July 2, 2012 - 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 #039</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;The Opinions handed down on the&nbsp;2nd day of July, 2012, are as follows:&nbsp;BY JOHNSON, J.: <a href="/opinions/2012/11CC2377.opn.pdf">2011-CC-2377	ANN BERNARD, ET AL. v. ANTOINETTE ELLIS, ET AL.</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans)For the above reasons, we find that Plaintiffs, as guest passengers, were using Ann Bernard&rsquo;s vehicle. Further, based on the facts of this case, we find that the accident arose out of the Plaintiffs&rsquo; use of the vehicle. Thus, we hold that Plaintiffs are liability insureds under the Imperial policy, and therefore entitled to UM coverage under the policy. Imperial&rsquo;s motion for partial summary judgment was properly denied. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED TO THE TRIAL COURT FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.VICTORY, J., dissents for reasons assigned by Justice Guidry. GUIDRY, J., dissents and assigns reasons. CLARK, J., dissents for reasons by Justice Guidry.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY VICTORY, J.: <a href="/opinions/2012/11C2648.opn.pdf">2011-C -2648	PETER D. VIZZI, M.D., A MEDICAL CORPORATION v. LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Lafayette)For the reasons stated herein, the judgments of the lower courts are reversed and judgment is rendered granting Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government&rsquo;s motion for summary judgment and dismissing the case with prejudice. REVERSED AND RENDERED.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY KNOLL, J.: <a href="/opinions/2012/12CC0043.opn.pdf">2012-CC-0043	JACQUELINE T. HODGES AND HRC SOLUTIONS, INC. (FORMERLY KNOWN AS MED-DATA MANAGEMENT, INC.) v. KIRK REASONOVER, ESQ., ALFRED A. OLINDE, JR., ESQ. AND REASONOVER &amp; OLINDE, LLC.</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans)The judgment of the lower courts is affirmed, and the matter is remanded to the district court for further proceedings. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED.KIMBALL, C.J., dissents with reasons. JOHNSON, J., concurs in result. VICTORY, J., dissents and assigns reasons. WEIMER, J., concurs and assigns reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY GUIDRY, J.: <a href="/opinions/2012/11CA2226.opn.pdf">2011-CA-2226	LOUISIANA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, EAST BATON ROUGE FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, JEFFERSON FEDERATION OF TEACHERS VERNON L. BOLDEN, VENICE GUNNER-HOLIDAY, TERI ANN JOHNSON &amp; RACHEL RASBERY v. STATE OF LOUISIANA &amp; THE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY &amp; SECONDARY EDUCATION</a>&nbsp;(Parish of E. Baton Rouge)The instant case presents no justiciable controversy currently amenable to resolution by this court. LFT has failed to demonstrate any real hardship requiring pre-enforcement review of the statute. It is not certain that a waiver will be requested or granted under the statute, and LFT will not be harmed by declining review of the statute at this point in time. Therefore, we reverse the decision of the trial court declaring La. Rev. Stat. 17:4041, et. seq. unconstitutional. REVERSED.JOHNSON, J., dissents and assigns reasons.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11C2566.opn.pdf">2011-C -2566	JERRI G. SMITKO v. GULF SOUTH SHRIMP, INC.</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Terrebonne)Accordingly, the trial court&rsquo;s ruling granting summary judgment and quieting title is reversed, and the matter is remanded to that court for further proceedings.&nbsp; REVERSED AND REMANDED.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY CLARK, J.: <a href="/opinions/2012/11KA0958.opn.pdf">2011-KA-0958	STATE OF LOUISIANA v. JOSHUA DION WILLIAMS</a>&nbsp;(Parish of E. Baton Rouge)(Second Degree Murder)For the reasons set forth above, we reverse the trial court&rsquo;s granting of defendant&rsquo;s motion to quash his indictment, and remand to that court for further proceedings in accordance with this decision.KIMBALL, C.J., dissents and assigns reasons. WEIMER, J., concurs and assigns reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;PER CURIAM: <a href="/opinions/2012/11OB0778.pc.pdf">2011-OB-0778	IN RE: SAM JUDE HOLLOWAY</a>Retired Judge Thomas C. Wicker, Jr., assigned as Justice ad hoc, sitting for Associate Justice John L. Weimer, recused.Accordingly, it is ordered that the application for admission be and hereby is denied.&nbsp; ADMISSION DENIED.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11K1174.pc.pdf">2011-K -1174	STATE OF LOUISIANA v. COURTNEY PAUL SAVOY</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Rapides) (Simple Escape)Accordingly, the decision below setting aside defendant&rsquo;s sentence as excessive is reversed and this case is remanded to the court of appeal for consideration of defendant&rsquo;s pro se claim pretermitted on original appeal that his resentencing as a habitual offender to a term of imprisonment twice as long as originally imposed does not comport with due process of law. DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL REVERSED; CASE REMANDED.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11K1609.pc.pdf">2011-K -1609	STATE OF LOUISIANA v. MARY HENDERSON TRAHAN</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Lafayette) (Second Degree Murder)We therefore reverse the decision below, reinstate respondent&rsquo;s conviction for second degree murder and life sentence, and remand the case to the district court for execution of sentence.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11CK1701.pc.pdf">2011-CK-1701	STATE IN THE INTEREST OF C.D.</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans)(Distribution of Heroin)We therefore find no clear error in the juvenile court&rsquo;s determination defendant delivered the packet of heroin to Charles. The decision of the court of appeal is therefore reversed, the juvenile court&rsquo;s adjudication of delinquency is reinstated, and this case is remanded to the juvenile court for purposes of executing its disposition order.JOHNSON, J., dissents and assigns reasons.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11K2238.pc.pdf">2011-K -2238	STATE OF LOUISIANA v. RICKY CURE</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans) (Possession of Heroin)Accordingly, the decision below is reversed, defendant&rsquo;s conviction and sentence are reinstated, and this case is remanded to the district court for purposes of execution of sentence.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11C2638.pc.pdf">2011-C -2638	JAMES MERCER v. NABORS DRILLING USA, L.P.</a>&nbsp;(Office of Workers&rsquo; Compensation, District 2)For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the court of appeal is reversed. The judgment of the Office of Workers&rsquo; Compensation granting summary judgment in favor of Nabors Drilling USA, LP is reinstated, at claimant&rsquo;s cost.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11C2678.pc.pdf">2011-C -2678	HENRY MARANGE, JR. v. CUSTOM METAL FABRICATORS, INC., ET AL.</a>&nbsp;(Office of Workers&rsquo; Compensation, District 3)For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the court of appeal is reversed, and the judgment of the Office of Workers&rsquo; Compensation is reinstated.&nbsp;<a href="/opinions/2012/11C2711.pc.pdf">2011-C -2711	TANYA LATO PONCETI, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF KAITLYN ELIZABETH PONCETI v. FIRST LAKE PROPERTIES, INC. D/B/A THE WOODLANDS, AND JOHN DOE</a>(Parish of St. Tammany)For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the district court is reversed. Summary judgment of First Lake Properties, Inc. d/b/a the Woodlands and John Doe is granted, dismissing plaintiff's suit with prejudice.GUIDRY, J., recused.&nbsp;
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