§4713. Injunction proceedings; procedure

A.(1) Application for injunctive relief afforded by this Section shall be by petition. A petition establishes a rebuttable presumption of prohibited activity if it identifies and supports by competent evidence two or more instances of prohibited activities on or around the premises within the preceding five-year period. A petition establishes a rebuttable presumption of a nuisance if it identifies and supports by competent evidence two or more arrests for a prohibited activity on or within thirty-five feet of the premises within the preceding year. A petition establishes a rebuttable presumption that a proprietary party knowingly permitted the maintenance of a nuisance on the premises if the petition establishes by competent evidence that the proprietary party received a notice of violation from the attorney general of the state of Louisiana or from the district attorney, the sheriff, or the city or parish attorney for the municipality or parish within which the premises are located.

(2) The report of the officer investigating a complaint and criminal history records, including arrests, which may be obtained in accordance with R.S. 44:3, may be used as evidence in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

B. After a petition for an injunction has been filed, notice thereof shall be promptly served on the adverse party and a preliminary hearing shall be held within twenty-four hours from the time such notice is served. If, following the preliminary hearing, an independent judicial determination is made that there is probable cause to believe that maintenance of a nuisance, as defined in R.S. 13:4711, exists, an order granting a preliminary injunction may issue describing on its face in reasonable detail the conduct sought to be permanently enjoined.

C.(1) Regardless of whether or not a preliminary injunction has been granted, an adversary hearing shall be held not less than five days nor more than ten days after the preliminary hearing, or within such additional reasonable time to which the adverse party consents. The court shall render its judgment within forty-eight hours following the conclusion of the adversary hearing. If, following the adversary hearing, an independent judicial determination is made that maintenance of a nuisance, as defined in R.S. 13:4711, does in fact exist, an order granting a final injunction may be issued describing on its face in reasonable detail the conduct permanently enjoined.

(2) If the court issues an order granting a final injunction, the court may do any of the following:

(a) Award expenses incurred in abating the nuisance, including reasonable attorney fees and the costs of investigation and enforcement of the restraining order, temporary injunction, or permanent injunction.

(b) Order a civil penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars.

(c) Award specific damages.

D. An order granting the preliminary or final injunctive relief afforded by this Section shall be effective against the parties enjoined, their officers, agents, representatives, employees, counsel or any other person or persons in active concert or participation with them, from the time actual knowledge of the order is received by personal service or otherwise.

E. In all cases when the prohibited activity alleged is obscenity, no injunction shall be granted unless the court determines in a prior contradictory hearing that the conduct or activities alleged to be obscene are not protected by the constitutions of the United States or the state of Louisiana.

F. The defendant in the injunction proceedings may appeal to the court of competent jurisdiction an order granting a final injunction, but the appeal shall not stay the enforcement of the injunctive relief or an order of abatement granted in the order. Such appeal shall be perfected within five calendar days from the rendition of the order and shall be made returnable to the appropriate appellate court in not more than fifteen calendar days from the rendition of the order. The appeal shall be heard with the greatest possible expedition, giving the proceedings preference over all matters except other matters of the same character. The applicant for the injunction may appeal to the court of competent jurisdiction an order denying the final injunction or denying an order of abatement.

Acts 1977, No. 717, §2, eff. July 20, 1977; Acts 2003, No. 498, §1; Acts 2008, No. 650, §1.