Sam Knef News
Southern University professor’s retaliation claim gets mixed ruling by 5th Circuit
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a Southern University math professor's Title VII retaliation claim against her employer and supervisor.
Appeals court finds in favor of construction company over Golden Nugget Lake Charles in lien dispute
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has found in favor of a construction company over Golden Nugget Lake Charles in a $18.7 million lien dispute.
Fifth Circuit rules companies can reform indemnity provisions in contract
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a district court’s ruling in an insurance dispute that allowed changes to be made to a contract so that an injured offshore worker could get a $2.5 million settlement.
Appellate court affirms that maritime law applies in case involving injured offshore well worker
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed that maritime law applies in the case of an injured offshore natural-gas well worker on a fixed production platform.
Appeals panel upholds summary judgment for doctor in prisoner suit
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a doctor treating a prisoner at the maximum security Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola was not deliberately indifferent in treating his pain.
Conviction of New Orleans traffic court accountant who overbilled will stand
NEW ORLEANS — The conviction and three-year sentence of an accountant found guilty of theft, money laundering and unlawful payment structuring while working as a contractor for the New Orleans Traffic Court will stand, a court has ruled.
Appeals court affirms district court's denial to review boat lift operator’s Horizon claim
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a finding from federal court in New Orleans that refused to hear a boat lift operator's claim for damages involving the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Criminal-defense attorney reinstated following misconduct charges
NEW ORLEANS — Criminal-defense attorney Frank Ferrara of Walker has been conditionally reinstated to the practice of law in Louisiana, subject to a two-year period of probation.
Court of Appeals rejects Houma oyster operator's request for $3.4 million in oil spill loss
NEW ORLEANS — A Houma oyster processing business that was forced to shut down after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has lost its bid to get more compensation from the BP Economic and Property Damages Settlement fund.
Appeals court upholds denial of citizenship to resident convicted of aggravated felony
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to deny citizenship to a permanent resident who had been convicted of conspiracy to commit false or altered lottery tickets.
Detainee can pursue claims against prison worker over delayed medications
NEW ORLEANS — A Concordia Parish Correctional Facility detainee who had been stabbed and stomped on by fellow inmates will get to pursue legal claims against a prison worker who allegedly delayed medical care for more than 10 days after the attack.
Dissenting judges compare actions of majority to that of dusky gopher frog
NEW ORLEANS — Six judges who would have re-heard an Endangered Species Act case en banc offered a dissenting opinion that poked fun of a panel and a majority of 5th Circuit Court of Appeals judges, comparing their actions to that of the dusky gopher frog.
Appeals court finds 1977 precedent in age discrimination case still holds
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a wrongful-termination lawsuit brought by a nurse who claimed she was fired for raising age-discrimination complaints.
Appeals court that contingency fee obtained in fraudulent oil-spill claim can be retained
NEW ORLEANS — A lawsuit-lending company that had been ordered to pay back $20,000 in restitution for fees it obtained from a fraudulent Deepwater Horizon claim can keep it.
Louisiana Supreme Court finds Evangeline Parish deputy sheriff not covered under department policy
The Louisiana Supreme Court found that an appeals court committed legal error when it found ambiguity in the language of an insurance policy held by the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Department.
Appellate court issues mixed ruling in a case arising from a heated Jefferson Parish council meeting
NEW ORLEANS — The 5th District Court of Appeals has issued a mixed ruling in a case arising from a heated Jefferson Parish council meeting in Gretna in 2013, in which a citizen was ejected after raising questions about a no-bid contract awarded to a campaign contributor.
Court of Appeals denies Alabama radiology group’s claim for oil-spill damages
NEW ORLEANS — An Alabama radiology practice that was denied business-loss compensation by the claims program for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has been denied again at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
Fifth Circuit sides with commercial fishermen in Gulf red-snapper case
NEW ORLEANS — In a dispute pitting recreational anglers against commercial fishermen in the management of red snapper in Gulf waters, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has sided with the interests of the Charter Fisherman's Association.
Lawyer who sought $9.7M in fraudulent tax returns disbarred by state Supreme Court
BATON ROUGE — An attorney who pleaded guilty in 2013 to filing a false tax return with the IRS has been disbarred by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Attorney suspended for exchanging legal services for pot
BATON ROUGE — Three years following his arrest for accepting marijuana in exchange for legal services, Louisiana criminal-defense attorney James Mecca has been suspended one year from the practice of law.