THE DESCENDANTS PROJECT NO. 24-C-276 VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT LUCIEN J. GAUFF, III, ASSESSOR AND COURT OF APPEAL GREENFIELD LOUISIANA, LLC STATE OF LOUISIANA

July 15, 2024 Linda Wiseman First Deputy Clerk

IN RE GREENFIELD LOUISIANA, LLC APPLYING FOR SUPERVISORY WRIT FROM THE FORTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT, PARISH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA, DIRECTED TO THE HONORABLE VERCELL FIFFIE, DIVISION "A", NUMBER 79,485

Panel composed of Judges Stephen J. Windhorst, John J. Molaison, Jr., and Amanda L. Calogero, Pro Tempore

WRIT GRANTED; STAY LIFTED; REMANDED The plaintiffs/respondents, The Descendants Project (“TDP”), filed a lawsuit at the 40th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. John the Baptist, which alleges that the relator, Greenfield Louisiana LLC (“Greenfield”), has engaged in a simulated sale of the property to avoid ad valorem taxes. The parties narrowed the scope of documents TDP sought through discovery to 11,341 items. After that, TDP filed a motion to compel discovery, which the trial court granted after a hearing on April 22, 2024. The Order limits the documents to those which are “responsive” and “non-privileged” that are produced by the following search terms: a. "Port" or "POSL"; b. "PILOT" or "payment in lieu of taxes"; c. "cooperative endeavor agreement"; d. "Descendants Project", and: e. "Gauff.” Greenfield filed the instant writ application on time, along with a request to stay the trial court’s ruling pending further action by this court. This Court granted Greenfield’s request for a stay, and we have now addressed the merits of the writ application.

The courts must liberally and broadly construe discovery statutes to achieve their objectives. Testa Distributing Co., Inc. v. Tarver, 584 So.2d 300 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1991). La. C.C.P. art. 1422 provides that “[p]arties may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, which is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action.” A party seeking to compel discovery bears the burden of proving that the matters sought to be discovered are relevant. Id. The standard of review for discovery matters is abuse of discretion. Favrot v. Favrot, 12-1573 (La. App. 4 Cir. 5/1/13), 115 So.3d 1190.

The record before us is limited. After reading TDP’s petition, we conclude that the basis of its lawsuit is an alleged simulated sale between Greenfield and the Port of South Louisiana. Greenfield asserted at the hearing that it had already “produced all the documents that relate to the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement.”

It objected to producing documents related to alleged payments it had made to individuals who attended a site visit. It also objected to producing all documents related to the name “Descendants Project” based on relevancy because TDP has multiple lawsuits involving Greenfield. It further objected to the generality of the search terms, which resulted in 11,341 items.

A party seeking to compel discovery bears the burden of proving that the matters sought to be discovered are relevant. Testa Distributing Co., Inc. v. Tarver, 584 So.2d 300 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1991). Concerning TDP’s request for the production of documents responsive to 13, 15, 16, 17, and 20 and response to Interrogatory No. 18, we find that TDP has not sufficiently demonstrated that the information sought about attendees at a meeting is relevant to the cause of action defined in their lawsuit. There are further limitations to discovery when justice requires that a party or other person be protected from annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden or expense. Stolzle v. Safety & Systems Assur.

Consultants, Inc., 02-1197 (La. 5/24/02), 819 So.2d 287, 289. After a review of the application, we find that the trial court’s wholesale imposition of the search terms upon Greenfield, without any additional specifications, is likely to result in an unnecessary expense to this party.

For these reasons, we find the trial court abused its discretion, grant the relator’s writ application, and vacate the order compelling discovery in its entirety dated May 21, 2024. The June 20, 2024 stay granted by this Court is hereby lifted.

We remand the matter for further proceedings.

Gretna, Louisiana, this 15th day of July, 2024.

JJM SJW ALC SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT

SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ FREDERICKA H. WICKER CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK JUDE G. GRAVOIS MARC E. JOHNSON STEPHEN J. WINDHORST LINDA M. WISEMAN JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIRST DEPUTY CLERK SCOTT U. SCHLEGEL TIMOTHY S. MARCEL FIFTH CIRCUIT MELISSA C. LEDET JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053) DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF POST OFFICE BOX 489 GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400 (504) 376-1498 FAX www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE DISPOSITION IN THE FOREGOING MATTER HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 4-6 THIS DAY 07/15/2024 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, THE TRIAL COURT CLERK OF COURT, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE COUNSEL OF RECORD FOR EACH PARTY, AND TO EACH PARTY NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

24-C-276 E-NOTIFIED 40th District Court (Clerk) Honorable Vercell Fiffie (DISTRICT JUDGE) Peter J. Butler, Jr. (Respondent) Clare M. Bienvenu (Relator) William B. Most (Respondent) Richard G. Passler (Respondent) MAILED Louis E. Buatt (Relator) Caroline Gabriel (Respondent) Brian A. Eddington (Respondent) Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Attorney at Law 1200 Camellia Boulevard 201 St. Charles Avenue 2111 Quail Run Drive Suite 300 Suite 2500 No. 9685 Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Lafayette, LA 70508 New Orleans, LA 70170 Paul M. Adkins (Relator) Kayla M. Jacob (Respondent) Attorney at Law Attorney at Law Laurel Street 909 Poydras Street Suite 1601 Suite 1500 Baton Rouge, LA 70801 New Orleans, LA 70112 SENDER: COMP/ CTE THIS SECTION COf,1/'LE"T/" 7111S SECTION ON 0£:Lii/£:HY

■ Complete Items 1, 2, and 3. A. Signature ■ Print your name and address on the reverse □ Agent so that we can return the card to you. □ Addressee ■ Attach this card to the back of the ITlcllJplece, • Date of Delivery or on the front If space permtts. 1- 'i- 1. Article Addrllssed to; □ Yes Louis E. Buatt □ No Attorney at Law 1200 Camellia Boulevard Suite 300 Lafayette, LA 70508 24-C'-276 07~ 15-24 Ill IIIIIIIII IIII IllI IIII I IIII II 111111111111111 9590 9402 2434 6249 3566 37 3. Service Type □ Adult Signalur9 .Q Mult Signabn Ralll1c:t.d OelllefY l!I Cer1flled Maile □ Pllottty Mall Elcpwls9 □ Regllltenld Mall"' ~ Mall R1811fc:ted □ Certlfted Mall Rletr1c1ad DelMlry □ Collect on DeliYely

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Caroline Gabriel If YES, ent« dellvely address below: 0 No Attorney at Law I St. Charles A venue Suite 2500 No. 9685 New Orleans, LA 70170 24-C-276 07-15-24 3. Service Type o Pl1otlly Mall &pl98d i 1111111111111111111111111 im 1111111111 11111 ~~~ ~RestrlcledDIMy Q Rlglata'9d MaJlTM □~MallRest,lcled 9590 9402 2434 6249 3566 51 □ Certllled Mall Rellrlcc.d Dellwry ~~ ==="" Recelpttbr □ Collect on 0e11very Mele/la ldlM _ _ .,.....,.,N,_umber--m"",.,-ns....,~,-.,,."""from_se_rwce~/abelJ~-,,-----~ ~-~ ~Aellrlc:ted DeOwry _2._Article g a1 b 2 a7 o aaao a9 s4 ab as •Rell1rlolad 0ellvery Relll1cted Dellwry PS Form 3811, July 2015 PSN 7530-02--000-9053 Domestic Return Rec:elpt : SENDER: COMPL£ TE THIS SE.CT/ON ■ Complete Items 1, 2, and 3. ■ Print your name and address on the reverse so that we can return the card to you. ■ Attach this card to the back of the mallplece, or on the front If space permits.

1. Miele Addr9$Sed to: D. Is dellYery addresa different from Item 17 If YES, enter delivery address below: Brum A. Eddington Attorney at Law I I I Quail Run Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808 24-C-276 07-15-24 3. Service Type O Prlollly Mall ecpre.e o Adult Signature a Aegllllered Ma1TN II lllllll 1111111111111111111111111111111111111 ~FlellrlcwdDellvllry a ~ Mall Reatrlcted 9590 9402 2434 6249 3566 44 a Certllled Mall Rellrtcl8d Da11ve1y ~•Aeoelpt fi:11' O Colleton~ MeR:Nl'ldl9e -2-.-Artlcl--e-Number--{Ti-iansfer--from-serv/ce--,-....,,,..---- a Collect on Dellwry Rsstrlcted Dellvay a Signature Conl!nnatlon"' ~-, ~ ~- _ ., ··-· 0 $9llllln Conllmla!lon aJ.b 2 a7 a aaaa a9 s4 asci ci uRaatrlcted Dellvery Restrict.c! Dellvery PS Form 3811, July 2015 PSN 7530-02--000-9053 Domestic Return Receipt ;