Louisiana Dentist Ordered to Pay $100,000 in Legal Fees After Frivolous Lawsuit Against State Board

A Louisiana dentist, Ryan Haygood, has been ordered to pay nearly $100,000 in attorneys’ fees to the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry after a U.S. federal appeals court deemed his lawsuit against the board patently frivolous. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that Haygood’s Section 1983 claim was clearly barred by the state’s general one-year limitation period for filing personal injury claims. This period began when Haygood initially filed his state-court lawsuit regarding the board’s actions, as stated in the court’s opinion on Tuesday. The court’s decision concludes that Haygood pursued his federal claim more than one year after he knew, or should have known, he had a cause of action. Further details can be reviewed here.