Exceptions (Motion to Dismiss Equivalent) - Louisiana

Defendant's Exceptions to Plaintiff's Petition

[________________] Judicial District Court, Parish of [________________], Louisiana

Docket No.: [________________]
Division/Judge: [________________]

Defendant [________________] urges the selected exception(s) below against [identify petition, claims, or parties: ________________________________]. Each selected objection is supported by the facts and authorities stated in this filing. The requested judgment appears below.

Trial setting (Rule 9.8(a)): ☐ The case is not set for trial. ☐ Trial is set for [__/__/____].

Hearing evidence (Rule 9.8(a)): ☐ Testimony will be offered. ☐ No testimony will be offered.

I. Declinatory exception — La. C.C.P. art. 925

☐ Insufficiency of citation, art. 925(A)(1): [________________].

☐ Insufficiency of service of process, art. 925(A)(2): [________________].

☐ Lis pendens, art. 925(A)(3): [________________].

☐ Improper venue, art. 925(A)(4): [________________].

☐ Lack of personal jurisdiction, art. 925(A)(5): [________________].

Facts and supporting authority: [Identify the record, the exact governing provision, and its application to each selected ground: ________________________________.]

Requested disposition: [State the particular relief supported by the selected ground: ________________________________.]

II. Dilatory exception — La. C.C.P. art. 926

☐ Prematurity, art. 926(A)(1): [________________].

☐ Want of amicable demand, art. 926(A)(2): [________________].

☐ Unauthorized use of summary proceeding, art. 926(A)(3): [________________].

☐ Nonconformity of petition, art. 926(A)(4): [________________].

☐ Vagueness or ambiguity, art. 926(A)(5): [________________].

☐ Lack of procedural capacity, art. 926(A)(6): [________________].

☐ Improper cumulation of actions or joinder of parties, art. 926(A)(7): [________________].

☐ Discussion, art. 926(A)(8): [________________].

Facts and supporting authority: [Identify the procedural defect, record, and governing authority: ________________________________.]

Requested disposition: [State the supported procedural relief: ________________________________.]

III. Peremptory exception — La. C.C.P. art. 927

☐ Prescription, art. 927(A)(1): [Cite the applicable prescriptive provision, accrual date, and any interruption or suspension: ________________________________.]

☐ Peremption, art. 927(A)(2): [________________].

☐ Res judicata, art. 927(A)(3): [________________].

☐ Nonjoinder of a party, art. 927(A)(4): [________________].

☐ No cause of action, in whole or in part, art. 927(A)(5): [Identify each challenged claim or theory: ________________________________.]

☐ No right of action or interest in plaintiff, art. 927(A)(6): [________________].

☐ Discharge in bankruptcy, art. 927(A)(7): [________________].

☐ Lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, art. 927(A)(8): [________________].

Facts and supporting authority: [Identify the allegations or record, the exact governing law, and its application: ________________________________.]

Amendment: ☐ The asserted defect can be removed by amendment; request an amendment period set by the Court under art. 934. ☐ The asserted defect cannot be removed by amendment; explain why: [________________].

Requested disposition: [Identify the claims, demands, issues, or theories to be dismissed or the amendment relief requested: ________________________________.]

IV. Timing and prayer

Declinatory and dilatory exceptions must be pleaded prior to or in the answer and prior to or with a pleading seeking other relief, subject to the exceptions listed in art. 928(A). If both are pleaded, they must be filed at the same time and may be combined. A peremptory exception may be pleaded before submission of the case for decision and may be combined with either or both other exceptions. Defendant filed [the answer / this filing / other pleading] on [__/__/____] and states why the selected exceptions are timely: [________________].

Defendant requests that the Court sustain [identify exception(s): ________________________________] and grant only the relief specified above and supported by the record and applicable law.

Hearing and memorandum timing: In an ordinary civil proceeding, schedule the hearing at least fifteen calendar days after filing unless the Court finds good cause for an earlier hearing. Serve the supporting memorandum so every other party receives it at least fifteen calendar days before the hearing, unless the Court sets a shorter time. (District Court Rules 9.8(c), 9.9(b).)

Date: [__/__/____]

Signature: [________________]
Name and Louisiana Bar Roll No. (if attorney): [________________]
Address: [________________]
Email / telephone: [________________]
Counsel for / self-represented Defendant: [________________]

Supporting memorandum (furnish to the trial judge and serve with the exceptions)

Exceptions supported: [Identify each selected ground: ________________________________.]

Relevant facts and record: [State the facts material to each ground, with record references: ________________________________.]

Applicable law and argument: [For each ground, cite the controlling provision or decision and explain its application to the stated facts: ________________________________.]

Requested ruling: [________________].

Date: [__/__/____]
Signature: [________________]

Proposed order setting hearing (submit with the exceptions)

[________________] Judicial District Court, Parish of [________________], Louisiana

Docket No.: [________________]

Defendant's exceptions filed on [__/__/____] are set for hearing on [__/__/____] at [____] [a.m./p.m.] before Judge [________________] at [courtroom, courthouse address, or remote-access instructions: ________________________________].

Date: [__/__/____]
Judge: [________________]

Notice of hearing (complete only after the Court sets one)

To: [Parties and counsel: ________________________________]

Please take notice that the Court has set the foregoing exceptions for hearing on [__/__/____] at [____] [a.m./p.m.] before Judge [________________] at [courtroom, courthouse address, or remote-access instructions: ________________________________].

Date: [__/__/____]
Signature: [________________]

Certificate of service

I certify that on [__/__/____], I served this filing on [names: ________________________________] by [method and address or electronic-service details: ________________________________].

If this filing or a separate notice sets a court date, I served that document on [names: ________________________________] by [registered or certified mail / Article 1314 service / actual delivery by a commercial courier / email to the designated address with electronic confirmation of delivery] on [__/__/____]. (La. C.C.P. art. 1313(C).)

Signature: [________________]

Proposed judgment

[________________] Judicial District Court, Parish of [________________], Louisiana

Docket No.: [________________]

Judgment on Defendant's Exceptions

After considering the pleadings, record, and arguments presented, the Court [sustains / overrules / sustains in part] Defendant's [declinatory / dilatory / peremptory] exception(s) on the following ground(s): [________________].

Relief ordered: [Identify the particular claims or parties and disposition, or state why no relief is ordered: ________________________________.]

If a peremptory exception is sustained and its ground may be removed by amendment, Plaintiff is ordered to amend the petition within [____] days under La. C.C.P. art. 934. [Delete this paragraph if inapplicable; if the ground cannot be removed by amendment, specify the claims, demands, issues, or theories dismissed: ________________________________.]

Date: [__/__/____]
Judge: [________________]

Sources and References

• La. C.C.P. art. 925
• La. C.C.P. art. 926
• La. C.C.P. art. 927
• La. C.C.P. art. 928
• La. C.C.P. art. 934
• La. C.C.P. art. 1313
• La. C.C.P. art. 1314
• La. District Court Rules 9.8 and 9.9