Louisiana § RS 23:1032.1 - Failure of employer to secure payment; penalties
Full text of Louisiana Louisiana Civil Code § RS 23:1032.1 — Failure of employer to secure payment; penalties, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ RS 23:1032.1. Failure of employer to secure payment; penalties
A. When a direct employer, not the statutory employer or special employer, knowingly fails to secure workers' compensation insurance or proper certification of self-insured status pursuant to R.S. 23:1168, and fails to pay a final judgment for sixty days after the parties have exhausted their rights of appeal and no other insurance or self-insurance policy or contract of workers' compensation coverage has paid the benefits due under this Chapter, then the employee or the legal dependent of a deceased employee may elect to sue the direct employer for all legal damages. Should the direct employer offer to pay the judgment for workers' compensation benefits and the employee or the legal dependent of a deceased employee accepts the offer of payment, such payment shall also discharge and satisfy the direct employer's obligation for legal damages under this Section, if the direct employer also reimburses the employee or the legal dependent of a deceased employee for all costs and expenses, including attorney fees, incurred by the employee or the legal dependent of a deceased employee in connection with the claim for legal damages to the date of the payment of the workers' compensation judgment. Should the employee or the legal dependent of a deceased employee obtain a judgment on the cause of action for legal damages, the employee or the legal dependent of a deceased employee may elect to recover from the direct employer the greater of the judgment for legal damages or the judgment for workers' compensation benefits, but the employee or the legal dependent of a deceased employee shall be limited to recovery of only one such judgment, and the payment of the judgment elected shall discharge both judgments.
B. A statutory employer or special employer who has secured workers' compensation insurance or proper certification of self-insured status pursuant to R.S. 23:1168, as well as any public body or municipality, shall not be subject to the remedy provided in Subsection A of this Section and shall not be required to pay an increased weekly compensation penalty established in R.S. 23:1171.2 due to the failure of the direct employer to secure workers' compensation insurance or self-insured certification.
Acts 2005, No. 257, §1.
Source: official Louisiana text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Louisiana § RS 23:1032.1
What does Louisiana Civil Code § RS 23:1032.1 cover?
Section RS 23:1032.1 ("Failure of employer to secure payment; penalties") is part of the Louisiana Civil Code, the codified statutory law of Louisiana. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Louisiana § RS 23:1032.1?
A common citation format is "Louisiana Civil Code § RS 23:1032.1" (Louisiana). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Louisiana law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Louisiana official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Louisiana attorney.
How does Louisiana § RS 23:1032.1 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Louisiana can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Louisiana.