FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE # 72

FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

The Opinions handed down on the 18th day of September, 2001 , are as follows:

BY JOHNSON, J. :

2001-CA- 0009 LOUISIANA PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY v. MURPHY J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA (Parish of E. Baton Rouge)

For the foregoing reasons, we hold that the LPFA is not protected by La. Const. Art. I, § 23, as it is not a private citizen. We also hold that Act 1238 does not violate La. Const. Art. III, § 15, as it does not violate the "one object" requirement, and the amended version of the bill is relative or pertinent to the bill as introduced. We also hold that Act II of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2000 does not violate La. Const. Art. III, § 16(A), as it was enacted pursuant to the legislature's power to regulate funds to operate state government. Accordingly, we reverse the district court's ruling that Acts 915, 1238, and 1323 of the 1999 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, and Act II of the Second Extraordinary Session of 2000 are unconstitutional.

REVERSED.

Philip C. Ciaccio, Justice Pro Tempore, sitting for Associate Justice Harry T. Lemmon.

CALOGERO, C.J., concurs and assigns reasons.

VICTORY, J., concurs in the result.

KNOLL, J., concurs in the result.

BY WILLIAMS, J. Pro Tempore :

2001-CC- 0175 CLECO CORPORATION v. LEONARD JOHNSON AND LEGION INDEMNITY COMPANY (Parish of St. Tammany)

The court of appeal's decision to reverse the trial court's ruling and grant defendants' exception of no cause of action is hereby reversed, and this matter is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

Judge Felicia Toney Williams of the Second Circuit Court of Appeal, assigned as Justice Pro Tempore, sitting for Associate Justice Bernette J. Johnson; Retired Judge Robert L. Lobrano, assigned as Justice Pro Tempore, sitting for Associate Justice Harry T. Lemmon.

KIMBALL, J., concurs and attaches reasons.

VICTORY, J., dissents and assigns reasons.

TRAYLOR, J., dissents for reasons assigned by Victory. J.

PER CURIAM :

2000-K- 1258 STATE OF LOUISIANA v. EARNEST L. MURRAY (Parish of St. Tammany) (Two Counts of Attempted First Degree Murder)

The decision below is therefore reversed, the respondent's convictions and consecutive sentences are affirmed, and this case is remanded to the district court for execution of sentence.

JUDGMENT REVERSED; CASE REMANDED.

Retired Judge Robert L. Lobrano, assigned as Justice Pro Tempore, participating in the decision.