§1956. Violation of rights; injury or interference with a service dog; penalties; civil action; damages; cost and attorney fees

A. Any person, firm, or corporation, or the agent, representative, or employee of any person, firm, or corporation who withholds, denies, deprives, or attempts to withhold, deny, or deprive; intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to threaten, intimidate, or coerce; punishes or attempts to punish a person with a disability or a trainer or puppy raiser of a service dog, during the training of such dog, or for exercising his right to be admitted to or enjoy the places and facilities provided in this Chapter; or otherwise interferes with the rights of a person with a disability under this Chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

B. Any person who purposely or negligently injures a service dog or any owner of a dog who allows that dog to injure a service dog because he fails to control or leash the dog shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. Such person shall also be liable for any injuries to the service dog and, if necessary, the replacement and compensation for the loss of the service dog.

C. For every offense, such person shall pay for actual damages for any economic loss to any person aggrieved thereby, to be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction in the parish where such offense was committed or where the aggrieved person resides.

D. In an action brought under this Section, the court may award costs and reasonable attorney's fee to the prevailing party.

Acts 1993, No. 482, §1; Acts 2014, No. 492, §1; Acts 2014, No. 811, §24, eff. June 23, 2014.

NOTE: Acts 1993, No. 763, §1 amended prior R.S. 46:1952(A), (B), and (C), 1953(D), and 1954 and enacted R.S. 46:1953(E). Acts 1993, No. 482, §1 amended and reenacted the entire Chapter. The Chapter appears as in Act No. 482. The Louisiana State Law Institute printed the provisions of Act No. 763 as a note at the head of this Chapter.