Dardar v. Lafourche Realty Co.

W. EUGENE DAVIS, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiffs, commercial fishermen, sued the Lafourche Realty Co., Inc. seeking the right to use a system of navigable waters controlled by Lafourche Realty through an arrangement of fences, gates, and levees. The State of Louisiana intervened, asserting a right of public use of the waters and claiming title to the water bodies and over twelve thousand acres of land under the waters.

Lafourche Realty, the record owner of the property, counterclaimed, asserting title to all property located within its patents, including the water bottoms. La-fourche Realty contends…