Louisiana Law Review Louisiana Law Review
Volume 80
Number 3
Spring 2020
Article 6
9-15-2020
Fiduciary Litigation in Louisiana: Mandataries, Succession Fiduciary Litigation in Louisiana: Mandataries, Succession
Representatives, and Trustees Representatives, and Trustees
Elizabeth R. Carter
Louisiana State University Law Center
, elizabethcarter@lsu.edu
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/lalrev
Part of the Estates and Trusts Commons
Repository Citation Repository Citation
Elizabeth R. Carter,
Fiduciary Litigation in Louisiana: Mandataries, Succession Representatives, and
Trustees
, 80 La. L. Rev. (2020)
Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.lsu.edu/lalrev/vol80/iss3/6
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Reviews and Journals at LSU Law Digital
Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Louisiana Law Review by an authorized editor of LSU Law Digital
Commons. For more information, please contact kreed25@lsu.edu.
344404-LSU_80-3_Text.indd 5344404-LSU_80-3_Text.indd 5 8/17/20 7:18 AM8/17/20 7:18 AM
Fiduciary Litigation in Louisiana: Mandataries,
Succession Representatives, and Trustees
Elizabeth R. Carter*
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................................. 664
I. Fiduciary Responsibility in General............................................. 664
A. Fiduciaries in the Common Law Tradition............................ 665
1. Development of the Body of Law ................................... 666
2. Contemporary Fiduciary Relationships........................... 667
B. Fiduciaries in the Civil Law Tradition and
in Louisiana ........................................................................... 669
1. Fiduciaries in Roman Law .............................................. 669
2. Fiduciaries in Louisiana:
Requirement of Good Faith............................................. 672
a. Mandataries .............................................................. 672
b. Tutors and Curators .................................................. 672
c. Succession Representatives ...................................... 673
d. Trustees..................................................................... 674
3. Confusion in Louisiana Courts........................................ 675
II. Mandataries .................................................................................. 677
A. Parties to Litigation Against a Mandatary ............................. 677
1. Direct Action................................ ................................... 678
a. Plaintiff ..................................................................... 678
b. Defendant.................................................................. 679
c. Dual Appointments and Conflicts of Interest ........... 679
2. Action to Review............................................................. 680
a. Plaintiff ..................................................................... 681
b. Defendant.................................................................. 682
c. Timing Issues: Distinguishing Between the
Direct Action and the Action to Review................... 683
B. Venue…................................................................................. 683
1. Direct Action................................ ................................... 683
2. Action to Review............................................................. 684
Copyright 2020, by ELIZABETH R. CARTER.
* A.N. Yiannopoulos Professor of Law; Judge Anthony J. Graphia & Jo
Ann Graphia Professor of Law; Louisiana State University. B.A., B.S. University
of Memphis; J.D., Tulane University; LL.M., University of Alabama.
344404-LSU_80-3_Text.indd 6344404-LSU_80-3_Text.indd 6 8/17/20 7:18 AM8/17/20 7:18 AM
662 LOUISIANA LAW REVIEW [Vol. 80
C. Types of Proceedings and Related Issues .............................. 684
D. Remedies Available: Direct Action ....................................... 685
1. Burden of Proof............................................................... 685
2. Injunctive Relief.............................................................. 685
3. Demanding an Accounting.............................................. 686
4. Demanding the Return of Property ................................. 687
5. Money Damages.............................................................. 688
6. Interest............................................................................. 689
7. Defenses of Mandatary.................................................... 690
E. Remedies Available: Action to Review.................................690
1. Burden of Proof............................................................... 690
2. Injunctive Relief.............................................................. 691
3. Remedies During Pendency of the Proceeding ............... 691
4. Defenses and Related Matters ......................................... 693
F. Prescription............................................................................ 694
1. Prescription: Demand for Accounting............................. 695
2. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 9:5647: Five-Year
Prescription in Action to Set Aside Document ............... 696
3. Action to Review............................................................. 696
III. Succession Representatives.......................................................... 696
A. Parties to Litigation Against a
Succession Representative..................................................... 697
1. Plaintiff............................................................................ 697
2. Defendant ........................................................................ 697
B. Venue…................................................................................. 697
1. Succession Under Administration................................... 697
2. Closed Succession................................ ........................... 697
C. Types of Proceedings and Related Issues .............................. 698
D. Remedies Available ............................................................... 699
1. Injunctive Relief.............................................................. 700
2. Demanding an Accounting.............................................. 702
3. Removal of Succession Representative........................... 703
a. Succession Representative Has Become
Disqualified .............................................................. 705
b. Succession Representative Has Become
Incapable of Discharging
the Duties of His Office............................................ 708
c. Succession Representative Has
Mismanaged the Estate............................................. 710
