JANIS GORDON v. FORD MOTOR COMPANY THE LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY (2026)

Writ application granted. See per curiam.

JLW

JBM

JMG

CRC

AHP

Supreme Court of Louisiana June 02, 2026

SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA

No. 2026-C-00371

JANIS H. GORDON

VS.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY D/B/A THE LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY

On Writ of Certiorari to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, Parish of Jefferson

PER CURIAM.

Writ granted. Louisiana Constitution article V, § 8(B) provides in relevant part that “[a] majority of the judges sitting in a case shall concur to render judgment. However, in civil matters only, when a judgment of a district court ․ is to be modified or reversed and one judge dissents, the case shall be reargued before a panel of at least five judges prior to rendition of judgment, and a majority shall concur to render judgment.”

In this civil matter, a three-judge panel of the court of appeal rendered an opinion reversing the judgment of the district court. Because one judge of the three-judge panel dissented, the court of appeal erred in failing to direct that the case be reargued before a five-judge panel as required by La. Const. art. V, § 8(B). Accordingly, the judgment of the court of appeal is vacated and set aside, and the case remanded to the court of appeal for re-argument before a five-judge panel. See Bailey v. Khoury, 03-0165, p. 1 (La. 4/4/03), 845 So. 2d 1037, 1038.

Hughes, J., dissents and would deny. Griffin, J., dissents and would deny.