Opinion ID: 1706255
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Formal Charge 0277The Ziegler Matter

Text: A & M Heating v. Ziegler The first formal charge against Justice of the Peace Braud arose from a complaint received on August 25, 2003 from Tamara Ziegler, the wife of Marvin Ziegler, a defendant in the lawsuit entitled A & M Heating v. Ziegler, No. C-0301-008-3. Justice of the Peace Braud personally served Mr. Ziegler with a citation on January 25, 2003, and entered a default judgment against Marvin Ziegler in the above pending matter on March 18, 2003. When A & M Heating later filed a Motion for Judgment Debtor Examination of Mr. Ziegler, Justice of the Peace Braud issued an order setting the examination for July 14, 2003. This date was subsequently continued at the request of Mr. Ziegler's counsel of record, Attorney S. Stephen Spring, II (Attorney Spring). Justice of the Peace Braud granted the Motion to Continue in an undated order stating that I will contact your office to let you know the [new] date. After a discussion with Attorney Spring's paralegal, Justice of the Peace Braud reset the judgment debtor examination to August 13, 2003. The Notice of the resetting was never served on Mr. Ziegler or his attorney by either registered or certified mail or by personal or domiciliary service, as required by LSA-C.C.P. arts. 1313-1314, [1] but it was faxed to. Attorney Spring. Mr. Ziegler did not appear for the judgment debtor examination on August 13, 2003. As a result, Justice of the Peace Braud ordered Mr. Ziegler to show cause on August 19, 2003 why he should not be adjudged in contempt of court. The rule to show cause was served on Mr. Ziegler's attorney on August 15, 2003. Notwithstanding the show cause order, on August 13, 2003, Justice of the Peace Braud signed a warrant for Mr. Ziegler's arrest on the contempt charge. The constable and other law enforcement officials tried executing the arrest warrant, but Mr. Ziegler was not home at the time. On August 14, 2003, Mr. Ziegler filed a motion seeking the recall of the arrest warrant. Justice of the Peace Braud informed Attorney Spring, by faxed correspondence on the morning of August 15, 2003, that her issuance of the arrest warrant was erroneous and that she was granting his motion. On the same day, Justice of the Peace Braud recalled the arrest warrant. Gonzales Chevron v. Ziegler Mr. Ziegler was a defendant in a second case pending in Justice of the Peace Braud's court captioned Gonzales Chevron v. Ziegler, which was set for trial on August 13, 2003. The Notice of Trial was not properly served via registered or certified mail or by personal or domiciliary service, as required by LSA-C.C.P. arts. 1313-1314. However, the Notice was faxed and/or mailed by ordinary U.S. mail to Attorney Spring. Mr. Ziegler did not appear for trial. On August 13, 2003, Justice of the Peace Braud entered a default judgment against Mr. Ziegler and in favor of Gonzales Chevron in the amount of $3,000 plus interest and costs. [2] Mr. Ziegler appealed the default judgment to the 23rd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Ascension.