The Congregation of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church of the Parish of Calcasieu v. Sam Istre Construction, Inc.

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

17-1186

THE CONGREGATION OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF THE PARISH OF CALCASIEU D/B/A
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL SCHOOL

VERSUS

SAM ISTRE CONSTRUCTION, INC., ET AL.

38 RRR OK

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI FROM THE
FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF CALCASIEU, DOCKET NO. 2017-830
HONORABLE DAVID A. RITCHIE, DISTRICT JUDGE

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VAN H. KYZAR
JUDGE

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Court composed of Elizabeth A. Pickett, Billy H. Ezell, Phyllis M. Keaty, John E.
Conery, and Van H. Kyzar, Judges.

WRIT DENIED.

Sean P. Mount

Anne E. Medo

Bryce M. Addison

DEUTSCH KERRIGAN, LLP

755 Magazine Street

New Orleans, LA 70130

(504) 581-5141

COUNSEL FOR RELATOR/APPLICANT:
Sam Istre Construction, Inc.

Thomas A. Filo

Cox, Cox, Filo, Camel & Wilson, LLC

723 Broad Street

Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 436-6611

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF:
The Congregation of the Immaculate Conception Roman
Catholic Church of the Parish of Calcasieu d/b/a
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School

L. Paul Foreman

Raggio, Cappel, Chozen & Berniard

1011 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 500

Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 436-9481

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF:
The Congregation of the Immaculate Conception Roman
Catholic Church of the Parish of Calcasieu d/b/a
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School

Maurice L. Tynes

Maurice L. Tynes & Associates, PLC

4839 Ihles Road

Lake Charles, LA 70605

(337) 479-1173

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT:
Western Surety Company

Jack E. Truitt

The Truitt Law Firm, LLC

149 North New Hampshire Street

Covington, LA 70433

(985) 327-5266

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT:
Morgan Roofing Company, Inc.

Marshall M. Redmon
Phelps Dunbar, LLP

365 Canal Place, Suite 2000
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 566-1311

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT:
Morgan Roofing Company, Inc.

Kay A. Theunissen

Paul D. Escott

Mahtook and Lafleur

600 Jefferson Street, Suite 1000

Lafayette, LA 70501

(337) 266-2189

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT:
Associated Design Group, Inc.

Michael J. Williamson

Plauche, Smith, & Nieset, LLC

1123 Pithon Street

Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 436-0522

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT:
Ricky Bellon, LLC

James A. Mijalis
Lunn, Irion, Salley, Carlisle & Gardner, APLC
330 Marshall Street, Suite 500
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318) 222-0665
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT:
Employers Mutual Casualty Company

Adrian G. Nadeau
J. Weston Clark
The Long Law Firm, LLP
1800 City Farm Drive, Building 6
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
(225) 922-5110
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANTS:
C.R. Fugatt
AIA Architects
XL Specialty Insurance Company

Michael E. Parker

Allen & Gooch

2000 Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite 400

Lafayette, LA 70508

(504) 836-5200

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT:
Vigo Masonry, Inc.

Kyzar, J.

Relator, Sam Istre Construction, Inc. (Sam Istre Construction), seeks
supervisory writs from the judgment of the trial court which denied its exception of
peremption. For the reasons set forth herein, we deny the writ and return the
matter to the trial court for further proceedings.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This case involves a lawsuit filed by Plaintiff, the Congregation of The
Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church of the Parish of Calcasieu d/b/a
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School. In 2010, Plaintiff solicited bids for the
construction of a three-story addition to Plaintiff's existing school building, to be
done in accordance with architectural plans and specifications drafted by Fugatt
Architects. Relator, Sam Istre Construction, won the bid for the $2 million South
Annex project and commenced construction in 2011. The Certificate of
Substantial Completion was recorded on March 14, 2012. After completion of the
project, Plaintiff's school officials gradually began noticing defects, such as tar-
like drippings on the third floor and rust around the perimeter of the third-floor
metal roof deck. Midway through 2016, Plaintiff began investigating the water
and moisture intrusion issues in the South Annex. While investigating in January
2017, Plaintiff discovered mildew and mold behind the bookshelves on the exterior
wall of the library on the first floor of the South Annex.

On March 2, 2017, Plaintiff filed the instant lawsuit, asserting breach of
contact claims as well as negligent construction and other tort claims, against
various architects and contractors, including Relator, Sam Istre Construction.
Additionally, Plaintiff asserted claims under the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practice
and Consumer Protection Act (LUTPA), La.R.S. 51:1401, et seq, against Sam Istre

Construction for allegedly engaging in unfair trade practices by substituting

inferior, non-approved materials and/or omitting materials required by the plans
and specifications. Relator filed an exception of peremption, seeking dismissal of
Plaintiff's LUTPA claim against it. Following a hearing, the trial court denied the
exception. Sam Istre Construction filed this application in docket number 17-1186
for supervisory writs with this court, seeking review of the judgment denying its
exception of peremption.
OPINION

LUTPA provides that “[u]nfair methods of competition and unfair or
deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby
declared unlawful.” La.R.S. 51:1405(A). The act allows for a private cause of
action.

Any person who suffers any ascertainable loss of money or
movable property, corporeal or incorporeal, as a result of the use or
employment by another person of an unfair or deceptive method, act,
or practice declared unlawful by R.S. 51:1405, may bring an action
individually but not in a representative capacity to recover actual
damages. If the court finds the unfair or deceptive method, act, or
practice was knowingly used, after being put on notice by the attorney
general, the court shall award three times the actual damages
sustained. In the event that damages are awarded under this Section,
the court shall award to the person bringing such action reasonable
attorney fees and costs. Upon a finding by the court that an action
under this Section was groundless and brought in bad faith or for
purposes of harassment, the court may award to the defendant
reasonable attorney fees and costs.

La.R.S. 51:1409(A).

Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:1409(E) currently states that “[t]he action
provided by this section shall be prescribed by one year running from the time of
the transaction or act which gave rise to this right of action.” In discussing
LUTPA, this court has recognized the following:

The Unfair Trade Practices Law states that “[u]nfair methods of
competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of

any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful.” La.R.S.
51:1405(A). Jurisprudence has held that a practice is considered

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unfair, in the context of the unfair trade practices law, when it offends
public policy and when the practice is unethical, oppressive,
unscrupulous, or substantially injurious to consumers or business
competitors. See Inka’s S’Coolwear, Inc. v. Sch. Time, L.L.C., 97-
2271 (La.App. | Cir. 11/6/98), 725 So.2d 496. The determination of
what constitutes an unfair trade practice is fact-sensitive and, as such,
can only be decided on a case-by-case basis. See Vermilion Hosp.,
Ince. v. Patout, 05-82 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/8/05), 906 So.2d 688.
Louisiana’s unfair trade practices law gives a right of action to anyone
who suffers any ascertainable loss of money or movable property,
corporeal or incorporeal, as the result of an unfair trade practice and
provides for the recovery of actual damages, including court costs and
attorneys’ fees. See La.R.S. 51:1409.

Doland v. ACM Gaming Co., 05-427, pp. 7-8 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/30/05), 921 So.2d
196, 202.

Relator asserts that this court and other Louisiana state and federal courts
have consistently held that the one-year time limitation set forth in La.R.S.
51:1409(E) is peremptive, and not prescriptive. See Canal Marine Supply, Inc. v.
Outboard Marine Corp., 522 So0.2d 1201 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1988); Glod v. Baker, 04-
1483 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/23/05), 899 So.2d 642, writ denied, 05-1574 (La. 1/13/06),
920 So.2d 238. Relator, therefore, asserts that Plaintiff's LUTPA claims against it
are subject to a one-year peremptive period. Relator notes that, although the
construction of the school annex was completed in March 2012, Plaintiff did not
file the instant lawsuit until March 2, 2017, five years later. As such, Relator
maintains that Plaintiff's LUTPA claims against it are barred by peremption.

“Peremption is a period of time fixed by law for the existence of a right.
Unless timely exercised, the right is extinguished upon expiration of the
peremptive period.” La.Civ.Code art. 3458. Peremption may not be renounced,
interrupted, or suspended. La.Civ.Code art. 3461. In contrast, when claims are
subject to a prescriptive, rather than peremptive, period, “prescription may be
renounced, interrupted, or suspended, and contra non valentem applies an

exception to the statutory prescriptive period where in fact and for good cause a

plaintiff is unable to exercise his cause of action when it accrues.” Borel v. Young,
07-419, pp. 8-9 (La. 11/27/07), 989 So.2d 42, 49, reversed on rehearing on other
grounds, (La. 7/1/08) (citations omitted).

In the instant case, Plaintiff takes the position that the one-year time period
established by La.R.S. 51:1409(E) for the filing of a LUTPA claim is a prescriptive
period, and thus, subject to interruption or suspension. Plaintiff alleges that when a
brick exterior veneer was removed from the East side of the South Annex, adjacent
to the library, it was discovered that Relator had failed to install the insulation that
was called for in the construction plans. Plaintiff contends that instead of installing
a specified insulation wrap, Tyvek by Dupont, Relator used a non-approved,
cheaper house-wrap. Plaintiff also contends that this improper house-wrap
substitution is the cause of the moisture intrusion, which lead to rusting of the steel
beams and growth of mold and mildew inside the South Annex.

Plaintiff maintains that the fraudulent substitutions and omissions giving rise
to its LUTPA claims against Relator were hidden and not discovered or
discoverable until the brick wall was removed. The subject lawsuit was filed
within one year of the wall removal and subsequent discovery. According to
Plaintiff, its LUTPA claims against Relator were timely filed because the one-year
time period allotted for filing a LUTPA claim is prescriptive and subject to
interruption or suspension during the time in which Relator’s fraudulent acts
prevented Plaintiff from discovering its LUTPA cause of action. Plaintiff argues
that it is inconceivable that the legislature intended to include a one-year
peremptive period for a LUTPA claim involving fraud and deceit, especially since
virtually all other peremptive statutes provide for a time period longer than one

year and contain exceptions for fraud and/or fraudulent concealments.

Plaintiff acknowledges that this court and other Louisiana appellate courts,
as well as various federal courts, have held that the one-year time period set forth
in La.R.S. 51:1409(E) is peremptive, despite the fact that the express wording of
the statute itself describes the time period as prescriptive. However, Plaintiff
asserts that the holdings in those cases are incorrect and further notes that Relator
has not cited any Louisiana Supreme Court decisions holding that the time period
provided in La.R.S. 51:1409(E) is peremptive. Additionally, Plaintiff maintains
that the appellate court cases, which hold that La.R.S. 51:1409(E) establishes a
peremptive period, were based on the proposition that a limitation period is
peremptive, rather than prescriptive, if it is contained in the statute giving rise to
the cause of action. However, Plaintiff asserts that that proposition was rejected by
the Louisiana Supreme Court in Borel, 989 So.2d 42.

On rehearing in Borel, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that both the one-
year and three-year periods set forth in La.R.S. 9:5628 for filing medical
malpractice claims are prescriptive. Plaintiff notes that in reaching that conclusion,
the Louisiana Supreme Court looked to the plain wording of La.R.S. 9:5628 and
concluded that because there was nothing in the statute showing that the legislature
intended for the one- and three-year time periods for filing medical malpractice
actions to be peremptive, the time periods for filing malpractice actions are
prescriptive. Plaintiff argues that the same conclusion should be reached regarding
the time period for filing LUTPA claims. Accordingly, Plaintiff asserts that the
trial court correctly refused to write into La.R.S. 51:1409(E) a peremptive period
which the legislature has never chosen to include in that statute. We agree.

Louisiana Revised Statutes 51:1409(E) specifically states that any LUTPA

3

action “shall be prescribed by one year[.]” When a law is clear and unambiguous

and its application does not lead to absurd consequences, the law shall be applied

5

as written and no further interpretation may be made in search of the intent of the
legislature. La.Civ.Code art. 9. Although the courts are obliged to construe the
law so as to effectuate its purpose, this duty does not include license to ignore the
law’s clear and unambiguous terms or to refrain from enforcing the law in
accordance with its plain meaning. Bank of New York v. Parnell, 10-435 (La.
11/30/10), 56 So.3d 160, cert. denied, 565 U.S. 817, 132 S.Ct. 98 (2011).

In its writ application, Relator points out that the Bore/ case on which
Plaintiff relies dealt exclusively with medical malpractice claims and does not
address the time period for filing LUTPA claims. Also, Relator contends the Borel
decision did not serve to do away with the long-standing policy of finding that a
time limitation period included in a statute which creates a cause of action is
peremptive rather than prescriptive. Relator argues that the time delays for filing a
medical malpractice claim are not peremptive because the Louisiana Medical
Malpractice Act (LMMA), La.R.S. 40:1231.1, et seq., did not create the right to
file a tort action, including a medical malpractice claim. In that regard, Relator
notes that the right to file suit existed long before the passage of the LMMA. To
the contrary, the right to file LUTPA claims was established by the LUTPA statute
itself. As such, Relator maintains that the time period for filing LUTPA claims is
peremptive, as reflected in our Jurisprudence.

We find no merit to Relator’s argument, based upon both our reading of
La.Civ.Code art. 9 and the recent acts of the Louisiana Legislature. Act No. 337 of
the 2018 Louisiana Regular Session, which shall go into effect on August 1, 2018,
changes the wording of La.R.S. 51:1409(E) (emphasis added) to read: “The action
provided by this Section shall be subject to a liberative prescription of one year
running from the time of the transaction or act which gave rise to this right of

action.” This suggests to us that the legislature always intended the time period to

6

be prescriptive and that this amendment merely clarifies and interprets an existing
law. Thus, though this amendment is not yet in effect, we find it to be interpretive.
“[I]nterpretive legislation does not create new rules, but merely establishes the
meaning that the interpreted statute had from the time of its enactment. It is the
original statute, not the interpretive one, that establishes rights and duties.” Ardoin
v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co., 360 So.2d 1331, 1339 (La.1978). Further,
as interpretive legislation does not establish new rights but merely determines the
meaning of existing laws, it may be applied to facts occurring prior to its
promulgation. /d. Thus, we find the time period provided in La.R.S. 51:1409(E)
for the filing of LUTPA claims to be prescriptive, rather than peremptive, and that
the trial court did not err in so holding.
DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, the instant writ application is denied. The case is

remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.

WRIT DENIED.