Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:4154

  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

Forty-eight hours or more before the cause is called for trial, plaintiff may place the cause back in the category of ordinary causes, and not subject to any preference or priority by giving bond with surety in an amount sufficient to indemnify the defendant or defendants, against any loss which might result if the suit is decided adversely to plaintiff, which bond shall be fixed by the court after a summary hearing on a rule filed by plaintiff and served on defendant.  

In fixing the amount of such bond, the court shall consider all the circumstances that may affect the particular property, or business in contestation, including probable loss arising from the unsalability of the property at time of final judgment, the stopping of development, the hindering or retarding of development, refusal of the purchaser to pay for the product until the title is settled, the requirements of the leases as to development, or any loss of whatsoever nature which may be caused by the filing of the suit.  

Upon fixing the amount of such bond, the plaintiff shall, within twenty-four hours thereafter file his bond, with surety, approved by the court, in favor of the clerk of court.  The conditions of such obligation shall be to pay the defendant any and all damages he may sustain, by reason of the filing of the suit, together with all costs of court if the court should decide the case contrary to the demands of the plaintiff.  

Should the plaintiff fail to file such bond, the court, upon motion of defendant, shall render judgment in favor of defendant and rejecting plaintiff’s demands in toto.