Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-03-30445/USCOURTS-ca5-03-30445-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 

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* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that

this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except

under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

March 8, 2004

Charles R. Fulbruge III

Clerk

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

_____________________

No. 03-30445

_____________________

WILSON W. WILSON, appearing in his

capacity as the curator of

rpi Christel W. Fontenot, 

 Plaintiff - Appellee,

versus

STATE FARM FIRE & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO., 

 Defendant - Appellant.

__________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Middle District of Louisiana, Baton Rouge

USDC No. 96-CV-3345-C

_________________________________________________________________

Before JOLLY, DUHÉ, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

We REVERSE and VACATE the judgment of the district court for

the following reasons:

First, the district court utterly failed to assign any written

reasons for its ruling in this bench trial. FED. R. CIV. P. 52(a).

We cannot affirm any such judgment without written reasons for the

rulings.

 Case: 03-30445 Document: 0051277657 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/08/2004
2

Second, the district court committed reversible error when it,

sua sponte, excluded the testimony of Christel Fontenot, finding

her to be incompetent to testify. From the record before us there

is nothing to indicate, notwithstanding her particular mental

diagnosis, that she was incompetent as a witness. LA. CODE EVID. ART.

601.

Finally, the evidence in this record will not support a

judgment in favor of the plaintiff.

Accordingly, the judgment is REVERSED and VACATED and the case

is REMANDED for further proceedings not inconsistent herewith,

including a new trial if required.

REVERSED, VACATED, and REMANDED.

 Case: 03-30445 Document: 0051277657 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/08/2004