Court Opinion

ID: 9475597
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 05:32:09.315469+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:44:48.442968
License: Public Domain

JOHN R. BROWN, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
Following our ancient declaration that Erie binds us by the “Latest, highest writing Court” Canal Insurance Co. v. Bal-dree, 489 F.2d 1393, 1394, (5th Cir.1974); Ford Motor Co. v. Mathis, 322 F.2d 267, 269 (5th Cir.1963), the destiny of this case was sealed by the Louisiana Court of Appeals decision LOR, Inc. v. Martin Exploration Co., 489 So.2d 1326 (La.Ct.App. 1st Cir.1986). That it was based to an undeniable extent on the earlier writings of the distinguished Federal District Judge in our very own case does not detract from Erie’s command that matters of state law are to be determined by state law and state expositors.
Consequently, I would leave entirely to Louisiana Courts — who have now spoken— determination of this Louisiana land operation problem enshrouded as it is, in the some-time quaint codal language and the beguiling mysteries of the Code Civil.
I am content to leave the intrinsic merits to Louisiana whose problem, whose laws are at stake and whose court has authoritatively ordained the outcome. Our impri*83matur, at best, is superfluous and may signal a denigration of the supremacy of state courts.