Kimberly Hopkins v. Chase Alan Riley

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

KIMBERLY HOPKINS NO. 2025 CW 1225

VERSUS

CHASE ALAN RILEY MARCH 27, 2026

In Re: Kimberly Hopkins, applying for supervisory writs, 21st
Judicial District Court, Parish of Livingston, No.
162508.

BEFORE: McCLENDON, C.J., GREENE AND STROMBERG, JJ.

WRIT GRANTED. The district court’s November 12, 2025 judgment
which recused DeDe Ferrara and Frank Ferrara from representing
Kimberly Hopkins in this matter is reversed. There appears to be
no dispute that DeDe Ferrara represented Kimberly Hopkins in this
matter, engaging in discovery and court conferences, for
approximately one year prior to Chase Riley requesting
disqualification of counsel. Courts have found that the right to
urge disqualification of an opposing counsel may be waived by
failure to raise the issue early in the proceedings. Keith v.
Keith, 48,919 (La. App. 2d Cir. 5/15/14), 140 So.3d 1202, 1209,
citing Brasseaux v. Girouard, 214 So.2d 401 (La. App. 3d Cir.
1968), writ ref'td, 253 La. 60, 216 So.2d 307 (1968). See also
Marks v. Marks, 2021-741 (La. App. 5th Cir. 9/28/22), 349 So.3d
1071, 1077, citing Brasseaux (“Although the district-court record
in this matter was in limbo for six months before being transferred
to Jefferson Parish, Ms. De Luca's firm filed motions on Mr. Marks’
behalf in August 2020, soon after the case lodged in the 24th JDc.
Yet the motion to disqualify Ms. Thomas and her firm was not filed
until November 11, 2020, on the eve of a substantive hearing. The
failure to timely object to Ms. Thomas's representation of Ms.
Lazarone constitutes a tacit waiver of his objection to that
representation.”)

HG
TPS

McClendon, C.J., concurs.

*PEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT
PY K OF COURT
\ ) FOR THE COURT