Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:5122

  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Governmental unit: means the state of Louisiana, municipalities, parishes, parish and municipal school boards and districts, levee boards and districts, housing authorities, bridge authorities, community improvement agencies, redevelopment agencies, all other political subdivisions of the state, public trusts, corporations, districts, boards, authorities, agencies, and units of local government and nonprofit corporations created by or governed by the governing authorities of parishes or municipalities, any special service districts, such as water, sewerage, garbage, and lighting districts created by or pursuant to legislative acts and any other districts, boards, authorities, and agencies of the state of Louisiana authorized to issue bonds. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 13:5121

All suits, actions and proceedings of whatever nature affecting the validity of bonds of any governmental unit, or the interest thereon, or the sale thereof, or the election, if any, authorizing the issuance of said bonds shall be brought only in accordance with the provisions of this Title.  These provisions shall supersede all other acts and statutes on the subject and be controlling in all such cases notwithstanding the provisions of any other law or charter to the contrary; provided, however, nothing herein contained shall affect, change, alter or modify in any way any peremptive or prescriptive period for the contesting of bonds of governmental units or elections authorizing their issuance, established pursuant to the constitution and statutes of this state which shall continue to govern the time within which actions covered thereby may be filed.  It is hereby declared that it is the intention of the legislature in enacting this law to provide a uniform, expeditious and equitable procedure with due regard for the public fisc and rights of persons in interest for the judicial determination of the validity of bonds and related proceedings where material and substantial questions with regard thereto are involved or a judicial determination of issues relating to bonds is necessary to insure the marketability of bonds in investment channels.  It is not the intention of the legislature to require or to encourage the validation of all bonds by the judiciary.  

Acts 1972, No. 385, §1, eff. July 26, 1972.