State ex rel. Department of Highways v. Neyrey
State ex rel. Department of Highways v. Neyrey
Opinion of the Court
As a result of two expropriation proceedings instituted against Henry G. Neyrey, Jr. and John R. Neyrey, record owners of the expropriated immovable property located in Jefferson Parish, the Department of Highways deposited in the registry of the trial court the total amount, including interest, determined to be the value of the land taken plus damages.
Relator then applied to this court for 'writs complaining that the trial court was without authority to render the second judgment of July 27, 1972 and seeking reinstatement of the first judgment of July 19, 1972. We granted an alternative Writ of Certio-rari and the matter is now before us on that writ. With our permission amicus curiae briefs have been filed by two individuals and two corporations opposing relator and one individual in support of relator’s position.
Three of the opponents allegedly are creditors of the relator, with judgments and seizures against him and which said judgments were recorded in the Parish of Jefferson. The fourth opponent allegedly is an assignee of all of relator’s interest in this expropriation suit and the record contains a copy of that alleged assignment which was filed in these proceedings on June 9, 1969. The individual who
Relator’s primary contention is that the trial judge was without authority to recall and set aside his judgment of July 19, 1972. He also contends that, in view of a compromise entered into by various creditors and a judgment rendered recognizing that compromise, the judgment of July 19, 1972 was correct. We find there is insufficient evidence in the record at this time to justify any conclusion on our part regarding the second contention.
Regarding relator’s primary contention, that the trial judge was without authority to render the second judgment of July 27, 1972 on his own motion and without a contradictory proceeding of any kind, we are now of the opinion that a consideration of that contention is not material tO‘ our conclusion. For we are now satisfied, both by the trial judge’s reasons for annulling and setting aside his July 19, 1972 judgment and by what is revealed by the record itself, that some of the actual facts were unknown to the trial judge, and that there may have been misrepresentations made to him, either or both of which resulted in the first judgment. Thus, an injustice may be done to relator’s creditors if they are not given an opportunity to be heard. Under LSA-C.C.P. Art. 2164, at this stage of the proceedings we do have the authority to prevent such a possible injustice.
We note that we cannot accomplish this purpose if we only annul and set aside the second judgment of July 27, 1972. Such action, alone, would permit disbursement of the remaining deposit under the first judgment of July 19, 1972 and effectively deprive the creditors of an opportunity to be heard.
For the reasons assigned, it is ordered that the alternative Writ of Certiorari
Writ made peremptory.
. See State of Louisiana, Through the Department of Highways v. Neyrey, Jr., et al., La.App., 240 So.2d 586 and La.App., 260 So.2d 739.
. LSA-C.C.P. Art. 2164 provides we shall render any judgment -which is just, legal and proper upon the record before us.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.