Case Name: Nelson DAVIS v. DUNN & BUSH CONSTRUCTION a/k/a Dunn Roadbuilders Company
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2003-04-09
Citations: 858 So. 2d 451
Docket Number: No. 2001 CA 2472
Parties: Nelson DAVIS v. DUNN & BUSH CONSTRUCTION a/k/a Dunn Roadbuilders Company.
Judges: Before: CARTER, C.J., WHIPPLE, McDonald, McClendon and CIACCIO, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 858
Pages: 451–454

Head Matter:
Nelson DAVIS v. DUNN & BUSH CONSTRUCTION a/k/a Dunn Roadbuilders Company.
No. 2001 CA 2472.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.
April 9, 2003.
Ben E. Clayton, Metairie, for Plaintiff/Appellant Nelson Davis.
Raymond S. Maher, Jr., New Orleans, for Defendani/Appellee Dunn & Bush Construction a/k/a Dunn Roadbuilders Company.
Before: CARTER, C.J., WHIPPLE, McDonald, McClendon and CIACCIO, JJ.
. The Honorable Philip C. Ciaccio, Judge (retired), Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, is serving as judge pro tempore by special appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Opinion:
JjCIACCIO, J.
Nelson Davis appeals a judgment by the Office of Workers' Compensation ("OWC") denying his motion to annul a prior OWC judgment.
FACTS
In September 1997, Nelson Davis was injured during the course and scope of his employment as a truck driver with Dunn & Bush Construction ("Dunn & Bush"). On November 21, 1997, he filed a disputed claim for compensation contending that Dunn & Bush was late in paying and underpaying his weekly compensation benefits, that he was denied his choice of physician, and that he was entitled to penalties and attorney's fees.
After several continuances, a trial was scheduled for January 27, 2000. But on January 24, 2000, Charlsey Wolff, counsel for Mr. Davis, moved to stay the proceedings indefinitely. Ms. Wolff explained that Mr. Davis had been incarcerated and that she was therefore unable to effectively communicate with him in preparing for trial. OWC denied the motion.
On January 25, 2000, Ms. Wolff moved to continue the January 27, 2000 trial date, arguing that she needed additional time to arrange a trial deposition with prison officials and opposing counsel. OWC granted this motion and rescheduled the trial for May 3, 2000.
Soon after, Ms. Wolff moved to withdraw as attorney of record. Ms. Wolff noted the upcoming trial date, but contended that Mr. Davis's incarceration hin dered her ability to properly represent him. The motion included a contact address for Mr. Davis with the Department of Corrections. OWC granted Ms. Wolffs motion to withdraw on February 18, 2000.
13When Mr. Davis failed to appear for trial on May 3, 2000, OWC dismissed his claim without prejudice at his cost. The order noted that the claim could be reinstated "only . upon a showing of good cause within thirty (30) days of receipt of this order." A second judgment, dated May 4, 2000, dismissed Mr. Davis's claim with prejudice for failure to appear and ordered that each party bear its own costs.
On May 14, 2001, represented by new counsel, Mr. Davis moved to annul the judgment and reinstate his claim. Mr. Davis claimed that the judgment of dismissal was obtained by fraud or ill practice and should therefore be annulled pursuant to LSA-C.C.P. art.2004. Specifically, Mr. Davis argued that because OWC knew that he was incarcerated and unable to retain new counsel or appear at trial, its decision to dismiss his claim with prejudice rather than continuing the matter constituted an ill practice. After a hearing, OWC denied the motion.
Mr. Davis now appeals, arguing that OWC erred in refusing to annul the prior judgment of dismissal and reinstate his claim.
LAW AND ANALYSIS
Davis argues that OWC never notified him of the May 3, 2000 trial date. When a trial court provides written notice of a trial date to the attorney of record, but the attorney thereafter moves to withdraw as attorney of record, the trial court bears the responsibility of ensuring that the litigant receives notice of the pending trial in writing. The court can satisfy this notice requirement by reissuing the notice of trial to the unrepresented litigant directly. Otherwise, the court must receive reasonable proof that the withdrawing attorney has notified the client in writing of the trial date. This can be accomplished by attaching to the motion to withdraw a certified letter to the client or other evidence indicating the client has received unequivocal written notice of trial. If the | ¿record demonstrates that a litigant did not receive notice of trial, then he was denied procedural due process and fundamental fairness.
Accordingly, Mr. Davis was entitled to written notice of trial when his attorney was allowed to withdraw. But the record is not clear as to whether Mr. Davis received notice of the May 3, 2000 trial date, either verbally or in writing. Thus, we must remand this matter to OWC to determine the notice issue. We will defer our ruling on the remainder of this appeal until the notice issue is resolved.
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, we hereby remand this matter to OWC for a hearing within thirty days to determine whether Mr. Davis received notice of the May 3, 2000 trial date after his attorney was allowed to withdraw. The minutes and transcript of the OWC hearing resolving the notice issue shall be filed with this Court within ten days after the hearing so that Mr. Davis' appeal can continue to final disposition.
. He later sought approval for additional back surgery.
. LSA-C.C.P. art. 1571.
. Id.