Alejandro de los Rios News
Man awarded $7.55 million in Orleans Parish asbestos suit
An Orleans Parish Civil District Court jury ruled last week that thee companies are liable for $7.55 million for exposing a former employee with asbestos.
State judge allows Florida Chinese drywall claimants to opt out
A Broward County District Judge has issued an order allowing Florida residents with claims in the multidistrict litigation surrounding Chinese drywall to opt out of a $53 million settlement and pursue claims in state court.
Class notices sent to motorists who paid red light camera fines
A Jefferson Parish District Court judge has ruled that all lawsuits brought against an Arizona company that runs the Parish's red light cameras will proceed as one class action.
Disbarred corporate attorney completes first of three steps towards reinstatement
A former attorney from Al Copeland Investments Inc. who was disbarred as part of an expansive federal corruption investigation has completed the first in a three part process to reinstate his law license.
Halliburton says BP hid information about failed oil well in new suit
Godwin Halliburton Energy Services Inc. filed an amended lawsuit against BP, claiming the oil company hid critical information about the failed Macondo well that led to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oilrig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
New Orleans and Mississippi law firms merge to form one of largest on Gulf Coast
The New Orleans-based Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre LLP will merge with Jackson, Miss. firm Watkins Ludlam Winters & Stennis P.A. on January1 to form one of the largest firms in the Gulf Coast.
BP says Louisiana has responded to just five of 70 documents requests
Langan BP attorneys have formally complained about the State of Louisiana's "lack of compliance with BP's Phase One document requests" in a letter filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Payments for oyster harvesters increased under new GCCF guidelines
Pitofsky The Gulf Coast Claims Facility recently unveiled new guidelines for anyone filing a claim in connection to the 2010 BP oil spill. Now, some oyster harvesters in Louisiana are eligible to receive seven times the sum of their losses due to the spill.
Judge recuses from litigation over control of popular New Orleans Catholic high school
Orleans Parish Judge Kern Reese recused himself from overseeing litigation over the control of New Orleans' historic St. Augustine High School, according to an order signed today in Orleans Parish Civil District Court.
NFL claims Who Dat Inc. has avoided litigation discovery
Wittmann The National Football League (NFL) claims that Who Dat Inc. has repeatedly avoided and put off its discovery obligations in the federal litigation determining the owner of the phrase "Who Dat?" most commonly associated with the New Orleans Saints.
Second round of cement testing possible in oil spill MDL
Barbier U.S. Attorney Steve Overholt announced that the federal government is considering a second round of tests on the drilling cement used on the Deepwater Horizon oilrig, which exploded and sank in April 2010.
Mississippi AG and Feinberg spar in state court
Hood Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood and Golf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) Administrator are sparring in Mississippi state court, according to an Associated Press report.
BP attorney criticizes plaintiff attorneys' mode of questioning in oil spill depositions
Langan BP attorney Andrew Langan called plaintiff attorney questions have been "repetitive, irrelevant, and sometimes harassing" during depositions of BP witnesses.
Barbier describes rough outline of BP oil spill liability trial
Barbier U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier today gave an idea of the structure for the first liability trial in the BP oil spill multidistrict litigation (MDL) set to take place in February 2012.
Barbier considers appointment of BOP supervisor
Barbier U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier has signed an order outlying provision for the possible appointment of a Master for Supervision of Custody of the failed blowout preventer (BOP) which led to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Two seats up for grabs in Orleans Parish Civil District Court
Hazeur Two seats in Orleans Parish Civil District Court are up for grabs in elections that will be held on Oct 22.
First Circuit rules in favor of homebuilder, establishing limits on Chinese drywall claims
The Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Louisiana New Home Warranty Act establishes a one-year limitation for Chinese drywall claims from new homes.
Senate bill to divert 80 percent of BP funds to Gulf Coast restoration up for vote
Vitter Legislation that would divert the majority of federal fines levied against BP for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill to Gulf Coast restoration is up for a vote in the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Louisiana GCCF payments being seized for child support
Nearly $5.5 million in Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) payments in Louisiana have been seized by the state of Louisiana to cover unpaid child support payments, the state Department of Family and Child Services announced.
Florida lawsuit against GCCF removed to federal court
Feinberg A Florida state lawsuit against Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) Administrator Kenneth Feinberg has been removed to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.