Debra Robertson, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Gregory Robertson and Kocatatie Thompson v. Unicorp, LLC, Erdace Management, LLC Erdace, LLC, Bradd, LLC and The Payne Company, Inc.

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Opinions in this case

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

DEBRA ROBERTSON, NO. 2022 CW 1389 INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PERSONAL Page 1 of 2 REPRESENTATION OF THE ESTATE OF GREGORY ROBERTSON AND KOCATATIE THOMPSON

VERSUS

UNICORP, LLC, ERDACE APRIL 17, 2023 MANAGEMENT, LLC, ERDACE, LLC, BRADD, LLC, AND THE PAYNE COMPANY, INC.

In Re: Unicorp, LLC and National Trust Insurance Company, applying for supervisory writs, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, No. 691219.

BEFORE: McCLENDON, HOLDRIDGE, AND GREENE, JJ.

WRIT DENIED. PMc

Holdridge, J., concurs in the denial of the writ. The Second and Restated Petition filed by Debra Robertson relates back to the date of filing of the original petition in accordance with La. Code Civ. P. art. 1153. Therefore, the wrongful death and survival action claims of the minor children of Gregory Robertson are not prescribed. See Giroir v. S. Louisiana Med. Ctr., Div. of Hosps., 475 So.2d 1040, 1041 ( La. 1985); Sam v. Sorrel Elec. Contractors, Inc., 525 So.2d 244, 246 La. App. 1st Cir. 1988), writ denied, 532 So.2d 133 ( La. 1988) . All the factors established by the Louisiana Supreme Court in Giroir for an amending petition to relate back to the date of filing of the original petition were met in this case. Debra Robertson had the legal capacity as permanent managing conservator to file the wrongful death and survival action on behalf of the minor child, Adian Michael Robertson, at the time the original petition was filed; the amended claim arises out of the same conduct or occurrence as set forth in the original pleading; the defendants either knew or should have known of the existence of the new plaintiffs ( Mr. Robertson's two other minor children); the new and old plaintiffs are all minor siblings and therefore are sufficiently related; the defendants will not be prejudiced in preparing and conducting their defense.

Greene, J., dissents and would grant the writ. The claims alleged in the Second Amended and Restated Petition filed by Debra Robertson, on behalf of the minor children Gregory Charles Robertson, III, Nevaeh Nichole Robertson, and Adian Michael King Robertson, are prescribed on their face. See La. Civ. Code arts. 2315.1 and 2315.2. Furthermore, I find the plaintiff failed to meet her burden of proving the claims relate back to the original petition, as the original petition failed to set forth a legally viable claim. See Watson v. Woldenberg Village, Inc., 2020-0453 ( La. App. 4th Cir. 7/7/21), 323 So.3d 951. Accordingly, I would grant the exception of prescription and

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

2022 cw 1389 Page 2 of 2

dismiss the claims alleged in the Second Amended and Restated Petition.

COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST CIRCUIT

DEPUTY sJCLERK OF COURT FOR THE COURT