How is a special appearance made in Louisiana civil procedure?

A special appearance in Louisiana civil procedure is utilized specifically to challenge the court's personal jurisdiction over a party without submitting to that jurisdiction. This means that when a defendant wishes to contest the court's ability to exercise authority over them, they can make a special appearance as a procedural mechanism to avoid inadvertently waiving their right to contest jurisdiction.

By making a special appearance, the defendant can argue that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case without engaging in the case on its merits. This is crucial because if a defendant were to participate in the proceedings beyond the jurisdictional contest—such as filing motions or presenting evidence—they might inadvertently submit to the court’s jurisdiction, thus losing the ability to challenge it later.

In contrast, the other options misinterpret the nature of a special appearance. Presenting evidence, seeking an expedited trial date, or requiring full disclosure of evidence do not align with the specific purpose of a special appearance, which focuses solely on contesting jurisdiction without entering into the substantive issues of the case.