State in the Interest of B.s, K.S., L.S., J.S., B.S., Jr.

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

12-81

STATE OF LOUISIANA IN THE INTEREST OF
B.S., K.S., L.S., B.S., Jr., AND J.S.

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APPEAL FROM THE
FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF CALCASIEU, JUVENILE DOCKET NO. 24153
HONORABLE ROBERT L. WYATT, DISTRICT JUDGE

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JAMES T. GENOVESE
JUDGE

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Court composed of James T. Genovese, Shannon J. Gremillion, and Phyllis M.
Keaty, Judges.

EXCEPTION OF LACK OF JURISDICITON SUSTAINED.
EXCEPTION OF NO CAUSE OF ACTION NOT CONSIDERED.
MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL GRANTED.

N.S.
Post Office Box 17134
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70616
(337) 496-4532
In Proper Person

J. Wade Smith
Post Office Box 1706
Lake Charles, Louisiana
(337) 436-8424
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
N.S.

B.S., Sr.
Post Office Box 17134
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70616
(337) 496-4532
In Proper Person

Douglas K. Hall
1011 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 316
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601
(337) 564-6722
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
B.S., Sr.

Richard B. Scandrett, III
Children’s Advocacy Program
1 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 1585
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601
COUNSEL FOR THE MINOR CHILDREN:
B.S., K.S., L.S., B.S., Jr., and J.S.

Nicholas Pizzolatto, Jr.
4250 5th Avenue
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70607
(337) 475-3037
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana, Department of
Children and Family Services

Stephen A. Berniard, Jr.
1011 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 500
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601
(337) 436-9481
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana, Department of
Children and Family Services

John F. DeRosier - District Attorney, 14th Judical District
Ronald A. Rossitto - Assistant District Attorney, 14th Judicial District
Post Office Box 3206
Lake Charles, Louisiana 70602-3206
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:
State of Louisiana

GENOVESE, Judge.

In this children in need of care (CINC) case, N.S. and B.S., Sr., the

biological parents of B.S., K.S., L.S., B.S., Jr., and J.S.,1 appeal the trial court

judgment declaring their children to be in need of care. On appeal, the parents

have filed a Peremptory Exception of No Cause of Action, and the State of

Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), has filed a

Peremptory Exception of Lack of Jurisdiction and a Motion to Dismiss the Appeal.

For the following reasons, we grant DCFS’s exception and motion and are without

legal authority to consider the parents’ exception.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On May 31, 2011, the trial court signed an instanter order placing the minor

children, B.S., K.S., L.S., B.S., Jr. and J.S., in the custody of DCFS. Following a

continued custody hearing that was attended by both parents and their attorneys on

June 3, 2001, the children remained in DCFS’s custody. On August 11–12, 2011,

the trial court held an adjudication hearing which was also attended by both parents

and their attorneys. At the adjudication hearing, N.S. and B.S., Sr., through their

respective attorneys, indicated in open court that an agreement had been reached,

and each admitted that their children were in need of care. Each parent likewise, in

open court, verbally confirmed their understanding of the admission. Accordingly,

the trial court signed a CINC adjudication judgment on August 12, 2011, expressly

stating that the parents “stipulate that the children are in need of care without

admitting to the allegations of the petition.” A Letter Notice of Judgment was sent

to each of the attorneys representing the parents on August 16, 2011. Neither N.S.

nor B.S., Sr. filed a motion for new trial. N.S. and B.S., Sr. filed a Motion for

Appeal from the August 12, 2011 judgment on November 22, 2011.

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Pursuant to Uniform Rules―Courts of Appeal, Rules 5─1 and 5─2, the initials of the parties
are used to protect and maintain the privacy of the minor children involved in this proceeding.

LAW AND DISCUSSION

In this case, the trial court signed the CINC adjudication judgment on

August 12, 2011, and it is undisputed that a Letter Notice of Judgment was sent by

the clerk of court to the respective attorneys of N.S. and B.S., Sr., on August 16,

2011. Therefore, since the parents did not file a motion for new trial, the deadline

for their filing of a motion for appeal was August 31, 2011, fifteen days from the

mailing of notice of the judgment as per La.Ch.Code art. 332.2 The parents did not

2
Louisiana Children’s Code Article 332 provides:

A. Except as otherwise provided within a particular Title of this Code,
appeals shall be taken within fifteen days from the mailing of notice of the
judgment. However, if a timely application for a new trial is made pursuant to
Paragraph C, the delay for appeal commences to run from the date of the mailing
of notice of denial of the new trial motion.

B. Notice of judgment, including notice of orders or judgments taken
under advisement, shall be as provided in Code of Civil Procedure Article 1913.

C. After judgment is signed, a party may make a written request for a
motion for new trial on any ground provided by law. The delay for applying for a
new trial is three days, exclusive of holidays, and shall commence to run from the
mailing of notice of judgment. A motion for new trial shall be decided
expeditiously and within seven days from the date of submission for decision.

Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 1913 provides:

A. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of the signing of a final
judgment, including a partial final judgment under Article 1915, is required in all
contested cases, and shall be mailed by the clerk of court to the counsel of record
for each party, and to each party not represented by counsel.

B. Notice of the signing of a default judgment against a defendant on
whom citation was not served personally, or on whom citation was served through
the secretary of state, and who filed no exceptions or answer, shall be served on
the defendant by the sheriff, by either personal or domiciliary service, or in the
case of a defendant originally served through the secretary of state, by service on
the secretary of state.

C. Notice of the signing of a default judgment against a defendant on
whom citation was served personally, and who filed no exceptions or answer,
shall be mailed by the clerk of court to the defendant at the address where
personal service was obtained or to the last known address of the defendant.

D. The clerk shall file a certificate in the record showing the date on
which, and the counsel and parties to whom, notice of the signing of the judgment
was mailed.

E. Repealed by Acts 2008, No. 824, § 5, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.

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pursue a new trial, and their Motion for Appeal was not filed until November 22,

2011; accordingly, it was untimely. Given their failure to timely seek appellate

relief, this court is without jurisdiction to consider the merits of the parents’

appeal;3 therefore, DCFS’s Peremptory Exception of Lack of Jurisdiction is

sustained.4

Additionally, we find merit in DCFS’s Motion to Dismiss the Appeal. The

trial court’s August 12, 2011 CINC adjudication judgment contains a stipulation of

the parents, through their respective attorneys, that the children were in need of

care. This judgment is a consent judgment from which an appeal may not be

taken. La.Code Civ.P. art. 2085.5 Therefore, because this court lacks jurisdiction

to consider an untimely appeal, and because this matter presents an attempt to

appeal a non-appealable judgment, the Motion to Dismiss the Appeal is granted.

DECREE

For the reasons assigned, the Peremptory Exception of Lack of Jurisdiction

filed by the State of Louisiana, Department of Children and Family Services, is

sustained, and its Motion to Dismiss the Appeal is granted. Costs of this appeal are

assessed to N.S. and B.S., Sr.

EXCEPTION OF LACK OF JURISDICITON SUSTAINED.
EXCEPTION OF NO CAUSE OF ACTION NOT CONSIDERED.
MOTION TO DISMISS APPEAL GRANTED.

3
Parish of Jefferson v. McGee, 11-76 (La.App. 5 Cir. 5/24/11), 67 So.3d 640.
4
Because this court is without jurisdiction, it is likewise without legal authority to consider the
merits of the Peremptory Exception of No Cause of Action filed by N.S. and B.S., Sr. on appeal.
5
Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 2085 provides:

An appeal cannot be taken by a party who confessed judgment in the
proceedings in the trial court or who voluntarily and unconditionally acquiesced
in a judgment rendered against him. Confession of or acquiescence in part of a
divisible judgment or in a favorable part of an indivisible judgment does not
preclude an appeal as to other parts of such judgment.

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