LOUIS ANGELO AND LOUIS ANGELO INSURANCE AGENCY INC v. JOAN TRAMUTA (2017)

SMC

FHW

HJL

CHEHARDY, C.J.

Plaintiffs, Louis T. D'Angelo and Louis T. D'Angelo Insurance Agency, Inc., appeal the 24th Judicial District Court's May 2, 2016 judgment sustaining the dilatory exception of prematurity in favor of defendant, Joan Tramuta. After this appeal was lodged in this Court, it was determined that the district court's judgment was deficient because it lacked the requisite decretal language. Particularly, the judgment failed to specify the relief that was granted by sustaining the exception of prematurity, i.e., dismissal of claims.

Accordingly, on January 25, 2017, this Court, pursuant to its supervisory jurisdiction, ordered the district court to amend its judgment to specify the relief granted. On January 26, 2017, the district court amended its judgment, but declined to grant relief. The amended judgment provides in pertinent part:

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the Exception of Prematurity filed by the Defendant, Joan Tramuta, and against the Plaintiffs, Louis T. D'Angelo and Louis T. D'Angelo Insurance Agency, Inc., is hereby GRANTED, and this Court will consider no further motions in this matter until a final judgment is rendered in Case #748-614 in the Twenty-Fourth Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson.

The district court's decision to not specify the relief granted suggests that the court did not intend this judgment to be final and appealable. This interlocutory judgment is therefore subject to this Court's supervisory jurisdiction. Accordingly, we dismiss this appeal and instruct plaintiffs that review of the district court's judgment of May 2, 2016, as amended on January 26, 2017, may be sought pursuant to our supervisory jurisdiction. Should they so choose, plaintiffs may file a supervisory writ application within thirty days of this opinion.

DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, we dismiss this appeal, remand the matter, and instruct plaintiffs that, should they so choose, they may file a supervisory writ application within thirty days of this opinion.

APPEAL DISMISSED; REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CHIEF JUDGE

FREDERICKA H. WICKER

JUDE G. GRAVOIS

MARC E. JOHNSON

ROBERT A. CHAISSON

ROBERT M. MURPHY

STEPHEN J. WINDHORST

HANS J. LILJEBERG

JUDGES

FIFTH CIRCUIT

101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)

POST OFFICE BOX 489

GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054

www.fifthcircuit.org

CHERYL Q. LANDRIEU CLERK OF COURT

MARY E. LEGNON CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK

SUSAN BUCHHOLZ FIRST DEPUTY CLERK

MELISSA C. LEDET DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF

(504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX

NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY

I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY FEBRUARY 22, 2017 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

CHERYL Q. LANDRIEU CLERK OF COURT

16-CA-667

E-NOTIFIED

24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK)

HONORABLE DONALD A. ROWAN, JR. (DISTRICT JUDGE)

VINCENT J. BOOTH (APPELLEE)

MAILED

MICHAEL G. FANNING (APPELLANT)

GLENN D. PRICE, JR. (APPELLANT)

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

238 HUEY P. LONG AVENUE

GRETNA, LA 70053

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CHIEF JUDGE