Opinion ID: 1843660
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Heading: application of legislative act 3

Text: Blaney and USF & G contend that Acts 3's amendment to La.Civ.Code art. 2323 in the First Extraordinary Session of 1996 was procedural, remedial, or interpretive; thus, this Act should be applied retroactively. In opposition, Keith contends that this portion of the Act was substantive and should only be applied prospectively. Comparing La.Civ.Code art. 2323, as amended, to its predecessor, it is apparent that the basic structure for comparative fault is unchanged. However, we observe that the Legislature added more specific language to Art. 2323 making it mandatory for the determination of the percentage of fault of all persons contributing to an injury, whether those persons are unidentified non-parties, statutorily immune employers, or others. Having reviewed this act of the First Extraordinary Session of the 1996 Legislature, it is evident that the Legislature met the concerns we expressed in Cavalier regarding how it intended that employer fault be treated in third-party tort actions. Notwithstanding, the act did not express whether it intended that the amendment to La.Civ.Code art. 2323 be given retrospective or prospective application. The general rule against retroactive application of legislative enactments and its exceptions, is codified in La.Civ.Code. art. 6. Cole v. Celotex Corp., 599 So.2d 1058 (La. 1992). Article 6 provides: In the absence of contrary legislative expression, substantive laws apply prospectively only. Procedural and interpretive laws apply both prospectively and retroactively, unless there is a legislative expression to the contrary. Additionally, La.R.S. 1:2 provides that no statute is retroactive unless it is expressly so stated. Unlike La.Civ.Code art. 6, La.R.S. 1:2 does not distinguish between substantive, procedural and interpretive laws. However, the jurisprudence has generally construed the two provisions as being co-extensive. See Manuel v. La. Sheriff's Risk Mgmt. Fund, 95-406 (La.11/27/95); 664 So.2d 81; St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Smith, 609 So.2d 809 (La.1992). Article 6 requires a two-fold inquiry. First, we must ascertain whether the enactment expresses legislative intent regarding retrospective or prospective application. If such intent is expressed, the inquiry ends unless the enactment impairs contractual obligations or vested rights. If no such intent is expressed, the enactment must be classified as either substantive, procedural or interpretive. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 609 So.2d at 816; Cole, 599 So.2d at 1063. It is well accepted that substantive laws either establish new rules, rights, and duties or change existing ones, while interpretive laws merely establish the meaning the statute had from the time of its enactment. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 609 So.2d at 817. Procedural laws prescribe a method for enforcing a previously existing substantive right and relate to the form of the proceeding or the operation of the laws. 19 Segura v. Frank, 93-1271, 93-1401 (La.1/14/94); 630 So.2d 714. Nonetheless, since the application of legislative enactments has constitutional implications under the due process and contract clauses of both the United States and Louisiana Constitutions, even where the Legislature has expressed its intent to give a substantive law retroactive effect, the law may not be applied retroactively if it would impair contractual obligations or disturb vested rights. Id. As we pointed out hereinabove, Act 3 contains no clear and unmistakable expression of legislative intent regarding retrospective application. After noting this lack of express legislative intent, two appellate court cases from the Court of Appeal, First Circuit, have considered the retroactivity of Act 3. Moore v. Safeway, Inc., 95-1552, 1996 WL 684184, ___ So.2d ___ (La.App. 1 Cir. 11/22/96); Thornhill v. State, Dept. of Transp. & Dev., 95-1950 (La.App. 1 Cir. 6/28/96); 676 So.2d 799. In Moore, the appellate court declined to express an opinion regarding the amendments to La.Civ.Code art. 2323, but stated that the amendments to La.Civ.Code art. 2324, the other codal article included in Act 3, were substantive and had prospective application only. In Thornhill, another panel from the First Circuit construed Act 3's amendments to La.Civ.Code arts. 2323 and 2324 as substantive and applied them prospectively only. After carefully considering Act 3, we find that the legislative amendment of La. Civ.Code arts. 2323 was procedural legislation. Act 431 of 1979 amended and reenacted La.Civ.Code arts. 2103, 2323, and 2324 to usher a comparative fault system into Louisiana. This act eliminated the doctrine of contributory negligence and provided the framework for a comprehensive scheme of loss apportionment in multi-party litigation. Cole, 599 So.2d 1058. Since the adoption of a pure comparative fault system, it has been the task of the factfinder to allocate shares of negligence. Socorro v. City of New Orleans, 579 So.2d 931 (La.1991). Viewing the applicability of Act 3 to the case sub judice, it is clear that the substantive right to allocate fault was created in 1979 with the introduction of comparative fault. As such, Act 3 simply delineates a method for enforcing that substantive right as particularly applied to the statutory employer. Accordingly, we conclude that the legislative changes reflected in Act 3 are procedural, and can be applied retroactively. Thus, we find that employer fault must be quantified in the present case, as indicated in conformity with the amendment to La.Civ.Code art. 2323. Accordingly, we find that the trial court and court of appeal erred in ordering Blaney and USF & G to strike the allegations of employer fault from their answer. For the reasons assigned, the judgments of the trial court and the court of appeal are reversed and this case is remanded for further proceedings in accordance herewith. REVERSED AND REMANDED. CALOGERO, C.J., concurs and assigns reasons.