Case ID: so2d_551/html/0797-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Dwain NUGENT v. UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO., et al.
    No. W89-1053.
    Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.
    Oct. 25, 1989.
    Gist, Methvin, Charles 0. Lacroix, Alexandria, for defendant-applicant.
    Ross Cicardo, Alexandria, for plaintiff-respondent.
    Stafford, Stewart, Paul Boudreaux, Jr., Alexandria, for defendant-respondent.
   WRIT GRANTED AND MADE PEREMPTORY:

A litigant is prohibited from including a demand for a specific sum of money in the allegations or prayer of his pleading. La. C.C.P. Art. 893. The nature and amount of the demand shall decide whether a principal or incidental demand is triable by a jury. La. C.C.P. Art. 1731. A jury trial is not available where the amount in dispute, exclusive of interest and costs, does not exceed $20,000.00. La. C.C.P. Art. 1732. Plaintiff’s or defendant’s right to a jury trial depends on the good faith amount in dispute. Cambridge Corner Corp. v. Menard, 525 So.2d 527 (La.1988). The party who contends he comes within an exception to a general rule established by statute must prove it. Cambridge Corner Corp. v. Menard, supra; Hortman-Salmen v. White, 168 La. 1049, 123 So. 709 (1929). Plaintiff, in order to have defendant’s request for a jury trial stricken on the basis that the good faith amount in dispute is less than $20,000.00, must prove it. Until the plaintiff’s petition is amended to claim the amount in dispute is less than the jurisdictional amount required for a jury trial, or until plaintiff has proven at a hearing to strike defendant’s demand for a jury trial that the good faith amount in dispute is $20,000.00 or less, the plaintiff is not entitled to have defendant’s request for a jury trial stricken. For these reasons, relator is still presently entitled to a jury trial and the trial court’s order, dated August 16, 1989, denying such jury trial is hereby reversed, vacated, and set aside.