Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Gov. v. Bendel Partnership

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT 22-521 consolidated with 22-406 and 22-432

LAFAYETTE CITY-PARISH CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT VERSUS BENDEL PARTNERSHIP (A PARTNERSHIP IN COMMENDAM), CIRCLE "A" FARM, INC., STACY ALBERT FARM, INC., AND SOUTHERN ACRES, LLC ********** APPEAL FROM THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, NUMBER C-2021-16273 “B” HONORABLE VALERIE GOTCH GARRETT, DISTRICT JUDGE ********** SHARON DARVILLE WILSON JUDGE ********** Court composed of Sylvia R. Cooks, Chief Judge, Billy Howard Ezell, and Sharon Darville Wilson, Judges.

JUDGMENT VACATED; ORIGINAL JUDGMENT REINSTATED AND AFFIRMED AS AMENDED; AND REMANDED.

Pride Justin Doran Raven C. Boxie DORAN & CAWTHORNE, PLCC East Landry Street Opelousas, Louisiana 70570 (337) 948-8008 Counsel for Defendant/Appellee/Cross-Appellant: Bendel Partnership, A Partnership in Commendam Sarah Harbison PELICAN INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC POLICY Poydras Street, Suite 900 New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 (504) 952-8016 Counsel for Amicus Curiae: Institute for Justice Christen Hebert INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE Congress Avenue, Suite 960 Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 480-3936 Counsel for Amicus Curiae: Institute for Justice Michael D. Hebert BECKER & HEBERT, LLC Rue Beauregard Lafayette, Louisiana 70508 (337) 233-1987 Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant/Cross-Appellee: Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Gregory J. Logan Lafayette City-Parish Attorney THE LOGAN LAW FIRM Jefferson Street Lafayette, Louisiana 70505 (337) 406-9685 Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant/Cross-Appellee: Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Camille Bienvenu Poche’ Karen T. Bordelon BABINEAUX, POCHÉ, ANTHONY & SLAVICH, LLC Post Office Box 52169 Lafayette, Louisiana 70505-2169 (337) 984-2505 Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant/Cross-Appellee: Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government Randall A. Smith L. Tiffany Hawkins SMITH & FAWER, LLC St. Charles Avenue, Suite 3702 New Orleans, Louisiana 70170 (504) 525-2200 Counsel for Defendant/Appellee/Cross-Appellant: Bendel Partnership (A Partnership in Commendam) Omar J. Thibeaux THE THIBEAUX FIRM E. Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 3200 Lafayette, Louisiana 70508 (337) 453-4663 Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellant/Cross-Appellee: Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government WILSON, Judge.

In this expropriation proceeding, both the landowner and the Lafayette City- Parish Consolidated Government (LCG) appeal multiple rulings from the trial court, which dismissed the expropriation petition, reserved the landowner’s claims for attorney’s fees and damages, and omitted an award of costs to the landowner, Bendel Partnership, A Partnership in Commendam (Bendel). For the reasons expressed in Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government v. Bendel Partnership, 22-432 (La.App. 3 Cir. ___/___/22), ___ So.3d ___, we find no manifest error in the trial court’s granting the motion to dismiss. However, we vacate the trial court’s May 26, 2022 judgment and reinstate the May 4, 2022 judgment and amend it to include the following language: “Bendel Partnership’s rights regarding any claims for attorney’s fees and/or damages are hereby reserved.” The matter is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. The Lafayette City-Parish Government is cast with all costs of this appeal.

JUDGMENT VACATED; ORIGINAL JUDGMENT REINSTATED AND AFFIRMED AS AMENDED; AND REMANDED.