FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE # 032

FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

The opinions handed down on the 23rd day of April, 1998 , are as follows:

BY KNOLL, J. :

97-CD- 2985 PROGRESSIVE SECURITY INSURANCE COMPANY VS. HON. MURPHY J. FOSTER , IN HIS CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA, HON. JAMES H. "JIM" BROWN, IN HIS CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE, AND THE LOUISIANA INSURANCE RATING COMMISSION, THROUGH ITS CHAIRMAN, JAMES H. "JIM" BROWN C/W LAFAC, INC. v. HONORABLE RICHARD P. IEYOUB, IN HIS CAPACITY AS LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL, HONORABLE MURPHY J. FOSTER, IN HIS CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA, HONORABLE JAMES H. "JIM" BROWN, IN HIS CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE, AND THE LOUISIANA INSURANCE RATING COMMISSION, THROUGH ITS CHAIRMAN, JAMES H. "JIM" BROWN (Parish of East Baton Rouge)

For the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court correctly upheld the constitutionality of Act 1476. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the trial court. AFFIRMED.

Pursuant to Rule IV, Part 2, §3, Justice Marcus was not on panel. Recused.

JOHNSON, J. - dissents and assigns reasons . [Ed. Note: posted April 28, 1998]