Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:4792

  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.

If the jury do not agree, or fail to render a verdict either for the plaintiff or defendant, the jury shall be discharged, and the case shall be immediately submitted to the judge upon the pleadings and evidence already on file, as if the case had been originally tried without the intervention of the jury.  The judge shall decide the case at once, without any further proceedings, arguments, continuance or delay.