Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2800.68 – Comparative fault
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2800.68
- Controlled substance: means a controlled dangerous substance as defined and covered by the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2800.62
- 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.
- 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.
- Individual user: means the individual whose use of an illegal controlled substance, that is not obtained directly from or pursuant to a valid prescription or order of a licensed physician or practitioner, which is the basis of an action brought under this Chapter. See Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2800.62
- Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
A. An action by an individual user pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 9:2800.64 is governed by the application of comparative fault as provided in Civil Code Article 2323. Comparative fault attributable to the individual user shall not bar recovery but shall reduce the award of compensatory damages proportionally, according to the amount of fault attributable to the individual user.
B. The defendant shall have the burden of proving the comparative fault of the plaintiff, which shall be shown by clear and convincing evidence.
C. Comparative fault shall not be attributable to a plaintiff who is not an individual user, unless that plaintiff intentionally gave the individual user money for the purchase of the illegal controlled substance.
Acts 1997, No. 719, §1.