Un these consolidated applications, defendant, MedSouth Record Management, LLC, seeks review of the district court’s rulings on various exceptions, as well as on discovery matters. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the judgment of the district court denying defendant’s exception of no cause of action, and therefore pretermit discussion of the remaining assignments of error.
In 2008, plaintiff filed the instant suit against defendant, alleging he “suffered damage and loss as the direct result of the negligent and tortious conduct” based on defendant’s alleged “negligent failure to follow the statutory limitations of La. R.S. 40:1299.96(A)(2)(b),” by charging plaintiffs attorney a fee for obtaining certification of medical records requested in 2005 and 2006.
In response to plaintiffs suit, defendant filed an exception of prescription. The district court granted that exception, thereby dismissing plaintiffs tort claims. That judgment is now final.
Plaintiff then amended his petition to allege defendant was unjustly enriched, pursuant to La. Civ.Code art. 2298, in charging fees that were not statutorily authorized. In response to the amended petition, defendant filed various exceptions, ^including an exception of no cause of action. The district court denied defendant’s exceptions, and the court of appeal denied supervisory relief. Defendant then sought review in this court.
Pursuant to La. Civ.Code art. 2298, the remedy of unjust enrichment is subsidiary in nature, and “shall not be available if the law provides another remedy.” See Carriere v. Bank of Louisiana, 95-3058, p. 17 (La.12/13/96),
In the instant case, plaintiffs original petition alleges he suffered harm as a “direct result of the negligent and tortious conduct” of defendant. Having pled a del-ictual action, we find plaintiff is precluded from seeking to recover under unjust enrichment. See Gallant Investments, Ltd. v. Illinois Central R. Co., 08-1404, p. 9 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2/13/09),
Moreover, we find it of no moment that plaintiffs tort claims have been held to be prescribed. The mere fact that a plaintiff does not successfully pursue another available remedy does not give the plaintiff the right to recover under the theory of unjust enrichment. See Jim Walter Homes v. Jessen, 98-1685, p. 13 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/31/99),
Because the law provided plaintiff with another remedy, we find he has failed to state a cause of action in unjust enrichment. Therefore, we find the district court |aerred in denying defendant’s exception of no cause of action.
Accordingly, the writ is granted in part. The judgment of the district court is re
Notes
Chief Justice Kimball not participating in this opinion.
