Opinion ID: 2490842
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: underlying facts and procedure

Text: The State of Louisiana, Department of Social Services (DSS) conducted an investigation of Kirk Richard in response to reports of child abuse. The first DSS investigation concluded April 12, 2006, and the second investigation concluded May 29, 2008, at which time the DSS reported its findings to the district attorney and closed its file. On June 13, 2008, the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Department arrested Mr. Richard for aggravated rape of his minor children. On June 11, 2009, Mr. Richard filed suit against several defendants, including DSS, its Iberia Parish office, and three of its Iberia Parish employees, Jannenne Trahan, Brandi Derouen, and Shanequa Keal-Lewis (hereinafter referred to collectively as the DSS defendants). In his petition, Mr. Richard alleged his former wife and others began a campaign of false accusations and manufactured false evidence in order to deprive him of access to his children. The petition further asserts that as a result of actions by the DSS defendants, he was subsequently arrested and falsely imprisoned. According to Mr. Richard's petition, the DSS defendants became caught up in his former wife's campaign to falsely discredit him, and in doing so, negligently and/or intentionally breached duties owed to him as part of their investigative obligations. In response to the petition, the DSS defendants filed several exceptions, including a peremptory exception raising the objection of prescription. The district court conducted a hearing on the exception, at which time it received testimony from Ms. Trahan and Ms. Derouen. Ms. Trahan, a supervisor of the Iberia Parish child protection investigators, testified that the initial investigation of Ms. Richard's complaints terminated when the office closed its file on April 12, 2006, after transferring the matter to a foster care unit. She testified a second investigation began on November 19, 2007, and was closed May 29, 2008. In that investigation, DSS validated a complaint against Mr. Richard, and reported its findings to the district attorney's office, but the district attorney's office took no further action. In fact, the foster care unit never became involved in the second investigation. Ms. Derouen, who is employed in the foster care unit of DSS, testified that her unit had not been involved in any activity involving Mr. Richard and/or his children since May of 2008. The DSS defendants also offered two exhibits as evidence: (1) the minutes from an August 18, 2006 hearing; and (2) the resulting interim stipulated judgment on rules. These exhibits indicate the children were adjudicated to be in need of care, and that the parents were to have joint custody. The judgment made no mention of any further duty the DSS would have in relation to the Richards or the children. Mr. Richard offered three civil court records as additional evidence: 1) the divorce proceedings; 2) a proceeding in which Ms. Richard sought to resolve issues of visitation; and 3) the entire record of the current proceedings. At the conclusion of the hearing, the district court granted the DSS defendants' exception of prescription. In reasons for judgment, the district court concluded the DSS defendants had no legal responsibility for the case after May 29, 2008. Therefore, it found Mr. Richard's June 11, 2009 suit against the DSS defendants was prescribed. Mr. Richard devolutively appealed this judgment. The court of appeal affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded the case in a split decision. Richard v. Richard, 10-464 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/30/10), 54 So.3d 808. The majority of the court of appeal found the DSS established two distinct investigations involving plaintiff and his children. It found that any cause of action involving the first investigation was prescribed, because the DSS closed its file on April 12, 2006. However, the court found Mr. Richard's claim for false arrest based on the second DSS investigation was not prescribed. Although the court found the second DSS investigation terminated on May 29, 2008, when the DSS validated the complaint and relayed its findings to the district attorney, it concluded Mr. Richard did not suffer any harm until June 13, 2008, when he was arrested. Finding plaintiff's June 11, 2009 suit was filed within one year of the date of his arrest, the court of appeal reversed the district court's judgment in part, and remanded the case to the district court for further proceedings relating to the claim for false arrest. In all other respects, the majority of the court of appeal affirmed the district court's judgment. Upon the DSS defendants' application, we granted certiorari to consider the correctness of this ruling. Richard v. Richard, 11-0229 (La.4/25/11), 62 So.3d 67. The sole issue presented for our review is whether the court of appeal erred in reversing the district court's judgment with regard to Mr. Richard's false arrest claim.