Answer

In Meredith v. Ieyoub 700 So.2d 478, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that, absent Constitutional or statutory authorization, contingency fee contracts between the Attorney General and private attorneys to represent the state in enforcing the state's environmental laws were illegal and violated state law. However, the AG states in AG Op. 06-0235 that Meredith appears to apply only to state executive branch agencies, and not to local political subdivision or local elected officials. In re Katrina (Slip Copy 2008 WL 3845228) said that a contingency fee contract for AG should have legislative consent. R.S. 42:261(G) states: G. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section or any other law to the contrary, nothing shall prohibit the governing authorities of the parishes of St. Charles, Ouachita, Morehouse, Calcasieu, and Vermilion from each employing or retaining its own attorney to represent it generally; however, except in those specific instances where expressly allowed by law, no payment to such attorney so employed or retained shall be made on a contingent fee or other percentage basis. The employment of attorneys by said political subdivisions of the aforementioned parishes shall relieve the district attorneys of the judicial districts serving the aforesaid parishes from any other duty of representing said political subdivisions of said parishes. The usual provision is for the DA in the parish to represent the school board. There is a provision regarding 16th section land that allows for a contingency fee agreement. Otherwise, I could find no other provisions that allow the contingency fee. Louisiana Legislative Auditor website: 06/16/2026 08:12:47 PM