In pleading a judgment of a domestic or foreign court, or a decision of a judicial or quasi judicial tribunal, or of a board, commission, or officer, it is sufficient to allege the judgment or decision without setting forth matter showing jurisdiction to render it.
Art. 859.Same; Judgment Or Decision
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title I. Pleading · Chapter 1. General Dispositions · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 859 permits a party to plead a judgment of a domestic or foreign court, or a decision of a judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative body, by alleging the judgment or decision itself, leaving out the facts that would otherwise establish that body's jurisdiction to render it.
Full Text of Art. 859
Plain-English Summary
Litigation sometimes needs to rely on a ruling issued somewhere else — a judgment from another Louisiana court, from another state or country, or a decision by a tribunal, board, commission, or officer acting in a judicial or quasi-judicial capacity.
Article 859 lets a party plead that ruling directly: allege the judgment or decision itself, without also pleading the underlying facts that would show the issuing body had jurisdiction to render it. A party relying on an out-of-state judgment, for instance, does not have to plead the jurisdictional basis for that court's authority over the case it decided.
Like the articles around it, this is a pleading shortcut, not a guarantee that jurisdiction cannot be questioned. It streamlines pleadings around rulings that are rarely disputed on jurisdictional grounds, while leaving room for a genuine jurisdictional challenge if the opposing party raises one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to plead facts showing a foreign court had jurisdiction when relying on its judgment?
No. Article 859 lets a party plead the judgment itself without pleading the jurisdictional facts behind it.
How do I plead reliance on an administrative agency's decision?
The same way as a court judgment under this article: allege the decision directly, without pleading the facts establishing the agency's jurisdiction to issue it.
Does Article 859 cover decisions from boards and commissions, not just courts?
Yes. It covers judgments of domestic or foreign courts and decisions of judicial or quasi-judicial tribunals, boards, commissions, or officers.
Can the other side still challenge jurisdiction later even though I pled the judgment generally?
Yes. Article 859 simplifies how the judgment or decision is pled; it does not prevent the opposing party from raising a genuine jurisdictional challenge.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: pleading a prior judgment LouisianaArticle 859 Louisianapleading foreign court judgmentpleading administrative decision Louisianajurisdiction pleading shortcut