HLS 21RS-919 ORIGINAL 2021 Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO. 379 BY REPRESENTATIVE LARVADAIN Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. LIABILITY/TORTS: Provides for liability for damages caused by sexual harassment 1 AN ACT 2To enact Civil Code Article 2315.11, relative to damages; to provide for exemplary 3 damages; to provide relative to sexual harassment in the workplace; to provide for 4 attorney fees and court costs; to provide for liberative prescription; and to provide 5 for related matters. 6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 7 Section 1. Civil Code Article 2315.11 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 8 Art. 2315.11. Liability for damages caused by sexual harassment 9 A. In addition to general and special damages, exemplary damages may be 10 awarded upon proof that the injuries on which the action is based were caused by an 11 act or acts of sexual harassment in the workplace. 12 B. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable only to the perpetrator 13 of the sexual harassment. 14 C. Upon motion of the defendant or upon its own motion, if the court 15 determines that an action seeking damages under this Article is frivolous or 16 fraudulent, the court shall award costs of court, reasonable attorney fees, and any 17 other related costs to the defendant and any other sanctions and relief requested 18 pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Article 863. 19 D. An action under the provisions of this Article shall be subject to a 20 liberative prescriptive period of three years. Page 1 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 21RS-919 ORIGINAL HB NO. 379 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 379 Original 2021 Regular Session Larvadain Abstract: Provides for exemplary damages for sexual harassment in the workplace. Proposed law (C.C. Art. 2315.11) provides for liability for damages caused by an act or acts of sexual harassment in the workplace for the perpetrator of the sexual harassment. Present law (C.C.P. Art. 863) provides for sanctions for pleadings not verified or certified by an attorney. Proposed law (C.C. Art. 2315.11) provides for an amount of court costs, reasonable attorney fees, and other related costs to the defendant, as well as other sanctions and relief under C.C.P. Art. 863, for frivolous or fraudulent claims. Proposed law (C.C. Art. 2315.11) provides for a liberative prescriptive period of three years. (Adds C.C. Art. 2315.11) Page 2 of 2 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.