Case Name: Robert A. BARNETT v. Shirley Lee, Wife of and Tang Ching LEE, ABC Insurance Company, Royal China Inc., DEF Insurance Company, Royal Place Inc., XYZ Insurance Company
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1987-02-20
Citations: 502 So. 2d 564
Docket Number: No. 87-C-0138
Parties: Robert A. BARNETT v. Shirley Lee, Wife of and Tang Ching LEE, ABC Insurance Company, Royal China Inc., DEF Insurance Company, Royal Place Inc., XYZ Insurance Company.
Judges: DIXON, C.J., and WATSON and COLE, JJ., dissent and would deny.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 502
Pages: 564–565

Head Matter:
Robert A. BARNETT v. Shirley Lee, Wife of and Tang Ching LEE, ABC Insurance Company, Royal China Inc., DEF Insurance Company, Royal Place Inc., XYZ Insurance Company.
No. 87-C-0138.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
Feb. 20, 1987.

Opinion:
In re Lee, Shirley; Lee, Tang Ching; ABC Insurance Co.; Royal China Inc.; DEF Insurance Co.; Royal Place Inc.; XYZ Insurance Co.; Applying for Writ of Certio-rari and/or Review; to the Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, Number 86-CA-264; Parish of Jefferson 24th Judicial District Court Div. "I" Number 300-955.
Prior report: 497 So.2d 1072 (La.App. 1986)
Writ granted. Judgments reversed. New trial ordered. Plaintiff/respondent's judgment in the district court was effectively by default. Under the peculiar circumstances defendant/relator, who sought relief after submission of the case but before judgment was signed, should have been allowed to reopen the case for presentation of evidence or should have been granted a new trial after judgment in the. district court.
DIXON, C.J., and WATSON and COLE, JJ., dissent and would deny.
DIXON, C.J., is of the opinion that the trial judge did not err, and that relator has never shown that he has any defense to plaintiffs claims.