Art. 1972 Peremptory grounds

If you lose a case, you can ask the judge for a new trial, and in certain situations the judge must grant it. This rule lists three situations where a new trial is required, not just allowed.

The first is when the verdict or judgment clearly goes against the law and the evidence presented at trial. This means the outcome doesn't match what the facts and the law actually support. The second is when you find important new evidence after the trial ends, but only if you couldn't have found it earlier even by trying hard. You can't sit on evidence and bring it up later just because you lost.

The third situation involves problems with the jury itself. If jurors were bribed or acted improperly in a way that prevented a fair and unbiased decision, the court must order a new trial. This protects the basic fairness of the process. In all three cases, the party asking for a new trial has to file a motion, and the other side gets a chance to respond before the judge decides.