Source: https://m.openjurist.org/632/f2d/1279
Timestamp: 2019-12-08 11:49:53
Document Index: 262270030

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 3538', 'Art. 3544', 'Art. 3544', 'Art. 3538', 'Art. 3538', 'Art. 3544', 'Art. 3536', '§ 1983']

632 F. 2d 1279 - Pegues v. Morehouse Parish School Board
632 F2d 1279 Pegues v. Morehouse Parish School Board
632 F.2d 1279
28 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. 1186,
25 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 31,515
Johnnie PEGUES, Plaintiff-Appellant,
MOREHOUSE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD et al., Defendants-Appellees.
Pegues cites two alternative statutes of limitations in an attempt to preserve his claim. One is La.Civ.Code, Art. 3538, which provides a three-year limitation period for actions for salaries brought by "teachers of the sciences." Yet, even if Pegues' coaching assignment brings him within the admittedly archaic phrase "teacher of sciences," the three-year period is of no aid to him here. The other statute is La.Civ.Code, Art. 3544, which establishes a ten-year prescriptive period for actions not specifically covered in other statutes. Pegues maintains that the application of Art. 3544 is mandated by the decision of the Louisiana Court of Appeals in McCoy v. Tangipahoa Parish School Board, 308 So.2d 382 (La.App.), writ denied, 310 So.2d 856 (1975). McCoy, however, concerned an action in which a tenured principal sought reinstatement after he was demoted to classroom teacher in violation of his contractual rights under Louisiana tenure law. Pegues, although a tenured teacher, does not have tenure as a coach. Moreover, even if he had sued for violation of his rights as a tenured teacher, which he did not, his claim most likely would have been classified under the provisions of Art. 3538, and not the special exception for principals which was employed in McCoy. Finally, we note that the use of both Art. 3538 and Art. 3544 was expressly rejected in Page, supra. Thus, we conclude that the district court correctly applied Art. 3536, and that Pegues is precluded from pursuing his § 1983 cause of action.
Although we do not totally disagree with this analysis, we believe that the more traditional laches inquiry is the proper manner in which to deal with the tardiness of this suit. As of yet, the district court has made no specific determination that Pegues is guilty of inequitable conduct. Instead, its decision was based on the mere fact of Pegues' prolonged inaction and the intervening change in circumstances in the school system. Whether this delay is inexcusable, and whether it has resulted in an actual prejudicial change in the appellees' position,5 are the precise factual questions to be decided within the laches framework. These are also issues which we cannot resolve on the existing record. As a general rule, the laches determination should be made by the trial court in the first instance. Franks v. Bowman Transportation Co., 495 F.2d 398, 406 (5th Cir. 1974); Kosty v. Lewis, 319 F.2d 744, 749 (D.C.Cir.1963), cert. denied, 375 U.S. 964, 84 S.Ct. 482, 11 L.Ed.2d 414 (1964). Indeed, the district court specifically noted in its memorandum ruling that "(w)hether the delay is excusable, and whether prejudice has resulted to defendants is the subject of dispute." R., p. 149. Consequently, we have no alternative but to remand the laches issue for resolution by the district court. Accord, Franks v. Bowman Transportation Co., 495 F.2d at 406; American Marine Corp. v. Citizens Casualty Co. of New York, 447 F.2d 1328, 1330 (5th Cir. 1971).