Courtney Angelique Griffin v. Vernal Griffin

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

COURTNEY ANGELIQUE GRIFFIN NO. 2025 CW 0762
VERSUS

VERNAL LEE GRIFFIN NOVEMBER 3, 2025
In Re: Courtney Angelique Griffin, applying for supervisory

writs, Family Court in and for the Parish of East Baton
Rouge, No. 234216.

BEFORE : LANIER, WOLFE, AND HESTER, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED WITH ORDER. The trial court manifestly erred in
granting the defendant’s oral motion for involuntary dismissal of
the claims of the plaintiff, Courtney Angelique Griffin, for sole
custody pursuant to La. R.S. 9:364 and the Post-Separation Family
Violence Relief Act (“the PSFVRA”). Based on the testimony and
evidence the plaintiff offered at the June 13, 2025 hearing, we
find she presented sufficient evidence in her case~-in-chief to
establish that the defendant, Vernal Lee Griffin, has “a history
of perpetrating family violence” triggering the PSFVRA’s
presumption against awarding him sole custody or joint custody.
see La. R.S. 9:364. Accordingly, the trial court’s June 13, 2025
ruling, granting the involuntary dismissal, is reversed. The case
is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings to allow
the defendant, Vernal Lee Griffin, the opportunity to present
countervailing evidence and to complete the June 13, 2025 hearing
of this matter.

WIL

CHH

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

i

DAPUTY CLERK OF COURT
‘ FOR THE COURT