A redhibitory defect is a problem with an article that renders it useless to the buyer. In Louisiana, although a seller owes no warranty for defects that are known to or should have been discovered by the buyer at the time of the sale, a seller does, by operation of…
Articles Posted in Property
Court of Appeal Describes How “Forced Heirs” Force Their Way into Inheritance
In Louisiana, you cannot “disinherit” your children. What does this mean exactly? It means that upon death, Louisiana law will allow a decedent’s children to share in his or her estate, even if the decedent left those children out as beneficiaries. The left-out children are called “forced heirs,” and will…
Personal Rights, Personal Problem: How Defining the Personal Nature of Mineral Rights Can Have Serious Implications for New Owners vis-a-vis Previous Lessees
Louisiana has a storied history with oil and gas drilling. Tracts of land have been drilled all over the state in search of black gold. Typically the oil and gas companies are liable to clean up any pollution and restore the land as it was pre-drill when they are finished…
Land Expropriation Damages in Baton Rouge: Different Approaches, Different Outcomes
When land is expropriated by the government, there are many questions concerning how much money the government will owe you. Courts consider factors such as the appraised value of the property, relocation costs, inconvenience, and other possible damages. See La. Const. art. I, §4(B)(5). The best lawyers are familiar with…
Louisiana Property Damage Case Examines Exception of Prescription
Some cases have a countdown clock attached to them. The question is, when does that clock start? Is it when the damage happens? Is it when the other party is certainly aware of the damage? The courts must consider the facts in each case to be sure that the prescriptive…
Previous Mineral Lease Burdens Louisiana Landowners in Tensas Parish Legacy Lawsuit
A recent case arising out of Tensas Parish, Louisiana, highlights the importance of checking on leases that burden any land before purchase. “Legacy lawsuits” are claims that oil and gas operations caused contamination on a property and generally name any operators who worked at the property and could have contributed…
Hammond Homebuilder doesn’t get it right, Louisiana’s New Home Warranty Act Makes Him Pay
Imagine that you and your spouse have spent years planning, waiting, and paying for the construction of your new home. Upon its completion, you excitedly move in, relieved that the wait is over and that you no longer have to stay in a little trailer next to the construction site.…
Plaquemines Parish Construction Project Lawsuit Shows Complexities of Louisiana Prescription Rules
In Louisiana, the objection of prescription extinguishes a legal right of recovery when a party fails to exercise it over a given period of time. It is essentially a time limit on a claim, which can be raised in a couple of ways. Typically, it is raised by a peremptory…
Evangeline Parish Land Dispute Lawsuit Invokes Concept of Acquisitive Prescription
A land dispute in Evangeline Parish once again highlights the intricacies of Louisiana property law, and the need for an experienced lawyer if you ever find yourself involved in a property dispute. The dispute in question involves the title to 18 acres of a 23-acre tract of immovable property located…
Appellate Court Drops Sanctions Against Metairie Based Plaintiffs and Their Legal Counsel
A recent case from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal for the State of Louisiana demonstrates the importance of ensuring a client has all relevant evidence before proceeding with a lawsuit. Although the Plaintiffs eventually had all sanctions dropped for “pursuing a meritless case”, they could have saved a lot…