§ 12-1571. Order of delivery - Procedure.

A.  The plaintiff in an action to recover the possession of specific personal property may claim the delivery of the property at the commencement of suit, as provided herein.

1.  The petition must allege facts which show:

a.a description of the property claimed,

b.that the plaintiff is the owner of the property or has a special ownership or interest therein, stating the facts in relation thereto, and that he is entitled to the immediate possession of the property,

c.that the property is wrongfully detained by the defendant,

d.the actual value of the property, provided that when several articles are claimed, the value of each shall be stated as nearly as practicable,

e.that the property was not taken in execution on any order or judgment against said plaintiff, or for the payment of any tax, fine or amercement assessed against him, or by virtue of an order of delivery issued under this chapter, or any other mesne or final process issued against said plaintiff; or, if taken in execution or on any order or judgment against the plaintiff, that it is exempt by law from being so taken, and

f.the prayer for relief requests that the court issue an order for the immediate delivery of the property.

2.  The above allegations are verified by the party or, when the facts are within the personal knowledge of his agent or attorney and this is shown in the verification, by said agent or attorney.

3.  A notice shall be issued by the clerk and served on the defendant with the summons which shall notify the defendant that an order of delivery of the property described in the petition is sought and that the defendant may object to the issuance of such an order by a written objection which is filed with the clerk and delivered or mailed to the plaintiff's attorney within five (5) days of the service of the summons.  In the event that no written objection is filed within the five-day period, no hearing is necessary and the court clerk shall issue the order of delivery.  Should a written objection be filed within the five-day period specified, the court shall, at the request of either party, set the matter for prompt hearing.  At such hearing the court shall proceed to determine whether the order for prejudgment delivery of the property should issue according to the probable merit of plaintiff's petition.  Provided, however, that no order of delivery may be issued until an undertaking has been executed pursuant to Section 1573 of this title.

Nothing contained in this act shall prohibit a party from waiving his right to a hearing or from voluntarily delivering the goods to the party seeking them before the commencement of the proceedings or at any time after institution thereof.

B.  Where the notice that is required by subsection A of this section cannot be served on the defendant but the judge finds that a reasonable effort to serve him was made and at the hearing the plaintiff has shown the probable truth of the allegations in his petition, the court may issue an order for the prejudgment delivery of the property.  If an order for the delivery of the property is issued without actual notice being given the defendant, the defendant may move to have said order dissolved and, if he does not have possession of the property, for a return of the property.  Notice of said motion with the date of the hearing shall be served upon the attorney for the plaintiff in the action.  The motion shall be heard promptly, and in any case within five (5) days after the date that it is filed.  The court must grant the motion unless, at the hearing on defendant's motion, the plaintiff proves the probable truth of the allegations contained in his petition.  If said notice is filed before the sheriff turns the property over to the plaintiff, the sheriff shall retain control of the property pending the hearing on the motion.

C.  The court may, on request of the plaintiff, order the defendant not to conceal, damage or destroy the property or a part thereof and not to remove the property or a part thereof from the state or county, pending the hearing on plaintiff's request for an order for the prejudgment delivery of the property, and said order may be served with the summons.

D.  No action to recover the possession of specific personal property pursuant to this section may be brought against any city, county or state agency or an employee of a city, county, or state agency, if the claim alleges matters arising from incarceration, probation, parole or community supervision.

R.L. 1910, § 4798.  Amended by Laws 1974, c. 129, § 1, emerg. eff. May 3, 1974; Laws 1976, c. 71, § 1, emerg. eff. April 26, 1976; Laws 2002, c. 402, § 3, eff. July 1, 2002.