Case Name: Ronald T. WEST v. LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, et al.
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1982-11-16
Citations: 432 So. 2d 273
Docket Number: No. 82 CA 0070
Parties: Ronald T. WEST v. LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, et al.
Judges: Before COVINGTON, LEAR and LANIER, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 432
Pages: 273–279

Head Matter:
Ronald T. WEST v. LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, et al.
No. 82 CA 0070.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.
Nov. 16, 1982.
On Rehearing May 17, 1988.
Thomas Robert Shelton, Ltd., Phillip C. Kobetz, Lafayette, for plaintiff-appellant Ronald T. West.
William C. Toadvin, Baton Rouge, for defendants-appellees Louisiana Dept, of Public Safety, through its secretary, Colonel Malcolm Millet, and Louisiana State Police Retirement Bd., through its chairman, Colonel Malcolm Millet, et al.
Before COVINGTON, LEAR and LANIER, JJ.

Opinion:
LANIER, Judge.
This is a proceeding by Trooper Ronald T. West to secure disability retirement benefits pursuant to La.R.S. 40:1421 et seq. from the Board of Trustees of the Louisiana State Police Retirement System (hereinafter referred to as Board). The Board denied West's application for benefits and he applied to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court for a judicial review of that decision, pursuant to La.R.S. 49:964. In the district court, the Board defended on the grounds that the application for judicial review was not timely and that thus West's claim had prescribed, and in the alternative, that the decision of the Board was correct. The trial judge ruled that the application for judicial review was timely and that the decision of the Board was correct and dismissed appellant's application with prejudice at his costs. Appellant took this devol-utive appeal pursuant to La.R.S. 49:965.
On November 8, 1974, appellant was injured in the course of his employment as a state trooper while attempting to free an injured person from a wrecked automobile. As a result of this injury, appellant underwent back surgery in an attempt to treat his condition. Appellant applied to the Louisiana State Police Retirement System for disability retirement benefits on January 27, 1976, claiming total and permanent disability. On January 14, 1977, the Board denied disability retirement benefits and sent notice of this decision to the appellant on January 21, 1977. By letter dated February 7, 1977, appellant requested a rehearing, and on February 23, 1977, the Board denied this request. On July 21, 1977, the appellant filed the petition in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court seeking a judicial review of the Board's administrative decision.
This claim is governed by the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, La. R.S. 49:951 et seq. Buras v. Board of Trustees of Police Pension Fund of City of New Orleans, 367 So.2d 849 (La.1979). Pursuant to La.R.S. 49:959, the decision of the Board of January 14,1977, denying the appellant's' application for disability benefits was subject to a rehearing "within ten days from the date of its entry." The application for rehearing filed on February 7, 1977, was not timely because it was not filed within 10 days of the date of the decision on January 14, 1977, or the date that notice of the decision was mailed on January 21, 1977. Thus, the appellant's claim prescribed and became res judicata at that time.
In addition, La.R.S. 49:959 provides that if an application for rehearing is timely filed, the period within which judicial review must be sought "shall run from the final disposition of such application." On February 23, 1977, the Board denied the application for rehearing unless the appellant presented new evidence, which he did not do prior to filing suit on July 21, 1977. La.R.S. 49:964 provides that a petition for judicial review to the district court of the parish in which the agency is located must be filed within 30 days after the decision on an application for rehearing. The filing of the petition for judicial review on July 21, 1977, was almost 5 months after the denial of the rehearing and thus untimely.
The timely filing of a request for judicial review or appeal is essential for the reviewing court to have jurisdiction in administrative determinations as in the case of other appeals. Baloney v. DHHR, Office of Family Services, 364 So.2d 203 (La.App. 1st Cir.1978). If an appellant fails to timely perfect his right to judicial review or appeal, a reviewing court may notice ex pro-prio motu its lack of jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. Lamartiniere v. Fringe Facts, Inc., 412 So.2d 1161 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1982); Anderson v. City of Baton Rouge, 381 So.2d 842 (La.App. 1st Cir.1980); Vitrano v. Vitrano, 353 So.2d 398 (La.App. 4th Cir.1977). In the instant case, the time for seeking judicial review of the Board's adverse decision expired prior to the filing of the petition in the district court.
For the foregoing reasons, appellant's appeal is dismissed at appellant's costs.
APPEAL DISMISSED.