La. Stat. Ann. § R.S. 9:3253
Costs and attorney's fees
Operative Text
§3253. Costs and attorney's fees In an action brought under R.S. 9:3252, the court may in its discretion award costs and attorney's fees to the prevailing party.
Under La. R.S. § 9:3253, when a court case is brought under the related provision R.S. 9:3252, the judge has the discretion to order the losing party to pay the winning party's court costs and attorney's fees. This means neither side is automatically entitled to such an award — the court weighs the circumstances and decides whether to grant it. The rule applies to both sides equally, so either a landlord or a tenant who prevails may potentially recover these costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers involved in litigation under R.S. 9:3252 should be aware that La. R.S. § 9:3253 gives courts the discretion to award costs and attorney's fees to whichever party prevails. Operators who maintain thorough documentation of their practices and compliance efforts are generally better positioned in any court proceeding where such an award might be considered. Consulting a licensed Louisiana attorney before or during litigation can help a property owner understand how this discretionary standard has been applied in similar cases.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
La. R.S. § 9:3253 provides that tenants who prevail in an action brought under R.S. 9:3252 may be eligible to have the court award them costs and attorney's fees, though the award is not guaranteed and rests in the judge's discretion. Tenants who believe their rights under R.S. 9:3252 have been violated can explore filing a court action, and the possibility of a fee award may be a relevant factor when evaluating options. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices in Louisiana can help explain how courts in the state have exercised this discretion in past cases.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation