119 So. 3d 870
La. Ct. App.2013Background
- Appellant Karen Sanches challenges a September 10, 2012, judgment granting Capital One summary judgment on an open account.
- Capital One sued for unpaid balances on Ms. Sanches’s Capital One MasterCard account ending 2863; discovery and initial SJ motions were contested.
- Second City Court granted summary judgment after hearing on August 14, 2012, based on affidavits asserting business records support.
- Ms. Sanches contended the affidavits lacked personal knowledge and failed to authenticate attached documents.
- On appeal, the court reviews de novo and requires admissible, competent evidence showing no genuine issue of material fact.
- Court reversed and remanded, finding Capital One failed to prove a prima facie open account due to deficient affidavit and lack of properly authenticated business records.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the SJ affidavits establish personal knowledge and proper business-record authentication | Sanches argues Liverman’s affidavit lacks personal knowledge and authenticating specifics | Capital One contends affidavits identify records and meet business-record exception | Reversed; insufficient proof of the account; remanded for further proceedings |
| Whether the second judgment after a devolutive appeal was proper | Sanches argues delays for a new trial and petition for appeal render the second judgment improper | Capital One asserts the second judgment followed proper procedure | Moot/Not reached; the matter remanded for further proceedings on the open-account issue |
Key Cases Cited
- CACV of Colorado, LLC v. Spiehler, 11 So.3d 673 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2009) (prima facie case for open account and business records)
- Found. Materials, Inc. v. Carrollton Mid-City Investors, L.L.C., 66 So.3d 1230 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2011) (affidavits authenticating documents may create prima facie case)
- Brown v. Adolph, 691 So.2d 1321 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1997) (business records affidavit sufficiency without personal knowledge of records)
- Delcambre v. Price, 738 So.2d 593 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1999) (business-records treatment in summary judgment context)
- THH Properties Ltd. P’ship v. Hill, 930 So.2d 1214 (La.App. 2 Cir. 2006) (personal knowledge requirement for summary judgment affidavits)
- Express Pub. Co. v. Giani Inv. Co., Inc., 449 So.2d 145 (La.App. 4 Cir. 1984) (definition of personal knowledge for affidavits)
- Hat’s Equipment, Inc. v. WHM, L.L.C., 92 So.3d 1072 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2012) (open account proof and summary judgment burden)
- Jacobs Chiropractic Clinic v. Holloway, 589 So.2d 31 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1991) (open account prima facie proof)