Louisiana Personal Injury Lawyer Blog
In Louisiana, determining the allocation of fault is an important part of lawsuits because it directly impacts the damages you can be awarded. If you are found 40% at fault, then you will only be able to collect damages for 60% of total damages.
Bordelon was employed by Avoyelles Parish School Board as the girls’ basketball coach for Marksville High School. Bordelon held practice on Sunday, but showed up with allegedly an alcoholic beverage in his hand and allegedly appeared highly agitated. The next day, Bordelon did not arrive at school. The school principal, Allgood, and another coach went to Bordelon’s home to check on him. Bordelon told them he did not want them there. Later that day, Bordelon went to school and met with the principal. Bordelon was heard screaming and cursing. He then left the school and Allgood followed him. They got in a fight, the specifics of which are disputed. Allgood sought medical treatment for his injuries. Allgood then filed a lawsuit against Bordelon and the Avoyelles Parish School Board.
There was no dispute that Bordelon battered Allgood, so the case focused on whether Allgood contributed to the battery. The jury found that Allgood was 60% at fault, so he was awarded no money. Allgood appealed, arguing that the jury erred in assigning him 60% of the fault in causing the battery because he did not commit any intentional act that caused or contributed to the battery. Allgood also argued that the jury erred in failing to award him any general damages or damages for future medical expenses.
Under La. C.C. art. 2323 (2017), court must assess the fault of all parties who intentional conduct contributed to the plaintiff’s damages. After a trial court has made a determination about the allocation of fault, the appellate court reviews the finding under the manifest error standard. Under the manifest error standard, the initial determinations of fault will only be reversed if there was no reasonable factual basis for the findings and the finding is clearly wrong (manifestly erroneous). Purvis v. Grant Par. Sch. Bd., 144 So. 3d 922, 926 (La. 2014). The appellate court reviews the amount of damages awarded under the abuse-of-discretion, which looks at whether the amount of damages awarded fell outside an amount that is reasonable under the court’s discretion.
On appeal, the Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit found that Bordelon’s testimony about what happened during the fight was so at odds with every other witness, that it was not reasonable for the trial court to have given his testimony so much weight. In contrast, Allgood’s testimony was very consistent with the other, disinterested witnesses’ testimony. The court held that the jury committed manifest error in allocating fault and held that Bordelon should be assessed with 100% fault.
There was no dispute that Allgood’s injuries and medical expenses were incurred as a result of the injuries he sustained. The court acknowledged that awards of future medical expenses are highly speculative and difficult to precisely calculate. Menard v. Lafayette Ins. Co., 31 So. 3d 996, 1006 (La. 2010). Here, through use of medical experts, the victim established that it was more probable that not that he would incur future medical expenses. The court awarded him $33,000 in future medical expenses. Because the jury found that the battery injured Allgood, it was implicit that his wife suffered some loss as well. The court therefore awarded her $10,000, the lowest amount that would have been within the trial court’s discretion.
On appeal, the court held that the jury erred in finding that the principal was 90% at fault in the incident with the coach. The coach’s testimony conflicted with the testimony of every other witness, who testify in support that the principal was provoked when the coach spit in his face and that the coach’s response fair exceeded permissible self-defense.
Comparative fault is an important and complex legal principle, so it is important to contact the best lawyer to help determine how comparative fault might impact your case.
Additional Sources: Allgood v. Bordelon
Written by Berniard Law Firm Blog Writer: Megan Richardson
Additional Berniard Law Firm Articles on Comparative Fault: Understanding Comparative Fault/Negligence and How it Impacts Judgments