APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the judgment against the state in the suit entitled Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi and Dr. Peter Yaukey v. Board of Supervisors of the University of La. and Peter Fos

HLS 26RS-612 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 607
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARVER
APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the judgment
against the state in the suit entitled Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi and Dr. Peter Yaukey v.
Board of Supervisors of the University of La. and Peter Fos
1 AN ACT
2 Relative to the appropriation of monies out of the state general fund to be used to pay the
3 judgment captioned "Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi and Dr. Peter Yaukey versus Board of
4 Supervisors of the University of Louisiana and Peter Fos" between the state of
5 Louisiana, through the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System
6 and in favor of Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi and Dr. Peter Yaukey; to provide for certain
7 requirements and limitations; to provide for interest; to provide for an effective date,
8 and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. The sum of Five Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand Three Hundred Fifty-Six
11 and No/100 ($566,356.00) Dollars plus applicable interest is hereby payable out of the State
12 General Fund (Direct) for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for payment of the amended judgment
13 captioned "Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi and Dr. Peter Yaukey versus Board of Supervisors of the
14 University of Louisiana and Peter Fos", signed on April 25, 2023, bearing Number 2015-
15 11537, Division D, on the docket of the Civil District Court, parish of Orleans, state of
16 Louisiana, as amended by the trial court on May 1, 2023, and as amended by the Court of
17 Appeal for the Fourth Circuit on August 5, 2024.
18 Section 2. Of the amount appropriated in Section 1 of this Act, an amount equal to
19 the sum of and One hundred Fifty Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Six and No/100
20 ($150,336.00) Dollars is payable for lost earnings and lost fringe benefits plus judicial
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HLS 26RS-612 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 607
1 interest on the sums from the date of judicial demand until paid as provided by law and the
2 judgment, is hereby payable for the portion of the amended judgment against the state of
3 Louisiana, through the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana, and in favor of
4 Dr. Peter Yaukey.
5 Section 3. Of the amount appropriated in Section 1 of this Act, an amount equal to
6 the sum of and Four Hundred Sixteen Thousand Twenty and No/100 ($416,020.00) Dollars
7 is payable for lost earnings and lost fringe benefits plus judicial interest on the sums from
8 the date of judicial demand until paid as provided by law and the judgment, is hereby
9 payable for the portion of the amended judgment against the state of Louisiana, through the
10 Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana, and in favor of Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi.
11 Section 4. A judgment may only be paid from this appropriation if it is final and shall
12 be paid as to lost earnings and lost fringe benefits as awarded in the judgment. Interest shall
13 be paid as provided by law and awarded in the judgment. If the provisions of the judgment
14 conflict with the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the judgment shall be controlling.
15 Any other provision of this Act not in conflict with the provisions of the judgment shall
16 control. Payment shall be made only after presentation to the state treasurer of
17 documentation required by the state treasurer. Further, the judgment shall be deemed to
18 have been paid on the effective date of this Act, and interest shall cease to run as of that date.
19 Section 5. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
20 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
21 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
22 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
23 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 607 Original 2026 Regular Session Carver
Appropriates $566,356 out of the State General Fund (Direct) for FY 2025-2026 for payment
of the consent judgment against the state in the suit entitled Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi and Dr.
Peter Yaukey v. Bd. of Supervisors of the Univ. of La. and Peter Fos, bearing No. 2015-
11537, Division D, on the docket of the Civil District Court, parish of Orleans, as amended
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HLS 26RS-612 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 607
by the trial court on May 1, 2023, and as amended by the Court of Appeal for the Fourth
Circuit on August 5, 2024.
Allocates $150,336 of the appropriation to Dr. Peter Yaukey for lost earnings and lost fringe
benefits, plus judicial interest.
Allocates $416,020 of the appropriation to Dr. Mahtab A. Lodhi for lost earnings and lost
fringe benefits, plus judicial interest.
Proposed law provides relative to payment. Provides relative to conflicts between judgment
and proposed law. Provides for the payment of judicial interest on the sums from the date
of judicial demand as of the effective date of proposed law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
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