Charmaine Little News
Judge won't force landfill suit plaintiffs to produce questionnaire answers
NEW ORLEANS – A federal judge denied a motion by Waste Connections Bayou Inc. and Louisiana Regional Landfill Co. to compel the plaintiff to hand over results of questionnaires completed by residents suing them in an ongoing waste lawsuit.
BP granted summary judgment after oil spill response worker failed to produce expert in Deepwater Horizon claim
Because of his failure to provide an expert opinion, and prove his claims in general, a Deepwater Horizon oil spill relief worker’s case fell short as a judge granted summary judgment for defendant BP Exploration & Production, Inc. on April 29.
Man convicted of killing wife isn't owed her $200,000 in death benefits, judge rules
A federal judge at the Eastern District of Louisiana has ruled that a woman’s estate, not her husband who’s accused of killing her, is owed the nearly $200,000 in her death benefits.
Harvest Moon vessel found 80% at-fault in multi-vessel crash
On Mach 28, vessel Harvest Moon, was found negligent in a collision in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Passenger agreement applies to hearing-impaired woman who fell on Carnival cruise ship, court rules
A woman’s disabilities don’t make her exempt from a boarding contract, a federal court ruled as it granted Carnival Cruise Line’s motion for summary judgment in a case concerning a passenger’s fall on a mystery substance.
Appeals court rules drilling was in good faith in mineral rights suit
The Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the dismissal of a case that was filed to establish if drilling a well was handled in good faith to stop the prescription of a mineral servitude.
Employer wins family leave judgment over failure to disclose assets
A former employee lost her Family Medical Leave Act suit against her former medical company employer by failing to disclose the claim to her bankruptcy court.
Judge denies motion to move hail damage case back to state court
NEW ORLEANS – A U.S. District Court judge in Louisiana denied a plaintiff's motion to send her suit against an insurance company and its inspector back to state court, ruling that the inspector was improperly joined.
Judge reduces attorneys' fees to local rates in Medicare kickback case
NEW ORLEANS – A federal judge in Louisiana granted legal fees only for attorneys named in a settlement agreement in a Medicare kickback case.
Bond broker partially prevails in summary judgment for breach of contract suit
NEW ORLEANS - A federal court has sided with bond brokers in itheir claim that an oil and gas exploration company breached its obligations to pay Petro-Marine Underwriters for its services.
Plaintiff loses bid to send truck accident back to state court
A federal judge denied a St. James Parish man's motion to move his vehicle accident injury claim back to state court because he asked for $95,000 in a pretrial settlement offer.
Judge rules that alcoholism isn't covered under ADA as he dismisses employment discrimination case
A recovering alcoholic lost his employment discrimination suit against his former employer that terminated him shortly after his return from a relapse recovery.
Southern Miss Trucking dismissed from suit against driver over crash
A U.S. District Court judge removed Southern Miss Trucking Inc. from a negligence case that stems from an accident that the plaintiff alleges was its driver's fault.
Judge dismisses woman's claims of retaliation, hostile work environment against St. Bernard Parish government
Sharon Schaefer’s intense retaliation and hostile work environment claims against the St. Bernard Parish Government were dismissed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on Oct. 15.
Man loses request for preliminary injunction in case claiming New Orleans conspires to remove poor African Americans
A federal court tossed a New Orleans man's request for preliminary injunction after he accused the city and related entities of trying to boot out African Americans and “make room for $ people.”
Court denies Lowe's attempt to quash man's notice of deposition following injury on property
On Oct. 21, Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC was denied its motion to quash a plaintiff’s notice of a deposition after a PTD Transport LLC worker was injured while on the job.
Court refuses to reopen Republic Fire and Casualty Insurance's case against couple after suspicious house fire
The Republic Fire and Casualty Insurance company failed to convince the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana to reopen a case where the company was convinced a couple committed fraud after a shady fire.
Federal court refuses motion to remand case against Dollar General, worker after shelves fell on customer
A woman’s failure to state a viable claim against a Dollar General manager after the store’s shelf fell on her while shopping caused the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana to deny her motion to remand the case on Oct. 21.
Court stays man's lawsuit against shipyard over asbestos until related case concludes
After claiming he was exposed to asbestos at work, and at home by his family members who worked for the same company, an Avondale Shipyward worker’s motion to remand the case was held in abeyance as the case was administratively closed on Oct. 25 until an earlier case that could affect the worker's motion is adjudicated.
Woman amends lawsuit against Hertz to include defendants' full names, has case remanded to state court
A woman amended her lawsuit against rental company Hertz and two of its employees when she learned those two employees' full names and persuaded a federal court judge to remand the case back to the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans.