Liza, a woman of color, petitions for her freedom and that of her children. Liza claims that, some thirty years ago, a man named Hardi Boisblanc took her, along with some of his relatives, to France, a country where slavery is not "tolerated." She stayed in France for a few months, or at least a few “days,” and thus became free, according to her, by virtue of having put “her foot” on French soil. Since that time, Liza has become the slave of one of Boisblanc's relatives, Felicie Norbert Fortier, the wife of Dr. Puisant. Since that time, Liza has also given birth to seven children. She prays that Dr. and Mrs. Puisant be cited to answer her suit and that she and her children be declared free. She also claims compensation for her services and those of her children, at the rate of $30 per month for the whole family, from the time that she notified the Puisants of her intent to be recognized free.
Result: Denied; appealed; affirmed.
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Repository: University of New Orleans
