Court Opinion

ID: 9374928
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-24 17:04:25.92048+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:54.268990
License: Public Domain

STATE OF LOUISIANA

                                  COURT OF APPEAL

                                    FIRST CIRCUIT

                                     aoaz ca i000

                         LISA KAY KUNSTMAN PIROSKO

v.
                                        VERSUS

                              JOSEPH J. PIROSKO, III

                                              JUDGMENT RENDERED: -       FB 2 4 2023

                                      Appealed from
                          The Twenty -First Judicial District Court
                         Parish of Tangipahoa • State of Louisiana
                              Docket Number 2004- 0001017

                 The Honorable Jeffery T. Oglesbee, Presiding Judge

     Brett K. Duncan                                    COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE/
     Hammond, Louisiana                                 PLAINT[ FF—   Lisa Kay Kunstman
                                                        Pirosko

     Glen R. Galbraith                                  COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT/
     Rebecca Gilson                                     DEFENDAN'i=    Joseph J. Pirosko, III
     Hammond, Louisiana

     T. Jay Seale, III
     Georgia Kobos Thomas
     April F. Jackson
     Madisonville, Louisiana

                 BEFORE: WELCH, PENZATO, AND LANIER, M.
WELCH, J.

        Joseph J. Pirosko, III appeals a judgment in favor of his ex- wife, Lisa Kay

Kunstman Pirosko (      now "      Gingles"),   which sustained her peremptory exception

raising the objections of res judicata and peremption and dismissed,                         with

prejudice, Mr. Pirosko' s motion seeking a modification of the parties'                   consent

judgment that partitioned Mr. Pirosko' s military benefits.'          For reasons that follow,

we reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for further proceedings.

                    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        Mrs. Gingles and Mr. Pirosko were married on August 10,                   1979.     Mrs.

Gingles filed a petition for divorce on March 26, 2004, seeking among other things

a divorce from Mr. Pirosko, as well as a partition of their community property.                A

judgment of divorce was signed on June 14, 2004; the judgment of divorce also

terminated the parties'      community retroactive to the date Mrs. Gingles filed her

petition for divorce.       On April 25, 2005, Mrs. Gingles filed her sworn detailed

descriptive list of community assets and liabilities, and included therein as an asset

was Mr. Pirosko' s military pension benefits with the United States Army.                     On

October 6, 2005, the trial court signed a consent judgment that the parties had

                                                                                      2
entered into with regard to the partition of Mr. Pirosko' s military benefits .

        According to the terms of the October 6, 2005 consent judgment, it was

entered into specifically to divide Mr. Pirosko' s " Disposable Retired Pay"               and to

grant   Mrs.    Gingles "   a [   S] urvivor [ B] enefit [ P] Ian."   More specifically,      the

1 The original judgment appealed in this matter, which was signed on April 18, 2022, lacked
appropriate decretal language.     After the record was lodged with this Court and examined, on
October 6, 2022, this Court issued a rule to show cause why the appeal should not be dismissed
based on this deficiency in the judgment. Thereafter, this matter was remanded to the trial court
for the limited purpose of requesting the trial court to sign an amended judgment correcting the
deficiencies in the original judgment. See Lisa Kay Kunstman Pirosko v. Joseph J. Pirosko,
111, 2022- 1000 ( La. App. 1St Cir. 12/ 9/ 22) ( unpublished action). An amended judgment was
subsequently signed by the trial court on January 4, 2023, and the appellate record supplemented
with that amended judgment. Therefore, we maintain this appeal.

2 Other than the consent judgment partitioning Mr. Pirosko' s military benefits, the record does
not reflect that the remainder of the parties' former community has been partitioned— by consent
or otherwise.

                                                  2
judgment provided that Mrs. Gingles was to receive a specific fraction of Mr.

Pirosko' s total Disposable Retired Pay commencing on the date Mr. Pirosko began

to receive his Disposable Retired Pay and ending ( except for the Survivor Benefit

Plan) on his death. ( R27- 29) It also provided that Mrs. Gingles " shall be covered

by the Survivor Benefit Plan, [ as   set forth in] 10 U. S. C. §§   1447, et seq.,    and shall

receive the maximum annuity allowed by law under the Survivor Benefit Plan."

This consent judgment contained " Reservation of Jurisdiction"            clauses,     wherein

the trial court reserved jurisdiction " to amend or modify the provisions of [ the

October 6, 2005 consent] U] udgment," for several specific purposes, including " to

terminate or suspend the payment of benefits to [ Mrs. Gingles]              as   a   result of

remarriage, cohabitation, attainment of a certain age, ...   or other events justifying a

change in payments ...."

         Importantly, under the Survivor Benefit Plan set forth in 10 U.S. C. § 1447, et

seq.,   if a former spouse remarries before the age of 55, any annuity payable to that

former spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan terminates effective as of the first

day of the month in which eligibility is lost; however, in such cases, the payment

of the annuity may resume upon the termination of the remarriage effective as of

the first day of the month in which the marriage is so terminated.           See 10 U.S. C.

 1450( b).

         It is undisputed that Mrs. Gingles remarried in April 2010, that she remains

married to date, and that at the time of her remarriage, she had not reached the age

of 55.    It is also undisputed that Mr. Pirosko retired in September 2017, that there

is a deduction from Mr. Pirosko' s monthly retirement benefit for the Survivor

Benefit Plan annuity granted in favor of Mrs. Gingles under the October 5, 2005

consent judgment, and that Mrs. Gingles does not actually receive an annuity under

the Survivor Benefit Plan because Mr. Pirosko is still living and she is currently

                                            3
remarried.
                 These undisputed facts lie at the core of the following litigation that has

occurred between the parties,

       On November 26, 2018, Mr. Pirosko filed a rule to show cause, seeking to

retroactively "[    a] mend/ [ c] orrect and/ or [ v] acate"   both the June 14, 2004 judgment

of divorce and the October 6,            2005 consent judgment partitioning his military

benefits. Mr. Pirosko claimed that the judgments were null because the trial court

lacked jurisdiction and venue; he also claimed that the judgments were obtained by
fraud and ill practices.         With respect to the partition of Mr. Pirosko' s military

benefits, he claimed that Mrs. Gingles was receiving an improper fraction of his

Disposable Retired Pay and that she was not eligible for the Survivor Benefit Plan

because she remarried in April 2010 prior to the age of 55. Therefore, Mr. Pirosko

sought to have both the June 14, 2004 judgment of divorce and the October 6, 2005

consent judgment partitioning his military benefits amended,                  corrected,   and/ or

declared null.

       In response to this pleading,          Mrs.    Gingles filed a declinatory exception

raising the objections of insufficiency of service of process and insufficiency of

citation,   a dilatory exception raising the objection of unauthorized use of a

summary proceeding, a peremptory exception raising the objections of no cause of

action and res judicata, and a motion to strike.           Pursuant to a judgment signed by

the trial court on May 24, 2019, the trial court sustained all of the exceptions,

granted the motion to strike, and dismissed Mr. Pirosko' s claims with prejudice. 3

Mr. Pirosko filed a motion to appeal the judgment; however, the appeal was

subsequently abandoned and dismissed by this Court. See Lisa Kay Kunstman

Pirosko     v.    Joseph    J.   Pirosko,   III, 2019- 0912 ( La.      App.    I'   Cir.   1. 17120)

unpublished action).

3 The record reflects that a hearing on these exceptions was held on May 6, 2019.     Mr. Pirosko
did not appear for the hearing and the hearing consisted of argument only by counsel for Mrs.
Gingles.

                                                  n
       On May 28, 2019, just four days after the signing of the May 24,                    2019

judgment, Mrs. Gingles filed a motion to amend the October 6, 2005 consent

judgment partitioning Mr. Pirosko' s military benefits.         Therein, she sought to make

two substantive changes to that judgment: one to change calculation of her share of

the retirement benefit and the other to " eliminat[ e] the survivor benefit contained

in the original [ October 6, 2005 consent] judgment" because "[ Mrs.] Gingles ha[ d]

remarried,   making her ineligible to receive that benefit."              Mrs. Gingles later

voluntarily dismissed her motion, without prejudice.

       Thereafter, on February 28, 2020, Mr. Pirosko filed a petition to annul the

May 24, 2019 judgment on exceptions, claiming that the judgment was an absolute

nullity because he was not properly served with the underlying exceptions pursuant

to La. R.S. 13: 3204 and 13: 3205 (     Louisiana' s long-arm statutes), and further, that

the strict requirements of those statutes were not met prior to the rendition of

judgment.    In response to this petition to annul, Mrs. Gingles filed a peremptory

exception raising the objections of no cause of action and res judicata. The trial

court sustained both objections pursuant to a judgment signed on October 7, 2021.

However, the October 7, 2021 judgment neither dismissed Mr. Pirosko' s petition

to annul nor did it dismiss any of Mr. Pirosko' s claims therein.

       On September 29, 2021, Mr. Pirosko filed a motion for modification of the

October 6, 2005 consent judgment' and for reimbursement. Therein, Mr. Pirosko

asserted that Mrs. Gingles re -married on April 17, 2010, that she was 51 years of

age on that date, and that she remains re -married to this date. Mr. Pirosko claimed

that under 10 U. S. C. §     1450( b), Mrs. Gingles was not entitled to the Survivor

Benefit Plan, and that Mrs.        Gingles had admitted same under oath during her

deposition on June 9, 2020. Mr. Pirosko further claimed that, based on the October

4 In Mr. Pirosko' s motion for modification, he inadvertently referred to the consent judgment as
the October 5, 2005 consent judgment rather than the October 6, 2005 consent judgment.

                                                5
6, 2005 consent judgment, his retirement benefit has been and continues to be

deducted for the annuity for the Survivor Benefit Plan.                  Therefore, Mr. Pirosko

sought an order from the trial court recognizing that Mrs. Gingles was not entitled

to the Survivor Benefit Plan retroactive to the date of her remarriage ( to ensure that

the deduction from his retirement benefit would cease) and that any monies that

had already been deducted from his retirement be returned or paid to him.'

       In response to this motion, Mrs. Gingles filed a peremptory exception raising

the objections of no cause of action, res judicata, and peremption. With respect to

no cause of action, Mrs. Gingles argued that the trial court lost jurisdiction to

modify or amend the October 6, 2005 consent judgment once it was determined to

be in compliance with federal law. Therefore, she claimed that Mr. Pirosko failed

to state of a cause of action for which the law provided relief. Next, with respect to

res judicata, Mrs. Gingles argued that the May 24, 2019 judgment and the October

7, 2021 judgment were " valid, definitive, and final," and disposed of the merits of

Mr. Pirosko' s rule by dismissing his actions seeking to vacate the October 6, 2005

consent judgment.        She also asserted that the cause of action asserted in Mr.

Pirosko' s current motion to modify existed and arose out of the same transaction or

occurrence as the causes of action that were the subject of the May 24,                     2019

judgment and the October 7, 2021 judgment.              Therefore, Mrs. Gingles contended

that res judicata barred Mr. Pirosko' s action.         Lastly, with respect to peremption,

Mrs. Gingles maintained that " federal peremption" barred Mr. Pirosko' s action

because federal law did not allow Mr. Pirosko to revoke his Survivor Benefit Plan

nor did it allow him to seek reimbursement for the premiums paid. Mrs. Gingles

also maintained that the relief requested by Mr. Pirosko was prohibited by "                  the

Barring Act,"     which is set forth in 31          U.S. C. § 3702( b), and that federal law

5 As previously set forth, there is no dispute that Mrs. Gingles does not receive any of the funds
deducted from Mr. Pirosko' s retirement for the Survivor Benefit Plan.

                                                G
provided Mr. Pirosko with other remedies, which he had failed to exhaust prior to

seeking relief from the trial court.

        After a hearing, the trial court took the matter under advisement.            Thereafter,

the trial court overruled Mrs. Gingles'            objection   of no   cause     of   action   and

sustained her objections         of res judicata     and    peremption.      A judgment in

accordance with the trial court' s ruling, which also dismissed Mr. Pirosko' s motion

for modification was signed on January 4, 2023, and it is from this judgment that

Mr. Pirosko has appealed.'         On appeal, Mr. Pirosko contends that the trial court

erred in sustaining the objections of res judicata and peremption.7

                                 LAW AND DISCUSSION

                                         Res Judicata

       The peremptory exception raising the objection of res judicata is based on

the conclusive legal presumption that there should be no re -litigation of a thing

previously adjudged between the same parties.            Mitchell v. Aaron' s. Inc., 2018-

0131 ( La. App.     1st Cir. 9121118), 257 So. 3d 812, 814; see La. C. C. P. art. 927( A)( 3).

Res judicata bars re -litigation of a subject matter arising from the same transaction

or occurrence of a previous suit and promotes judicial efficiency and final

resolution of disputes.     Wicker v. Louisiana Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance

Company, 2018- 0225 ( La. App.         1st Cir. 9/ 21/ 18), 257 So. 3d 817, 821.

       Louisiana Revised Statute 13: 4231           sets forth the general principles for

res judicata, and it provides as follows:

       Except as otherwise provided by law, a valid and final judgment is
       conclusive between the same parties, except on appeal or other direct
       review, to the following extent:

6 See footnote 1.

7
    We note that Mr. Pirosko contends that the trial court erred in allowing evidence to be
submitted in support of Mrs. Gingles' objections.    However, Mr. Pirosko failed to brief this
assignment of error.   Therefore, in accordance with Uniform Rules— Courts of Appeal, Rule 2-
12. 4, this assignment of error is deemed abandoned.       Nevertheless, we note that the only
evidence that was offered by Mrs. Gingles was the record of these proceedings.

                                               7
         1)   If the judgment is in favor of the plaintiff, all causes of action
        existing at the time of final judgment arising out of the transaction or
        occurrence that is the subject matter of the litigation are extinguished
        and merged in the judgment.

         2) If the judgment is in favor of the defendant, all causes of action

        existing at the time of final judgment arising out of the transaction or
        occurrence that is the subject matter of the litigation are extinguished
        and the judgment bars a subsequent action on those causes of action.

         3)   A judgment in favor of either the plaintiff or the defendant is
        conclusive, in any subsequent action between them, with respect to
        any issue actually litigated and determined if its determination was
        essential to that judgment.

        Under this provision, the Louisiana Supreme Court has emphasized that all

of the following elements must be satisfied in order for res judicata to preclude a

second action: (    1)   the judgment is valid; ( 2) the judgment is final; ( 3) the parties

are the same;' (   4) the cause or causes of action asserted in the second suit existed at

the time of final judgment in the first litigation; and ( 5) the cause or causes of

action asserted in the second suit arose out of the transaction or occurrence that

was the subject matter of the first litigation. Burguieres v. Pollingue, 2002- 1385

 La. 2/ 25103), 843 So -2d 1049, 1053; see also Wicker, 257 So. 3d at 521.

       However, there are exceptions to the general rule of res judicata, which are

set forth in La. R.S. 13: 4232 as follows:

       A. A judgment does not bar another action by the plaintiff:

         1) When exceptional circumstances justify relief from the res judicata
       effect of the judgment;

        2) When the judgment dismissed the first action without prejudice;
       or,

        3)    When the judgment reserved the right of the plaintiff to bring
       another action.

       B. In an action for divorce under Civil Code Article 102 or 103, in an
       action for determination of incidental matters under Civil                       Code
       Article 105, in an action for contributions to a spouse' s education or
       training under Civil Code Article 121, and in an action for partition of

s In this case, the parties are clearly the same; therefore, this issue need not be addressed.

                                                  8
       community property and settlement of claims between spouses under
       R. S. 9: 2801,   the judgment has the effect of res judicata only as to
       causes ofaction actually adjudicated.
        Emphasis added).

       The doctrine     of     res judicata must   be strictly construed,   and
                                                                                  any   doubt

concerning its applicability is to be resolved against the party raising the objection.

Mandalay Oil & Gas, L.L.C. v. Energy Development Corp.,                     2001- 0993 ( La.

App. 1st Cir.   7/ 3/ 02),    867 So. 2d 709, 713.     The burden of proving the facts

essential to support the objection of res judicata is on the party pleading the

objection.   Cadle Co., II, Inc. v. Linder, 2021- 1361 (        La. App. 1St Cir. 8124/ 22),

348 So. 3d 784, 788 n. 3, writ denied, 2022- 01437 ( La. 11/ 22/ 22), 350 So. 3d 501.

Further, the res judicata effect of a prior judgment is a question of law that is

reviewed de novo. Id. at 788 n.4.

       Based on our de novo review of the record, we find that the trial court

improperly sustained Mrs. Gingles' objection of res judicata.           First and foremost,

we note that all of these proceedings, as well as the judgments that have been

rendered, arise from Mrs. Gingles' request, in her petition for divorce, to partition

the parties' community property. Therefore, pursuant to the exception set forth in

La. R.S. 13: 4232( B),       any judgment that has been rendered has the effect of res

judicata only as to causes of action actually adjudicated.

       Pertinent to the issue of res judicata, the record before us contains three

judgments: the October 6,          2005 consent judgment partitioning Mr.          Pirosko' s

military benefits; the May 24, 2019 judgment on exceptions; and the October 7,

2021 judgment on exceptions.         However, all three of these judgments fail to satisfy

the requirements of res judicata so as to bar Mr. Pirosko' s motion to modify the

October 6, 2005 judgment.

       First, the October 7, 2021 judgment sustained Mrs. Gingles' peremptory

exception raising the objections of no cause of action and res judicata, which were

                                               6
filed in response to Mr. Pirosko' s petition to annul the May 24, 2019 judgment.       As

previously noted, this judgment did not, however, dismiss Mr. Pirosko' s petition to

annul the May 24, 2019 judgment or any of his claims.                   Absent language

determining or disposing of the merits of Mr. Pirosko' s petition to annul the May
24, 2019 judgment, the October 7, 2021 judgment is not a final judgment. See La.

C. C. P. arts. 1841 ( providing that a " final judgment" is a judgment that determines

the merits in whole or in part.) Since the October 7, 2021 judgment is not a final

judgment, it cannot serve as a basis for the objection of res judicata to Mr.

Pirosko' s petition for modification of the October 6, 2005 consent judgment

partitioning Mr. Pirosko' s retirement benefits. See Burguieres, 843 So. 2d at 1053

providing that the judgment must be final in order for res judicata to preclude a

second action).

          Next, the October 6, 2005 consent judgment was a partial partition of

community property, i.e., Mr. Pirosko' s military benefits. A consent judgment is a

bilateral contract wherein the parties adjust their differences by mutual consent and

thereby put an end to a lawsuit with each party balancing the hope of gain against

the fear of loss."   McDaniel v. McDaniel, 567 So. 2d 748, 750 ( La. App. 2"          Cir.

1990); Boutte v, Boutte, 2019- 734 (      La. App.     3rd Cir. 718/ 20), 304 So. 3d 467,

472, writ denied, 2020- 00985 ( La. 1218120), 306 So. 3d 426, cert. denied, 142 S. Ct.

220, 211 L.Ed.2d 96 ( 2021).      The matters addressed in a consent judgment are

generally considered to be "    actually adjudicated" even though the judgment is

based on the consent of the parties rather than an adjudication by the trial court.

See Boutte, 304 So. 3d at 471- 472.      In this case, although the judgment partitions

Mr.   Pirosko' s military benefits (   and thus,    actually adjudicated that particular

issue),   it specifically contemplated a modification of that judgment by the parties,

as it expressly provided that the trial court would retain jurisdiction " to    amend or

modify the provisions of [      the]   Judgment,"    for several   specifically identified

                                            10
purposes,         including " to terminate or suspend the payment of benefits to [      Mrs.

Gingles] as a result of remarriage ...."       Thus, not only is Mr. Pirosko contractually
entitled, under the October 6, 2005 consent judgment, to seek a modification of

that judgment based on Mrs. Gingles' remarriage, but the October 6, 2005 consent

judgment also falls under the exception to res judicata set forth in La. R.S.

13: 4232( A)(3) (      when the judgment reserves the right to bring another action).

          Furthermore, even        if the October 6,    2005   consent judgment did not

contractually entitle Mr. Pirosko to bring the instant suit for a modification based

on Mrs. Gingles' remarriage or fall under any of the exception set forth in La. R.S.

13: 4232( A)(3), we also find that the October 6, 2005 consent judgment fails to

meet the other criteria under La. R.S. 13: 4231 for res judicata to apply.      The cause

of action for modification of the October 6, 2005 consent judgment, which is based

on Mrs. Gingles'         remarriage in April 2010, clearly did not exist at the time the

October 6, 2005 consent judgment was rendered, nor did it arise out of the same

transaction or occurrence that was the subject matter of the October 6, 2005

consent judgment, which was               the partial partition of community property.

Therefore, for all these reasons, we find that the October 6, 2005 consent judgment

cannot serve as a basis for the objection of res judicata to Mr. Pirosko' s petition

for modification of the October 6, 2005 consent judgment.

          Lastly, the May 24, 2019 judgment sustained several exceptions filed by

Mrs. Gingles in response to Mr. Pirosko' s motion to amend, correct, vacate and/ or

nullify the October 6, 2005 consent judgment on the basis of lack of jurisdiction,

improper venue, and fraud and ill practices. Unlike the October 7, 2021 judgment

on exceptions, the May 24, 2019 judgment did dismiss Mr. Pirosko' s motion to

amend,      correct,    vacate,   and/or nullify the October 6,   2005 consent judgment.

Therefore, the May 29, 2019 judgment was a valid and final judgment under La.

C. C.P.    art.    1841 for purposes of res judicata.    However, that judgment has res

                                                11
judicata effect only as to the issues actually adjudicated therein, i.e.,   the merits of

the exceptions filed in response to Mr. Pirosko' s motion to amend, correct, vacate,

and/or nullify the October 6, 2005 consent judgment on the basis of lack of

jurisdiction, improper venue, and fraud and ill practices. See La. R.S. 13: 4231( 3)

and 4232( B).

       We also find that the cause of action asserted in Mr. Pirosko' s motion for

modification of the October 6, 2005 consent judgment, i.e.,           a request for a

declaration that Mrs. Gingles was not entitled to the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity
because she remarried on April 17, 2010 before she reached the age of 55, existed

at the time of the May 29, 2019 judgment on exceptions was rendered. Indeed, Mr.

Pirosko asserted this factual basis as one of the grounds for nullifying the October

6, 2005 consent judgment on the basis of fraud and ill practice. However, we find

that the cause of action asserted by Mr. Pirosko in his motion to modify the

October 6, 2005 judgment did not arise out of the same transaction or occurrence

that was the subject matter of Mr. Pirosko' s motion to amend, correct,          vacate,

and/ or nullify the October 6,   2005 judgment.     In the action to amend,     correct,

vacate, and/ or nullify the October 6, 2005 judgment, the transaction or occurrence

giving rise to the proceeding was the trial court' s purported lack of jurisdiction and

improper venue, as well as the purported fraud or ill practice by Mrs. Gingles in

obtaining that judgment, whereas the transaction or occurrence that was the subject

in the motion to modify the October 6,          2005 judgment was Mrs. Gingles'

remarriage.     Although Mr. Pirosko included allegations in his motion to amend,

correct, vacate, and/ or nullify that Mrs. Gingles was not eligible for the Survivor

Benefit Plan because she remarried in April 2010 prior to the age of 55, this issue

was never addressed because Mr. Pirosko' s motion was dismissed for a host of

procedural deficiencies.     Thus, the   issue of Mrs. Gingles'    eligibility for the

Survivor Benefit Plan was never actually adjudicated or litigated.      Therefore, we

                                          12
find the May 24, 2019 judgment cannot serve as a basis for the objection of res

judicata as to Mr. Pirosko' s motion for modification of the October 6, 2005

consent judgment.

       Accordingly, we find the trial court erred in sustaining Mrs.              Gingles'

peremptory exception raising the objection of res judicata, and its judgment in this

regard must be reversed.

                                      Peremption

       Peremption is a period of time fixed by law for the existence of a right, and

unless timely exercised, the right is extinguished upon the expiration of the

peremptive period.    La. C. C. art. 3458. Thus, peremption is a period of time, fixed

by law, within which a right must be exercised or be forever lost. Borel v. Young,

2007- 0419 ( La. 11/ 27107), 989 So. 2d 42, 48. The objection of peremption is raised

by the peremptory exception.        See La. C. C. P.   art.   927( A)(2).   Ordinarily,   the

exceptor bears the burden of proof at the trial of the peremptory exception.

Lamont v. Bennett, 2014- 2483 ( La. 6130/ 15),          172 So. 3d 620, 627.        But, if

peremption is evident on the face of the pleadings, the burden shifts to the plaintiff

to show the action is not perempted. See Id.

       At the trial court and on appeal herein, Mrs. Gingles argues that the doctrine

of "federal peremption"    bars Mr. Pirosko' s motion to modify because federal law

does not allow Mr. Pirosko to revoke his Survivor Benefit Plan, does not allow Mr.

Pirosko to seek reimbursement for the premiums paid, and provides Mr. Pirosko

with other remedies, which he had failed to exhaust prior to seeking relief from the

trial court.   Mrs. Gingles also argues that the relief requested by Mr. Pirosko is

prohibited by " the Barring Act."

       We cannot find, nor have we been directed to, any authority— statutory,

jurisprudential, or otherwise— pertaining   to the doctrine of " federal      peremption."

However, based on the substance of the arguments made by Mrs. Gingles— that

                                           13
federal law prohibits Mr. Pirosko' s request under Louisiana law to modify the

consent judgment partitioning his military benefits— it appears that she is actually

referring to the doctrine of "federal preemption." Federal preemption is based on

the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution,                which provides that

federal law shall be the " supreme Law of the Land."          U.S. Const. Art. VI, cl. 2.

See Baca v. Sabine River Authority, 2018- 1046 ( La. App.          1St Cir. 12127118), 27I

So. 3d 223, 229, writ denied, 2019- 0149 ( La. 3118119), 267 So. 3d 95.

         Notably, federal preemption is an affirmative defense,           which under La.

C. C. P. arts. 1003 and 1005, should be pled in a defendant' s answer.            Snearl v.

Mercer, 99- 1738 (    La. App. 1St Cir. 2116101),    780 So. 2d 563, 572, writs denied,

2001- 1319 and 2001- 1320 ( La. 6/ 22/ 01), 794 So. 2d 800 and 801.           An affirmative

defense raises new matters that, assuming the allegations in the petition to be true,

constitute a defense to the action and will have the effect of defeating plaintiffs

demand on the merits. Id.

         There is an implicit distinction between matters constituting affirmative

defenses and issues that are appropriately raised through the peremptory exception

 such as peremption).     See La. C.C.P. arts. 927 and 1005.     Thus, in reviewing the

merits    of   Mrs.   Gingles'   peremptory      exception   raising    the    objection   of

peremptionthe issue raised in the trial court and by this appeal -- we decline to

address any arguments made by Mrs. Gingle relating to whether federal law

preempts Mr. Pirosko' s request for relief        Those issues are more appropriately

addressed as affirmative defenses. Therefore, we limit our discussion to the issue

of peremption or whether there is any period of time fixed by law— federal                 or

state—   for the existence of Mr. Pirosko' s right to seek a modification of the consent

judgment partitioning his military benefits.

         The specific relief requested by Mr. Pirsoko in his motion to modify was a

declaration that Mrs. Gingles was not entitled to the Survivor Benefit Plan annuity

                                            14
because she remarried before the age of 55, which declaration was based on 10

U.S. C. § 1450( b).     He also sought declaration that she was not entitled to that

annuity retroactive to the date she remarried, such that any monies that have been

deducted from his retirement be returned and/ or paid back to him. The face of Mr.

Pirosko' s motion does not establish that his right to seek this relief has been

perempted.        Therefore, Mrs.   Gingles had the burden of establishing that Mr.

Pirosko' s right to seek declaratory judgment and/ or the modification of the October

6, 2006 judgment were extinguished.

        In    support   of Mrs.   Gingles'   contention   that   Mr. Pirosko' s    claim   is

perempted, she points to provisions in the statutes governing the Survivor Benefit

Plan providing that an election made for the Survivor Benefit Plan is generally
irrevocable. See 10 U.S. C. §     1448( a)( 4)( A) and ( C) and 1450( 8).   She also claims

that the relief is prohibited by the " the Barring Act," which is set forth in 31 U.S. C.

 3702( b).

        First and foremost, we find that the Barring Act is not applicable to Mr.

Pirosko' s action.      By its terms,   31 U.S. C. § 3702 applies to the settlement of

particular "    claims of or against the United States Government."            The specific

subsection
                relied on by Mrs. Gingles- 31 U.S. C. § 3702( b) ---provides      that such

claims "     against the Government ...   must be received ...    within 6 years after the

claim   accrues,"    with certain exceptions provided thereinafter.         Since the relief

sought by Mr. Pirosko in his motion to modify the October 6,                  2006 consent

judgment is not against the United States Government, but rather, is against Mrs.

Gingles, the Barring Act does not establish a peremptive period for Mr. Pirosko' s

claims against Mrs. Gingles.

        Likewise, we also find no merit to Mrs. Gingles' assertion that 10 U. S. C.

 1449 and 1450 set forth a peremptive period for Mr. Pirosko' s claims against

Mrs. Gingles.       While these provisions contain general language setting forth a

                                             15
general rule that the Survivor Benefit Plan election may not be revoked, those

provisions are applicable to persons who are marriednot former spouses.

Furthermore, Mr. Pirosko does not seek to revoke the designation; rather, he seeks

a declaration regarding Mrs.     Gingles'   eligibility for the Survivor Benefit Plan

annuity under the specific rules for the payment of such annuity to a former spouse

and the termination of that annuity as set forth in 10 U.S. C. § 1450( b).

      Therefore,   the provisions relied upon by Mrs. Gingles to support her

contention that Mr. Pirosko' s claims are perempted are not applicable, and further,

we can find no other peremptive period that is applicable to Mr. Pirosko' s claim.

Accordingly, the trial court erred in in sustaining the objection of peremption and

its judgment in this regard must be reversed.

                                   CONCLUSION

      For all of the above and foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court erred

in sustaining Mrs. Gingles' peremptory exceptions raising the objections of res

judicata and peremption.    Therefore, the January 4, 2023 amended judgment of the

trial court is sustaining the permptory exceptions raising the objections of res

judicata and peremption and dismissing Mr. Pirosko' s motion to modify the

October 6, 2005 consent judgment is reversed. This matter is remanded for further

proceedings.    All costs of this appeal are assessed to the appellee,       Lisa Kay

Kunstman Pirosko ( now " Gingles").

APPEAL MAINTAINED; REVERSED AND REMANDED.

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