Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:331.1

  • 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

The court for good cause shown may, after a contradictory hearing, order a party in a custody or visitation proceeding to submit to specified drug tests and the collection of hair, urine, tissue, and blood samples as required by appropriate testing procedures within a time period set by the court.  The refusal to submit to the tests may be taken into consideration by the court.  The provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 9:397.2 and 397.3(A), (B), and (C) shall govern the admissibility of the test results.  The fact that the court orders a drug test and the results of such test shall be confidential and shall not be admissible in any other proceedings.  The court may render judgment for costs of the drug tests against any party or parties, as it may consider equitable.

Acts 1999, No. 974, §1.