Opinion ID: 623016
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Louisiana Choice-of-Law Principles

Text: Louisiana's choice-of-law rules require us to make two decisions at this point: does Iraqi or Louisiana law apply to the merits, and which law applies to the statute of limitations issue? Marchesani v. Pellerin-Milnor Corp., 269 F.3d 481, 486 (5th Cir.2001). Civil Code Article 3542 sets forth Louisiana's general choice-of-law rules for tort claims. Id. Tort claims are governed by the law of the state whose policies would be most seriously impaired if its law were not applied to that issue. La. Civ.Code art. 3542. [1] The state whose policies would be most seriously impaired is determined by evaluating the strength and pertinence of the relevant policies of the involved states after considering the factors provided in that Article. Id. Arkel argues that this language requires Louisiana substantive law to apply because Iraq has no interest that would be affected by claims brought by the heirs of a deceased American soldier against a possibly culpable American company. Even if that characterization is true, Article 3542 is merely the general choice-of-law rule applicable to tort claims. Id. art. 3542 cmt. (a). The Article's introductory language limits its reach: Except as otherwise provided in this Title. . . . Id. art. 3542. A comment states that Article 3542 is further implemented by specific rules contained in Articles 3543-3546 and, because Articles 3543-3546 are more specific, they should, when applicable, prevail over Article 3542. Id. art. 3542 cmt. (b); see generally Wartelle v. Women's & Children's Hosp., Inc., 704 So.2d 778, 783 (La. 1997) (While the revision comments do not form part of the law, they were presented together with the proposed legislation and illuminate the understanding and intent of the legislators.). [2] A more specific rule for our purposes is in Article 3543: Issues pertaining to standards of conduct and safety are governed by the law of the state in which the conduct that caused the injury occurred, if the injury occurred in that state or in another state whose law did not provide for a higher standard of conduct. La. Civ.Code art. 3543. In explaining this Article's relationship to Article 3542, the comments make clear that Article 3543 will prevail over Article 3542 when its rules are more specific to the issues. Id. art. 3543 cmt. (b); see also Fietz v. Southland Nat'l Ins. Co., 484 F.Supp.2d 535, 548 (W.D.La.2007). The law of the state in which both the wrongful conduct and resulting injury occurred will apply regardless of the domicile of the parties or any other factors. La. Civ.Code art. 3543 cmt. (d). Here, the conduct of alleged negligence in maintaining and repairing the generator, and the resulting injury of Sergeant Everett's death, both occurred in Iraq. Article 3543 applies. Accordingly, Iraq's substantive law applies to the merits. Nevertheless, Arkel contends that Iraqi law cannot apply because CPA Order 17 exempted contractors from Iraqi laws or regulations. We now turn to CPA Order 17.