Case Name: Edmond WOOD v. Milton MAY, et al.
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1995-06-07
Citations: 658 So. 2d 8
Docket Number: No. 95-C-0589
Parties: Edmond WOOD v. Milton MAY, et al.
Judges: Before SCHOTT, C.J., and BYRNES, LOBRANO, WALTZER and LANDRIEU, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 658
Pages: 8–10

Head Matter:
Edmond WOOD v. Milton MAY, et al.
No. 95-C-0589.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.
June 7, 1995.
Rehearings Denied Aug. 18, 1995.
Claude D. Vasser, C. David Vasser, Jr., Vasser & Vasser, Metairie, for relator.
William E. Mura, Jr., New Orleans, for respondent.
Before SCHOTT, C.J., and BYRNES, LOBRANO, WALTZER and LANDRIEU, JJ.

Opinion:
liBYRNES, Judge.
Farmers Insurance Company (Farmers) requests a review of the trial court's: (1) interpretation of this court's judgment; and (2) determination that the plaintiff could file a supplemental and amending petition.
In its opinion dated December 15, 1994, this court found that the general damage award to the plaintiff was $138,627.68. Special damages were $11,372.32 so that the $50,000 judgment against Farmers represents an award to the plaintiff of $150,000. Wood v. May, 94-0756 (La.App. 4th Cir. 12/15/94), 647 So.2d 1265, 1266. In stating that "this court finds no manifest error in the award of general damages that was implicit in the judgment against Farmers," id., 647 So.2d at 1267, we meant that the total amount of the award to the plaintiff was $150,000. Moreover, upon further review of the damage award in connection with this writ application, we conclude that the plaintiffs total award should be $150,000.
Therefore, a reduction representing plaintiffs five percent comparative negligence changes the amount of damages owed by Farmers. Plaintiff settled with Milton May and his insurer, State Farm, prior to trial. Plaintiff 12and Farmers stipulated that Farmers was entitled to a $100,000 credit toward any judgment in this action. Farmers is hable for any amount over $100,000 under its $50,000 excess uninsured motorist insurance policy limits. The five percent reduction reflecting plaintiffs comparative negligence should be deducted from the excess $50,000 UM policy limits so that Farmers is hable to the plaintiff for $50,000 minus $7,500 or $42,-500.
With respect to the second issue, before La.C.C.P. art. 425 and La.R.S. 13:4231 were amended, an insured could bring a subsequent action for claims for penalties and attorney's fees based on the theory that the second suit is based on different causes of action; suit on one obligation did not preclude a later suit on the other. Cantrelle Fence & Supply Co., Inc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., 515 So.2d 1074 (La.1987). Cantrelle did not hold that plaintiff could bring an amended petition after judgment was rendered by the trial court in the first suit, but the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld a second separate action.
However, under the current versions of La.C.C.P. art. 425 and La.R.S. 13:4231, although plaintiffs claims for penalties and attorney's fees constitute separate causes of action, the plaintiff must assert all claims that arise out of the same transaction or occurrence in one action. Any additional claim will be barred by the principles of res judicata. The amended statutes apply to ah civil actions filed on or after January 1,1991. See McClendon v. State, Dept. of Trans. and Development, 94-0111 (La. 9/6/94), 642 So.2d 157.
In the present case plaintiffs original action dated July 31, 1991, and plaintiffs amending petition dated February 7, 1994, were filed after the ^effective date of the amended statutes. Therefore, plaintiffs amending petition is barred by the principles of res judicata after judgment was rendered in the trial court because the additional claims for penalties and attorney's fees could only be brought in a separate action under Cantrelle and now cannot be brought in a second suit under the amended provisions of La.C.C.P. art. 425 and La.R.S. 13:4231.
Accordingly, we reverse the rulings of the trial court. Based on this court's judgment of December 15,1994, Farmers owes plaintiff a total of $42,500. Plaintiffs supplemental and amending petition for penalties and attorney's fees is dismissed.
REVERSED & RENDERED.
LOBRANO, J., dissents in part.
WALTZER, J., dissents.