Louisiana Revised Statutes & Codes
La. Rev. Stat. § 1:4 (2026)
When the wording of a Section is clear and free of ambiguity, the letter of it shall not be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit.
✓ current as of May 2026
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§4. Unambiguous wording not to be disregarded
When the wording of a Section is clear and free of ambiguity, the letter of it shall not be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 454
cases (75 in the last 5 years), 1962–2026 · leading case: Brandi Billeaudeau, Veronica Billeaudeau, & Joseph Billeaudeau v. Opelousas Gen. Hosp. Auth., Dr. Kondilo Skirlis-Zavala, & the Shumacher Grp. of Louisiana, Inc., 218 So. 3d 513 (La. 2016).
Brandi Billeaudeau, Veronica Billeaudeau, & Joseph Billeaudeau v. Opelousas Gen. Hosp. Auth., Dr. Kondilo Skirlis-Zavala, & the Shumacher Grp. of Louisiana, Inc., 218 So. 3d 513 (La. 2016). “9; La. Rev. Stat. § 1:4; Milbert v. Answering Bureau, Inc.”
Borel v. Young, 989 So. 2d 42 (La. 2008). “When a law is clear *50 and unambiguous and its application does not lead to absurd consequences, the law shall be applied as written and no further interpretation may be made in search of the intent of the Legislature, nor shall the letter of the law be disregarded under the…”
McGlothlin v. Christus St. Patrick Hosp., 65 So. 3d 1218 (La. 2011). “9; La.Rev.Stat. § 1:4; In re Clegg, 10-0323, p.”
Oubre v. Louisiana Citizens Fair Plan, 79 So. 3d 987 (La. 2011). “9; La.Rev.Stat. § 1:4; In re Clegg, 10-0323, p.”
Michael Dunn & the Class of Similarly Situated Persons, Kenner Fire Fighters Ass'n Local 1427 Iaff v. City of Kenner, 187 So. 3d 404 (La. 2016). “R.S. 1:4. The starting point for interpretation of any statute is the language of the statute itself.”
Foti v. Holliday, 27 So. 3d 813 (La. 2009). “R.S. 1:4. In the event the language of a statute is susceptible of different meanings, the interpretation must best conform to the purpose of the law.”
Wooley v. Lucksinger, 14 So. 3d 311 (La. Ct. App. 2009). “La.Rev.Stat. § 1:4 (2004); La. Civ.Code art.”
Pierce Foundations, Inc. v. Jaroy Constr., Inc., 190 So. 3d 298 (La. 2016). “R.S. 1:4. The starting point for interpretation of any statute is the language of the statute itself.”
Yana Anderson v. Ochsner Health Sys. & Ochsner Clinic Found., 172 So. 3d 579 (La. 2014). “La.Rev.Stat. § 1:4 (2004); La. Civ.Code art.”
Hunter v. Morton's Seafood Restaurant & Catering, 6 So. 3d 152 (La. 2009). “R.S. 1:4; [5] La. C.C. art. 9. [6] Those who enact statutory provisions are presumed to act deliberately and with full knowledge of existing laws on the same subject, with awareness of court cases and well-established principles of statutory construction, and with knowledge of…”
Cheramie Servs., Inc. v. Shell Deepwater Prod., Inc., 35 So. 3d 1053 (La. 2010). “LSA-R.S. 1:4. As the court of appeal in the instant case noted, this 1972 legislation was modeled after the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 (FTC).”
State Ex Rel. John Esteen v. State of Louisiana, 239 So. 3d 233 (La. 2018). “R.S. 1:4. The result reached by the majority is all the more perplexing when one recognizes that the majority gives no effect to the committee on parole (whose authority is specifically mentioned in Section C of La.”
— La. Rev. Stat. § 1:4(18) — 2 cases
Arnold v. Bd. of Levee Commissioners, 366 So. 2d 1321 (La. 1978).
Arnold v. Bd. of Levee Com'rs, Etc., 366 So. 2d 1321 (La. 1978).
— La. Rev. Stat. § 1:4(L) — 1 case
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. v. Avco Corp., 513 So. 2d 1188 (La. 1987).
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