Appeals court affirms lower court;s ruling on Chief Lartigue's qualifications

The state’s Third Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed, on Tuesday, December 30, the ruling of the District 13 Court in Ville Platte December 18, holding that candidates Linton Fontenot and Glenn Leleux filed their challenge of successful candidate Neal Lartigue for chief of police after the deadline.
Statutes specify that an objection to the qualification of a candidate can be made within seven days of the time set aside for qualifications, which was August 20, through 22. That would make the deadline to object August 29.
The plaintiffs’ petition asserted that Lartigue did not live inside the city limits of Ville Platte. The plaintiffs’ attorney said the deadline for contesting the election expires after the time plaintiffs filed their petition.
However, the three-judge panel of the appeals court ruled “the essence of their claim is to challenge Mr. Lartigue’s qualifications to be a candidate,” and the August 29, deadline for contesting a candidate’s qualifications remains valid.
The appeals court also turned down Chief Lartigue’s request to be awarded damages for “taking a frivilous appeal.” However, the appeals court ruled that plaintiffs Fontenot and Leleux be assessed court costs for the appeal.