Case Name: Paul GUILBEAU, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Benjamin GUILBEAU et al., Defendants-Appellants
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1975-02-12
Citations: 308 So. 2d 435
Docket Number: No. 4861
Parties: Paul GUILBEAU, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Benjamin GUILBEAU et al., Defendants-Appellants.
Judges: Before HOOD, MILLER and WATSON, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 308
Pages: 435–438

Head Matter:
Paul GUILBEAU, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Benjamin GUILBEAU et al., Defendants-Appellants.
No. 4861.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.
Feb. 12, 1975.
Rehearing Denied March 12, 1975.
Writ Refused June 6, 1975.
Richard J. Bertrand, Lafayette, for def endant-appell ant-appellee.
J. Minos Simon, Lafayette, for plaintiff-appellee-appellant.
Before HOOD, MILLER and WATSON, JJ.

Opinion:
MILLER, Judge.
Defendant Lionel Guilbeau appeals the $7,260.10 judgment awarded plaintiff Paul Guilbeau for injuries and special damages resulting from a beating sustained in Lafayette Parish. We affirm.
Paul sued his brother Benjamin Guilbeau and Ben's son Lionel. The trial court assigned reasons releasing Ben from liability, but there is no judgment deciding that claim. We do not reach Paul's devol-utive appeal in which he contends the trial court erred in holding Ben free from fault, because there is no judgment to that effect.
The record supports the trial court's conclusion that while Paul may-have provoked the problem by waving or gesturing toward Lionel, Lionel had no right to enter Paul's property and administer a severe beating to Paul. Additionally, Lionel used excessive force by beating his unarmed ttncle with a wrench.
The trial court's factual findings are entitled to great weight, particularly when they are based upon credibility of the witnesses. Those conclusions will not be disturbed absent manifest error.
Paul's injuries consisted of a displaced fracture of the left ulna, a hemato-ma of the left forearm, profuse bleeding from the nose, bilateral hematomas of both eyes and multiple abrasions of the face. Paul also sustained a severe thickening of the right maxillary sinus. Although he recovered from most injuries within three months, Paul retained some permanent disability. Defendant has failed to establish the award to be manifestly excessive. Bitoun v. Landry, 302 So.2d 278 (La.1974); Anderson v. Welding Testing Laboratory, Inc., 304 So.2d 351 (La.1974).
The trial court judgment is affirmed at appellant's costs.
Affirmed.
HOOD, J., concurs in part, dissents in part, and assigns written reasons.