Under which circumstance may a judgment be appealed in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, an appeal may only be taken from a final judgment, which is defined as a judgment that disposes of all parties and all issues in the case. A final judgment ends the litigation on the merits, allowing for the entire matter to be sent for appellate review. This principle is crucial in the civil procedure context as it provides a clear guideline for when a party can seek appellate review, ensuring that the appellate system is not burdened with piecemeal litigation of interim rulings or unresolved matters.

Settlement agreements and resolved cases typically do not qualify as material for an appeal because they indicate that the parties have reached a resolution outside of the court’s final judgment. Interim rulings are generally not appealable unless they qualify as exceptions under specific circumstances, as Louisiana law encourages obtaining a final resolution before appealing.