STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL FIRST CIRCUIT
NO. 2020 CA 0762 R

r CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, INC.

D/B/A JOHN CURTIS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL VERSUS LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION,

EDDIE BONINE AND B. J. GUZZARDO, JR.

Judgment Rendered. 

## MAY 18 2022
Appealed from the 19th Judicial District Court In and for the Parish of East Baton Rouge

State of Louisiana Case No. 654874 

### The Honorable Donald R.Johnson, Judge Presiding


### Gilbert V.Andry, IV Counsel for Plaintiff/ Appellant New Orleans, Louisiana Christian Schools, Inc. d/b/a John Curtis Christian School Walter M. Sanchez Lake Charles, Louisiana Everett R. Rineran New Orleans, Louisiana Mark D. Boyer Counsel for Defendants/Appellees Diana L. Tonagel Louisiana High School Athletic Denham Springs, Louisiana Association, Eddie Bonine and B. J. Guzzardo, Jr.

BEFORE: THERIOT, WOLFE, AND HESTER,JJ.THERIOT, J. This appeal, 

### involving 

### a judgment dismissing the plaintiff's suit on 

### exceptions oflack ofsubject matterjurisdiction and no cause ofaction, is before us on remand from the supreme court. For the reasons set forth herein, we affirm. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY Plaintiff, Christian Schools, Inc., d/b/a John Curtis Christian School (" John Curtis"), 

### filed a suit for damages against the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. (" LHSAA"), LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine, and LHSAA employee Buster John Guzzardo, Jr. ( collectively " the LHSAA defendants"), 

### on January 30, 2017. 

### This suit arose from a determination by the 

## LHSAAthatJohn Curtis hadviolated LHSAA rules on recruiting andthe resulting imposition of penalties.' In its petition, John Curtis alleged that the LHSAA defendants " 

### intentionally and or negligently punish[ed], defame[d] and violate[d] 

### the due process and equal protection rights of John Curtis Christian School." In 

### addition to monetary damages, John Curtis sought to have the trial court overturn 

### the LHSAA's finding that a recruiting violation occurred and reinstate its forfeited football wins. The LHSAA defendants raised an exception of lack of subject matter jurisdiction in their answer to the petition, noting that under applicable jurisprudence, the trial court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the claims asserted in John Curtis' s petition, 

### and seeking dismissal of the entire suit with prejudice. 

### The LHSAA defendants also filed an exception of no cause of action with regard to John Curtis' s claims for violation of its due process and equal protection rights.

The factual basis forthe LHSAA's conclusion that a recruiting violation occurred was that an athlete was allowed to live with a John Curtis assistant football coach while the athlete attended John Curtis and participated on the varsity football team. John Curtis alleged that as a result ofthe LHSAA's ruling that it committed a recruiting violation, John Curtis was forced to forfeittwenty football wins, including the 2013 LHSAA State Championship, and a monetary fine was imposed. 2

### John Curtis filed a supplemental and amending petition, in which it alleged

that the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction over its tort claims because the 

### LHSAA breached its duty to govern or administer athletic events, in which its members ( such as John Curtis) participate, 

### in a reasonably prudent way. John Curtis further alleged that the trial court had subject matter jurisdiction over 

### constitutional issues presented by this fact pattern to the extent that [ the LHSAA' s] actions or inactions are in violation of Constitutional or statute provisions." 

### Following the filing of John Curtis's supplemental and amending petition, the LHSAA defendants reurged their exceptions of lack of subject matter jurisdiction and no cause of action and moved to have the exceptions set for 

### hearing. A hearing was held on the exceptions, as well as a motion for partial 

### summaryjudgment filed by John Curtis, on December 9, 2019. After taking the 

### matter under advisement, the trial court rendered ajudgment on January 14, 2020, noting that the " 

### LHSAA is a private organization, not a public body, and ... there is no jurisdiction to interfere with the internal proceedings of the LHSAA," and further that " John Curtis' [s] pleadings fail to set forth a due process claim under 

### color of state action or law, or any fundamental or express constitutional right, 

### state or federal, allegedly violated by LHSAA as the basis for a cause ofaction or subject matterjurisdiction upon which this Court may grant relief." The trial court sustained both exceptions and dismissed John Curtis' s suit with prejudice " for lack ofjurisdiction and failure to state a cause ofaction." John Curtis appealed. On appeal, John Curtis raised two assignments of error, both of which
concern the trial court' s conclusion that John Curtis failed to state a cause of
action. In its first assignment oferror, John Curtis argued that the trial court erred 

### in sustaining the exceptions because John Curtis " state[d] a cause of action based 

### on the arbitrary and capricious, bad faith conduct of the LHSAA that was ultra

3vires under its own rules, and which fell below the standard of care for its

members." In its second assignment of error, John Curtis alleged that the trial 

### court erred in finding that it had " failed to state a cause of action against the individual defendants, Eddie [ Bonine] and B.J. Guzzardo, Jr., for breach of their 

### fiduciary duties under the Louisiana Non - Profit Act and for defamation." John 

### Curtis failed to raise or brief any assignment of error with respect to the trial court's sustaining ofthe exception oflack ofsubject matterjurisdiction. Christian Schools, Inc. v. Louisiana High School Athletic Association, 20-0762, pp. 3- 4 

### La.App. 1 Cir.2/ 19/21), 

### 320 So.3d 1164, 1166, reh'gdenied (Apr. 16, 2021). Noting that this court only reviews issues raised on appeal, and further 

### noting that all assignments oferror and issues for review must be briefed,this court 

### concluded that the propriety ofthe trial court's ruling on the exception of lack of 

### subject matterjurisdiction was not properly before us. Furthermore, as a result of 

### John Curtis's failure to seek reversal ofthe sustaining ofthe exception of lack of 

## subject matterjurisdiction, we concluded that its assignments oferror concerning the exception ofno cause of action have been deprived ofany legal significance
and are moot. For these reasons, we affirmed the judgment of the trial court. Christian Schools, Inc., 

### 20-0762 at p. 5, 320 So.3d at 1167. John Curtis filed an application for a writ of certiorari, which was granted, and the supreme court remanded the matter " with instructions to address whether the district court erred 

### in sustaining the defendants' ... exceptions of lack of subject matterjurisdiction
and no cause of action." Christian Schools, Inc. v. Louisiana High School Athletic Association, 21- 00686 (La. 10/05/21), 325 So.3d 359 (per curiam). DISCUSSION Subject MatterJurisdiction 

### Subject matterjurisdiction isthe legal powerand authority ofa court to hear and determine a particular class ofactions or proceedings, based upon the object of

Mthe demand, the amount in dispute, or the value ofthe right asserted. La. C.C.P.

art. 2. 

### Subject matterjurisdiction is created by the constitution or by legislative enactment; the parties cannot confer or waive it. See La. C.C.P. art. 3; Firestone 

### Polymers, LLC v. Louisiana Department ofEnvironmental Quality, 19-0283, p. 4 

### La.App. 1 Cir. 11/ 15/ 19), 291 So.3d 228, 232, writ denied, 20-00131 ( La. 3/9/20), 294 So.3d 482. 

### Generally, a district court shall have originaljurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters and shall have appellatejurisdiction as provided by law. La. Const, art. V, § 16. 

### An objection to the lack of subject matter jurisdiction is raised by a declinatory exception. La. C.C.P. art. 925A(6). 

### At the hearing on the declinatory exception, 

### evidence may be introduced to support or controvert the objection, when the grounds thereofdo not appear from the petition. See La. C.C.P. art. 930. Where, 

### as in the present case, no evidence is introduced at the hearing on the exception, the court must accept the allegations of the petition as true for the purpose of ruling on the exception. 

### However, this rule applies only to properly pled material allegations of fact; 

### the court is not required to accept conclusory allegations or allegations of law as true for purposes ofthe exception. 

### Beasley v. Nezi, LLC, 

### 16- 1080, p. 4 ( La.App. 1 Cir. 9/8/ 17), 227 So.3d 308, 311- 12. The district court' s determination of whether it has subject matter jurisdiction over a case is subject to de novo review. Louisiana Environmental Action Network, Inc. 

### v. Louisiana Department ofEnvironmental Quality, 2019- 1551, p. 8 ( La.App. 1 Cir. 9/23/20), 314 So.3d 841, 848. The Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C. § 220501, et seq., provides that an amateur sports organization that conducts amateur athletic competition shall have exclusive jurisdiction over that competition if participation is restricted to a

z The Amateur Sports Act defines " amateur sports organization" as " a not-for-profit corporation, association, or other group organized in the United States that sponsors or arranges an amateur athletic competition." 36 U.S. C. § 220501( b)( 3).

5specific class of amateur athletes, such as high school students, college students,

members of the Armed Forces, or similar groups or categories. 36 U.S.C. 220526(a). The LHSAA is an amateur sports organization as provided for in the Amateur Sports Act. See Menard v. Louisiana High School Athletic Association, 

### 09-0800, pp. 4-5 ( 

### La.App. 1 Cir. 12/23/09), 30 So.3d 790, 793, writ denied, 10- 0169 (La. 4/5/ 10), 31 So.3d 370. 

### The LHSAA is a private, nonprofit corporation, whose membership consists of high schools within Louisiana. 

### The member high schools apply and are approved for membership in accordance with the LHSAA' s articles of incorporation, constitution, and bylaws. Each school that joins the LHSAA does 

### so voluntarily and is not compelled to join by any state law. Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Inc. v. State, 12- 1471, 

### p. 2 ( La. 1/ 29/ 13), 107 So.3d


### John Curtis challenges the LHSAA's investigation ofthe alleged recruiting violation, its finding that aviolation occurred, and its imposition ofpenalties. The 

### trial court has no subject matterjurisdiction to address these issues, which clearly relate to the internal affairs ofavoluntary association. See Menard,09-0800 at pp. 4- 5, 30 So.3d at 793. 

### The LHSAA's actions in investigating and enforcing its own internal regulations are clearly not conducted under color ofstate law. Id. Further, 

### as this Court has previously noted, 36 U.S.C. § 220526(a) serves to preempt John Curtis' s state law claims for damages and deprives the trial court of subject matter 

### jurisdiction regarding the merits, interpretation, and enforcement ofthe LHSAA's internal rules and regulations. 

### See Menard, 09-0800 at pp. 4-5, 30 So.3d at 793. 

### The exception of lack of subject matterjurisdiction was properly sustained with regard to these claims. 

### The holding in Menarddid distinguish the plaintiff's claims for damages for deprivation of constitutional rights, 

### holding that subject matter jurisdiction did

n

### exist forthe trial court to determine the viability and merits ofthose claims raised

in Menard' s petition. 

### Thus, the trial court may have subject matterjurisdiction in this matter to the extent the properly pled material allegations of fact in John 

### Curtis' s original and amending petitions allege a deprivation of constitutional rights.In its original petition, 

### John Curtis made only a conclusory allegation, unsupported by any allegations offact, that Guzzardo and Bonine violated its due
process and equal protection rights. 

### Following the filing ofthe exceptions, John 

### Curtis's First Supplemental and Amending Petition added the following allegation regarding "constitutional issues": Also, this Honorable Court has subject matter jurisdiction over 

### constitutional issues presented by this fact pattern to the extent that this association[' s] ( LHSAA[' s]) actions or inactions are in violation of Constitutional or statute provisions. . . . In fact, in Menard v. LHSAA, 30 So.3d 790 ( La. 1 Cir. 2009)[,] the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal stated that "[ t]he trial court was incorrect in 

### concluding that it lacked subject matterjurisdiction to determine those issues, 

### which clearly relate to the internal affairs of a voluntary association." Distilled, this Honorable Court has subject matter jurisdiction. We are compelled to note John Curtis changed the language of this direct quote from Menard in order to suit its purposes. 

### The actual language used by this court in Menard was that "[

### t]he trial courtwas correct in concluding that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to determine those issues, which clearly relate to the 

### internal affairs ofa voluntary association." Menard, 09-0800 at p. 4, 30 So.3d at 793 ( Emphasis added). Nevertheless, the misquoted language was taken out of context ( 

### it actually referred to Menard's tort claims rather than constitutional claims) and is ofno consequence to our consideration ofwhetherthe trial court has subject matterjurisdiction overJohn Curtis' s constitutional claims.3 With regard to the merits of the exception of lack of subject matter 

## jurisdiction, John Curtis's minimal allegations referencing " constitutional issues" s John Curtis again misquoted Menard in opposition to the LHSAA defendants' reurged exceptions.
7

### are merely conclusory allegations of law, which are not accepted as true for

purposes of an exception of lack of subject matter jurisdiction. 

### See Beasley, 16- 1080 at p. 4, 227 So.3d at 311- 12. To the extent that John Curtis' s petition and 

### amending petition may state a claim forviolation ofits constitutional rights to due 

### process and equal protection, subject matterjurisdiction would presumably exist for the court to consider the merits ofthose claims. However, since we conclude 

### herein that John Curtis's petition and amending petition failed to state a cause of 

### action forviolation ofits due process and equal protection rights, any such claims were properly dismissed. Cause ofAction 

### The purpose ofan exception raising the objection ofno cause ofaction is to 

### determine the sufficiency in law ofthe petition by determining whether the law affords a remedy on the facts alleged in the pleading. Calloway v. Lobrano, 16- 

### 1170, p. 4 ( La.App 1 Cir. 4/12/17), 218 So.3d 644, 648. For purposes of the exception, the well - pleaded facts in the petition must be accepted as true. Dodson Hooks, APLC v. 

### Louisiana Community Development Capital Fund, Inc. Capfund, " 

### 19- 1516, p. 7 ( La.App. 1 Cir. 12/30/20), 318 So.3d 939, 944; see La. C.C.P. arts. 927 and 931. 

### Furthermore, the facts shown in any documents annexed to the petition must also be accepted as true. Dodson & Hooks, 

### 19- 1516 at p. 7, 318 So.3d at 944; see also La. C.C.P. art. 853 (" 

### A copy ofany written instrument 

### that is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof."). 

### The burden ofdemonstrating 

### that no cause of action has been stated is on the party raising the objection. Dodson & 

### Hooks, 19- 1516 at p. 7, 318 So.3d at 944. 

### In ruling on an exception of no cause of action, the trial court must 

### determine whetherthe lawaffords any relieftothe claimant ifhe wereto provethe factual allegations in the petition and annexed documents at a trial. Adams v. 

### Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, 04- 1296, p. 3 ( La.App. 1 Cir. 9/23/05),

8921 So.2d 972, 975, writ denied, 05-2501 ( La. 4/ 17/06), 926 So.2d 514. An



### exception ofno cause ofaction is triable solely on the face ofthe petition and any annexed documents thereto. See La. C.C. P. art. 931; Dodson & Hooks, 19- 1516 at 

### p. 8, 318 So.3d at 945. The only documentary evidence that may be considered on an exception of no cause of action is that annexed to the petition, unless the evidence is admitted without objection to enlarge the petition. 

### Calloway, 16- 1170 

### atpp. 4-5, 218 So.3d at 648. 

### In reading a petition to determine whether a cause ofaction has been stated, it must be interpreted, if possible, to maintain the cause of action instead of 

### dismissing the petition. Adams, 

### 04- 1296 at p. 3, 921 So.2d at 975-76. 

### Any 

### reasonable doubt concerning the sufficiency ofthe petition must be resolved in favor offinding a cause of action has been stated. Adams, 04- 1296 at p. 3, 921 So.2d at 976. The petition must set forth material facts upon which the cause of action is based. La. C.C.P. art. 891( A); 

### Lambertv. Riverboat Gaming Enforcement Div.,

### 96- 1856, p. 4 (La.App. 1 Cir. 12/29/97), 706 So.2d 172, 175. The correctness 

### ofconclusions oflaw is not conceded forthe purposes ofa ruling on an exception
of no cause of action. 

### CamSoft Data Systems, Inc.v.Southern Electronics Supply, Inc., 

### 15- 1260, p. 12 (La.App. 1 Cir.9/23/ 15), 182 So.3d 1009, 1016. 

### When the grounds of the objection pleaded by the peremptory exception may be removed by amendment of the petition, 

### the judgment sustaining the exception shall ordersuch amendment within the delay allowed bythe court. Ifthe grounds ofthe objection raised through the exception cannot be so removed, or if 

### the plaintiff fails to comply with the order to amend, the action, claim, demand, 

### issue, ortheory shall be dismissed. La. C.C.P. art. 934. 

### On appeal, the reviewing court conducts a de novo review ofa trial court's ruling sustaining an exception of no cause of action, since the exception raises a 

### question oflaw. Adams, 04- 1296 at p. 4, 921 So.2d at 976.

9

### John Curtis's allegations regarding the alleged violation ofits constitutional

rights were merely the conclusory allegations that Guzzardo and Bonine " took it 

### upon themselves, individually and in theirofficial capacities within the LHSAA,to 

### intentionally and or negligently ... violate the due process and equal protection rights ofJohn Curtis Christian School, all in the manner set forth herein." As this court noted in Menard, in order to prevail on a due process claim, a 

### plaintiffmust show the existence ofsome property or liberty interest that has been adversely affected by state action. Menard, 09-0800 at p. 5-6, 30 So.3d at 794. 

### To have aproperty interestprotected bydue process, a person musthave morethan an abstract need or desire for it; he must have a legitimate claim ofentitlement to it rather than a unilateral expectation of it. This court has held that there is no procedural or substantive due process right to participate in interscholastic athletics 

### regulated by the LHSAA. Menard, 09-0800 at pp. 5- 7, 30 So.3d at 794-95; 

### Johansen v. Louisiana High SchoolAthleticAssociation, 04-0937, p. 9 (La.App. 1 Cir. 6/29/05), 916 So.2d 1081, 1088. 

### Thus, John Curtis did notallege anyproperty 

### or liberty interestthatwas adversely affected by state action,and has failed to state a cause ofaction for violation of its due process rights. The exception of no cause ofaction was properly sustained as to these claims. 

### Because no property or liberty interest is at stake, no amendment of the factual allegations of John Curtis' s petition could cure this fundamental flaw in the purported cause of action. See 

### Menard,09-0800 at p. 7, 30 So.3d at 795; Johansen, 04-0937 at p. 9, 916 So.2d at 1088; La. C.C.P. art. 934. Likewise, John Curtis provided no material facts upon which it based its 

### conclusory allegation that its right to equal protection of the law was violated. 

### John Curtis made no allegations ofany fundamental or express constitutional right

or " suspect" class or other enumerated class as the basis for discrimination. See Menard, 

### 09-0800 at p. 8, 30 So.3d at 795. As such, the use of any other

10classification as the basis for discrimination is subject to the minimal or lowest



### level of scrutiny under the guarantees of the federal and state constitutions. Id. 

### Such a classification is unconstitutional only ifproven to not be rationally related to any legitimate state interest. Id. The Louisiana Supreme Court has held that prevention of "the evils of recruiting" high school athletes is a legitimate state interest. Chabert v. Louisiana High School Athletic Association, 323 So.2d 774, 780 ( La. 1975). The LHSAA' s rules on recruiting prohibit "the use of undue influence and/or special inducement 

### by anyone connected directly or indirectly with an LHSAA school in an attemptto retain a student at a school for the purpose ofparticipating in interscholastic
athletics."' 

### Evidence of undue influence or special inducement specifically includes offer or acceptance of room and board, residence, or free transportation, 

### when such is not made available to all applicants who apply to or enroll in the school.5 The good intent of this rule is evident. 

### The rule is not arbitrary or inherently suspect, nor does it encroach on a fundamental constitutional right. See Chabert, 323 So.2d at 779. 

### As such, the plaintiff's petition fails to set forth any factual basis for a violation of its equal protection rights, and the exception of no
cause ofaction was properly granted. 

### See Menard,09-0800 at pp. 8-9, 30 So.3d at 795. Further, we conclude, in our considered discretion, that the grounds for the objection ofno cause ofaction for violation ofJohn Curtis' s equal protection rights 

### cannot conceivably be removed by amendment ofthe petition under La. C.C.P. art. 934. 

### Accordingly, we affirm the trial court'sjudgment sustaining the exception of no cause ofaction and dismissing John Curtis's suitwith prejudice.

a LHSAA Handbook, Recruiting, Rule2.1. 5 LHSAA Handbook, Recruiting, Rule2.2. 1.

11CONCLUSION



### For the reasons set forth herein, the January 14, 2020judgment ofthe trial court is affirmed. Costs of this appeal are assessed to plaintiff, Christian Schools, Inc., d/b/a John Curtis Christian School. AFFIRMED.

12