Associate Justice John L. Weimer, recused.KIMBALL, J., dissents and assigns reasons. KNOLL, J., dissents for reasons assigned by Kimball, J.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY JOHNSON, J.&nbsp;:<a href="/opinions/2003/02cc2601.opn.pdf">2002-CC-2601 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C/W &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2002-CC-2603 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; HAROLD ROSS PERRITT, ET UX v. GRANT DONA, M.D., ET AL&nbsp;C/W ROGER ARNOLD,&nbsp; M.D., ET UX v. GRANT A. DONA, M.D. C/W ELLA RICHMOND v. DOUGLAS C. BROWN, M.D.</a> (Parish of Ouachita) For the reasons set forth above, we conclude that the lower courts correctly ruled that interrogatories are not permissible in the medical review panel proceeding. We also affirm the court of appeal's finding that plaintiffs are not required by the MMA to allege the standard of care breached by the health care providers. However, we reverse the court of appeal's ruling that the plaintiffs can be required to respond in the district court to exceptions of no cause of action and/or vagueness. AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED IN PART.
 VICTORY, J., concurs. WEIMER, J., concurs and assigns additional reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY KNOLL, J.&nbsp;: &nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2003/02c1539.opn.pdf">2002-C -1539 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CHAD A. MCLIN v. INDUSTRIAL SPECIALTY CONTRACTORS, INC.&nbsp;</a>AND CNA INSURANCE COMPANIES (Office Of Workers' Compensation District 05) For the above and foregoing reasons, the judgment of the hearing officer and the court of appeal is reversed and the case is remanded to the hearing officer for an award of workers' compensation benefits. REVERSED AND REMANDEDVICTORY, J., dissents and assigns reasons. WEIMER, J., dissents for the reasons assigned by Victory, J.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2003/02c3102.opn.pdf">2002-C -3102 &nbsp;&nbsp;C/W&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2002-C -3110 &nbsp;&nbsp; CLIFFORD DAVIS, JR., ET AL. v. CHARLES WITT, ET AL.</a> (Parish of St. &nbsp;&nbsp; Martin) For the foregoing reasons, we reverse and set aside the judgment of the lower courts which found Sheriff Charles A. Fuselier, Sheriff of St. Martin Parish, liable and dismiss the plaintiffs' action against him. We further reverse the lower courts' order of a new trial and reinstate the jury's determination that the State of Louisiana, through the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, was not liable. REVERSED AND RENDERED.JOHNSON, J., concurs in part, dissents in part and assigns reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY WEIMER, J.&nbsp;:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2003/02cc2675.opn.pdf">2002-CC-2675 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ROCKY WAYNE DAVID v. OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HOSPITAL,&nbsp;INC.</a> (Parish of E. Baton Rouge) The judgments of the district court and the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, overruling the peremptory exception of prescription filed by Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, Inc. are reversed, and the exception is sustained. In lieu of dismissal of Rocky Wayne David's claim, the case is remanded to the trial court to allow plaintiff fifteen days from the finality of this opinion to file an amended petition pleading the unconstitutionality of the statute at issue. In default of such amendment, plaintiff's suit is dismissed. If the plaintiff elects to amend, the district court shall conduct proceedings according to law and consistent with the views expressed in this opinion. REVERSED AND REMANDED.Retired Judge Moon Landrieu, assigned as Justice ad hoc, sitting in place of Justice Catherine D. Kimball, recused.CALOGERO, C.J., dissents and assigns reasons. JOHNSON, J., dissents and assigns reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
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