Mills v. Gegenheimer alleges the 24th Judicial District Court’s one-time Domestic Early Intervention Triage fee was collected repeatedly in the same divorce, custody and child support cases – one named plaintiff paid it eleven times

NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / September 16, 2026 / A proposed class action pending in Jefferson Parish alleges that thousands of people who went through a divorce, custody, child support or community property case were charged a $15 court fee over and over, when the statute that created it authorizes the fee to be charged one time.

One case. Eleven charges.

In 2015, the Louisiana Legislature authorized the 24th Judicial District Court to collect a one-time fee in domestic cases to help fund the court’s Domestic Early Intervention Triage Program. The judges set the fee at $15.

The petition in Mills, et al. v. Gegenheimer; Case No. 879-881 alleges the fee was collected far more than one time. According to the petition, litigants were charged $15 again on rules, motions, exceptions and other filings in the same case. One of the named plaintiffs paid the fee thirteen times in a single case. The suit is brought against the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court in his official capacity.

At $15 a charge, the amounts are small enough that almost no one would notice, let alone sue. The fee appears on the cost statement as a routine line item, sitting between the filing fee and service of process.

Case information and a free case review are posted at jpcheckmycourtfee.com.

Who is affected

The proposed class covers people who paid the fee more than once in a domestic case in the 24th Judicial District Court including divorce, child custody, child support, community property and related matters. Because the charge appears on the court’s cost statement, affected litigants do not need to remember paying it, and do not need their case number or old paperwork to have their case reviewed.

What the suit asks the court to do

The petition asks the court to declare that the 2015 statute permits only one fee per case, to order a refund of every fee collected beyond the first with interest, and to stop the practice going forward so it does not continue for people filing today.

Were you charged more than once?

Anyone who has or had a domestic case in Jefferson Parish can get a free case review at jpcheckmycourtfee.com or by calling (504) 372-6777. Court paperwork helps but is not required. No fee unless a recovery is obtained.

About Daly & Black, P.C.

Daly & Black, P.C. is a national law firm representing individuals and families in complex litigation, including first party, personal injury, wrongful death, and mass tort. The firm maintains a New Orleans-based office, reinforcing its commitment to serving Louisiana communities.

Case information: jpcheckmycourtfee.com | Firm: dalyblack.com

No class has been certified in this matter and no court has ruled on the merits. Statements above are allegations from the petition and have not been proven. Attorney advertising. Richard G. Perque is responsible for the content of this release.

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SOURCE: Daly & Black, P.C.