La. Stat. tit. 13 § 4861
The State of Louisiana and any parish, municipal or political corporation, board, commission or public body created by or under the constitution or laws of this state shall have a right of action for discovery and investigation when it alleges that it probably has a right of action against the defendant for an amount in excess of five hundred dollars, exclusive of interest and costs, or for property, rights, or other relief, having a value in excess of five hundred dollars. The action for discovery and investigation shall be heard by preference over all other matters whatever. Unless otherwise clearly indicated, action, as used in R.S. 13:4861 through 13:4875, means an action for discovery and investigation authorized by R.S. 13:4861 through 13:4875.
La. R.S. § 13:4861