Opinion ID: 1725021
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: exception of laches

Text: Exceptors urge in support of their plea of laches the same contentions regarding notice of the former actions as were relied upon with regard to their exception of estoppel. Additionally, it is argued that the Director of Civil Service, of the City of New Orleans, an agent or representative of the Commission, appeared in one of the former actions as a witness; accordingly, the Commission is charged with notice of said proceedings. It is next alleged that the Commission's present counsel represented the Commission's political arm, the Louisiana Civil Service League, in the former action, consequently, the Commission is charged with knowledge of said actions and those suits. The doctrine of laches is predicated on equity. It addresses itself to the evidentiary effect of delay. It is based on the injustice that might result from the enforcement of long neglected rights, the difficulty, if not the impossibility, of ascertaining the truth of a matter in controversy, and doing justice between parties and on the public policy of discouraging stale and antiquated claims in the interest of the peace and repose of society. Labarre v. Rateau, 210 La. 34, 26 So.2d 279. We find no basis for holding the Commission guilty of laches herein. As regards the question of notice of former actions between other parties, and alleged privy between the Commission and the Louisiana Civil Service League, the reasons given for our rejection of the exception of judicial estoppel are equally applicable to the exception of laches. Unquestionably the City Director of Civil Service is an agent of the Commission inasmuch as La.Const. Art. XIV, Sec. 15(F)(1) expressly provides for his appointment by the Commission. That the Director appeared as a witness in a former action between third parties in which the Commission was neither cited nor appeared adds no new dimension to the notice issue insofar as the doctrine of laches is concerned. Said appearance in no way prejudiced Intervenors' rights from an evidentiary standpoint, neither did it in any manner encourage presentation of an antiquated or stale demand. We find no merit in Intervenors' argument that the Commission has slept on its rights. The exceptions of laches are overruled.