APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for the payment of the consent judgment against the state in the suit captioned Angela Melerine et al. v. DOTD

HLS 26RS-1538 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1014
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for the payment of the consent
judgment against the state in the suit captioned Angela Melerine et al. v. DOTD
1 AN ACT
2 Relative to the appropriation of monies out of the state general fund to be used to pay the
3 consent judgment captioned "Angela Melerine, Wife of/and Eric Melerine, Jr. versus
4 State of Louisiana DOTD, St. Bernard Parish Government, The Contreras Sanctuary,
5 LLC and Ancient Oaks Holdings, LLC" between the state of Louisiana, through the
6 Department of Transportation and Development, and Angela Melerine, Wife of/and
7 Eric Melerine, Jr.; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. The sum of Three Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand and No/100
10 ($375,000.00) Dollars is hereby payable out of the State General Fund (Direct) for Fiscal
11 Year 2025-2026 for payment of the consent judgment captioned "Angela Melerine, Wife
12 of/and Eric Melerine, Jr. versus State of Louisiana DOTD, St. Bernard Parish Government,
13 The Contreras Sanctuary, LLC and Ancient Oaks Holdings, LLC", signed on January 27,
14 2026, between the state of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and
15 Development, and Angela Melerine, Wife of/and Eric Melerine, Jr., bearing number 19-
16 0745, Division E, on the docket of the Thirty-Fourth Judicial District, parish of St. Bernard,
17 state of Louisiana.
18 Section 2. Of the amount appropriated in Section 1 of this Act, an amount equal to
19 the sum of Three Hundred Thirty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred and No/100 ($337,500.00)
20 Dollars is hereby payable for the portion of the judgment against the state of Louisiana,
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HLS 26RS-1538 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1014
1 through the Department of Transportation and Development, and in favor of Angela
2 Melerine.
3 Section 3. Of the amount appropriated in Section 1 of this Act, an amount equal to
4 the sum of Thirty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred and No/100 ($37,500.00) Dollars is hereby
5 payable for the portion of the judgment against the state of Louisiana, through the
6 Department of Transportation and Development, and in favor of Eric Melerine, Jr.
7 Section 4. A judgment may only be paid from this appropriation if it is final and shall
8 be paid as to principal, court costs, and expert witness fees as awarded in the judgment.
9 Interest shall be paid as provided by law and awarded in the judgment. If the provisions of
10 the judgment conflict with the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the judgment shall
11 be controlling. Any other provision of this Act not in conflict with the provisions of the
12 judgment shall control. Payment shall be made only after presentation to the state treasurer
13 of documentation required by the state treasurer. Further, the judgment shall be deemed to
14 have been paid on the effective date of this Act, and interest shall cease to run as of that date.
15 Section 5. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
16 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
17 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
18 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
19 effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1014 Original 2026 Regular Session Bayham
Appropriates $375,000 out of the State General Fund (Direct) for FY 2025-2026 for payment
of the consent judgment against the state in the suit captioned Angela Melerine et al v. State
of La. DOTD, et al., bearing No. 19-0745, Division E, on the docket of the 34th Judicial
District, parish of St. Bernard.
Of the amount appropriated, allocates $337,500 to Angela Melerine and allocates $37,500
to Eric Melerine, Jr.
Proposed law provides relative to payment. Provides relative to conflicts between judgment
and proposed law. Prohibits accrual of interest on the judgment as of the effective date of
proposed law.
Effective upon the signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
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