In Re Matter Under Investigation by the Jefferson Parish Office of Inspector General No. 2018-0028 ( 2019 )


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  • IN RE MATTER UNDER INVESTIGATION BY                    NO. 19-CA-485
    THE JEFFERSON PARISH OFFICE OF                         C/W
    INSPECTOR GENERAL NO. 2018-0028                        19-CA-486
    C/W                                                    FIFTH CIRCUIT
    MARK SPEARS                                            COURT OF APPEAL
    VERSUS                                                 STATE OF LOUISIANA
    JEFFERSON PARISH OFFICE OF
    INSPECTOR GENERAL
    ON APPEAL FROM THE TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
    PARISH OF JEFFERSON, STATE OF LOUISIANA
    NO. 789-232 C/W 793-101, DIVISION "I"
    HONORABLE NANCY A. MILLER, JUDGE PRESIDING
    December 11, 2019
    STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
    JUDGE
    Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker,
    Stephen J. Windhorst, and John J. Molaison, Jr.
    MOTION TO DISMISS GRANTED; APPEAL DISMISSED
    SJW
    FHW
    JJM
    COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT,
    JEFFERSON PARISH OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
    Kim C. Raines Chatelain
    COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE,
    COUNCILMAN MARK SPEARS
    Richard T. Simmons, Jr.
    W. Evan Plauche'
    Michael L. Cohen
    WINDHORST, J.
    Appellant, the Jefferson Parish Office of Inspector General (“JPOIG”) appeals
    the trial court’s June 21, 2019 judgment granting the petition for declaratory
    judgment filed by Councilman Mark Spears, an elected member of the Jefferson
    Parish Council, and ordering the JPOIG to provide Councilman Spears a “fair
    description of the subject matter of the subpoena ad testificandum, and of any
    documents to be reviewed during his interview, so that he may assert any legislative
    privilege that may exist prior to being interviewed.” Appellee, Councilman Spears,
    has filed a Contested Motion to Dismiss Appeal for Lack of Jurisdiction and to
    Suspend Briefing Delays, arguing that on October 21, 2019, this Court vacated the
    June 21, 2019 judgment and remanded the matter for further proceedings.
    Therefore, he argues that this Court lacks jurisdiction. Finding that the June 21,
    2019 judgment was vacated on October 21, 2019, we grant the motion and dismiss
    this appeal.
    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    The JPOIG is a department of the Jefferson Parish government created by
    Jefferson Parish Code of Ordinances (“JPCO”) §2-155.10. The JPOIG may make
    investigations and examinations, within or outside of the State of Louisiana as it
    deems necessary, in order to carry out the duties of its mandate under law, and may
    gather evidence in any legally appropriate manner. La. R.S. 33:9613 A(1). In the
    performance of its duties, an office of inspector general may compel the attendance
    of witnesses to be deposed under oath by issuing a subpoena upon judicial approval
    from the trial court. La. R.S. 33:9613 A(3). If a person refuses to obey a subpoena
    issued by the JPOIG, the trial court may issue an order requiring the person to appear
    before the trial court to show cause why an order shall not be issued ordering such
    person to obey the subpoena. Id.
    19-CA-485 C/W 19-CA-486                   1
    Councilman Spears is an elected official and is subject to the jurisdiction of
    the JPOIG. La. R.S. 33:9613. It is the duty of every official to cooperate with the
    JPOIG in any investigation.      JPCO §2-155.10(19).      JPOIG has asserted that
    commencing in 2018, it made several attempts, to no avail, to schedule an interview
    with Councilman Spears in regards to an open matter under the investigative
    jurisdiction of the JPOIG.
    Pursuant to La. R.S. 33:9613 A(3), the JPOIG initiated a summary proceeding
    by filing a motion for subpoena ad testificandum in the 24th Judicial District Court,
    In re Matter Under Investigation by the Jefferson Parish Office of Inspector General,
    case number 789-232, Division “I,” seeking approval from the trial court for the
    issuance of a subpoena ad testificandum to Councilman Spears. On November 30,
    2018, the trial court granted an order authorizing the JPOIG to issue the subpoena
    ad testificandum. Councilman Spears was served with the subpoena ordering him
    to appear at the JPOIG’s office on December 7, 2018 to be interviewed, to which
    Councilman Spears did not appear. On December 12, 2018, the JPOIG filed a
    Motion for Show Cause Hearing on Subpoena Ad Testificandum, which was set for
    January 10, 2019. The matter was continued without date on Councilman Spears’
    unopposed motion to continue and reset hearing.
    On March 14, 2019, Councilman Spears filed a Petition for Declaratory
    Judgment, an ordinary proceeding, in the 24th Judicial District Court entitled Mark
    Spears v. Jefferson Parish Office of Inspector General, No. 793-101, Division “A.”
    The petition sought a judgment declaring that prior to being interviewed,
    Councilman Spears is entitled to a fair description of the subject matter of the
    subpoena ad testificandum and of any documents to be reviewed in regards with his
    interview, in order that he may be able to evaluate whether the subject matter or
    documents may be subject to any legislative immunity or privilege afforded him by
    law.
    19-CA-485 C/W 19-CA-486                   2
    On March 27, 2019, the JPOIG filed a motion to reset hearing on its subpoena
    ad testificandum and for sanctions. JPOIG’s motion was set for hearing on April 25,
    2019. Councilman Spears filed an opposition. On April 25, 2019, JPOIG’s rule to
    show cause on its subpoena ad testificandum and for sanctions was continued to May
    30, 2019.
    On April 30, 2019, the JPOIG filed a motion to transfer and consolidate the
    petition for declaratory judgment pending in Division “A,” with the rule to show
    cause on the JPOIG’s subpoena ad testificandum and for sanctions in Division “I.”
    The trial court set the motion to transfer and consolidate for hearing on May 30,
    2019.
    On May 30, 2019, the trial court granted the motion to consolidate. The same
    day, the trial court in Division “A” agreed to transfer the petition for declaratory
    judgment to Division “I” and a judgment was signed transferring and consolidating
    the matters. After argument of counsel, the trial court also granted the petition for
    declaratory judgment ordering the JPOIG to provide a fair description to
    Councilman Spears as to the subject matter in order that he may assert any privilege
    prior to being interviewed, and a fair description of any documents which will be
    reviewed with Councilman Spears during the interview. On June 21, 2019 the trial
    court issued a written judgment granting Councilman Spears’ petition for declaratory
    judgment.
    JPOIG filed a request for written reasons and a notice of intent to seek
    supervisory writs of the trial court’s June 21, 2019 judgment. On July 19, 2019, the
    trial court issued written reasons in which the trial court stated that Councilman
    Spears’ petition for declaratory judgment came before the trial court on May 30,
    2019. By separate motion and order filed on July 19, 2019, the JPOIG also filed a
    motion for appeal of the June 21, 2019 judgment. JPOIG’s writ application was
    19-CA-485 C/W 19-CA-486                   3
    filed with this Court on July 29, 2019. The appeal was lodged with this Court on
    October 3, 2019.
    On October 21, 2019, after considering JPOIG’s supervisory writ application
    seeking review of the June 21, 2019 judgment, this Court granted the writ for the
    limited purpose of vacating the trial court’s June 21, 2019 judgment and remanding
    the matter for further proceedings. In re Matter Under Investigation by the Jefferson
    Parish Office of Inspector General c/w Mark Spears v. Jefferson Parish Office of
    Inspector General, 19-359 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/21/19) (unpublished writ disposition).
    On appeal, the JPOIG seeks review of the trial court’s June 21, 2019
    judgment. Councilman Spears filed a contested motion to dismiss this appeal
    asserting that because the trial court’s June 21, 2019 judgment was vacated by this
    Court on October 21, 2019, this Court now lacks jurisdiction and the appeal should
    be dismissed pursuant to La. C.C.P. art. 2162. The JPOIG filed an opposition to the
    motion to dismiss arguing that “the basis for the court’s jurisdiction is the order
    granting an appeal which was signed on July 22, 2019.”
    DISCUSSION
    Before considering the merits in any appeal, appellate courts have the duty to
    determine sua sponte whether subject matter jurisdiction exists, even when the
    parties do not raise the issue. Input/Output Marine Sys. v. Wilson Greatbatch Techs.,
    Inc., 10-477 (La. App. 5 Cir. 10/29/10), 
    52 So.3d 909
    , 910. This Court cannot reach
    the merits of an appeal unless our jurisdiction has been properly invoked by a valid
    final judgment. Id.; Gabriel v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 16-210 (La. App. 5 Cir.
    10/19/16), 
    202 So.3d 1184
    , 1185-1186; Morraz-Blandon v. Voiron, 16-112 (La.
    App. 5 Cir. 08/25/16), 
    199 So.3d 1220
    , 1221; See also La. C.C.P. art. 2083.
    After review of this matter, we find that the June 21, 2019 judgment appealed
    in this case was previously vacated by this Court on October 21, 2019, leaving no
    judgement for this Court to review on appeal.         We therefore lack appellate
    19-CA-485 C/W 19-CA-486                   4
    jurisdiction in this matter. Accordingly, Councilman Spear’s motion to dismiss
    appeal is granted, and this appeal is dismissed.
    MOTION TO DISMISS GRANTED; APPEAL DISMISSED
    19-CA-485 C/W 19-CA-486                   5
    SUSAN M. CHEHARDY                                                            CURTIS B. PURSELL
    CHIEF JUDGE                                                                  CLERK OF COURT
    MARY E. LEGNON
    FREDERICKA H. WICKER
    CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
    JUDE G. GRAVOIS
    MARC E. JOHNSON
    ROBERT A. CHAISSON                                                           SUSAN BUCHHOLZ
    STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
    FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
    HANS J. LILJEBERG
    JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.                         FIFTH CIRCUIT
    MELISSA C. LEDET
    JUDGES                                 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
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    NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
    I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED
    IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY
    DECEMBER 11, 2019 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES
    NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:
    19-CA-485
    C/W 19-CA-486
    E-NOTIFIED
    24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT (CLERK)
    HONORABLE NANCY A. MILLER (DISTRICT JUDGE)
    KIM C. RAINES CHATELAIN (APPELLANT)    RICHARD T. SIMMONS, JR. (APPELLEE)
    MAILED
    W. EVAN PLAUCHE' (APPELLEE)            MICHAEL L. COHEN (APPELLEE)
    ATTORNEYS AT LAW                       ATTORNEYS AT LAW
    ONE GALLERIA BOULEVARD                 ONE GALLERIA BOULEVARD
    SUITE 1400                             SUITE 1400
    METAIRIE, LA 70001                     METAIRIE, LA 70011
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 19-CA-485

Judges: Nancy A. Miller

Filed Date: 12/11/2019

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 10/21/2024