Civil practice and procedure-Parish Court-Counterclaim-Service of summons out of time-Return date expired prior to service-No renewal or re-issue-Whether defect rendered proceedings a nullity-Distinction between nullity and procedure irregularity-Exercise of curative discretion-Whether prejudice or irremediable injustice established-Order VII, rule 8 and XXXVI, rule 23 of the Judicature Parish Court Rules
Evidence-Self-represented litigants-Scope of trial judge's duty to assist-Judicial neutrality-Whether failure to guide litigant on procedural-requirement amounted to unfairness-Admissibility of audio recording-Whether recording was formally tendered-Whether refusal to admit evidence established
Civil procedure-Discretion of trial judge-Whether refusal to order return of drill erroneous
Fair hearing-Allegation of confusion by learned judge-Judicial comments during evaluation of credibility-Whether remarks demonstrated prejudice or undermined fairness of proceedings
