Elizabeth Alt News
Case against Triple Tail Charters owner over man's fractured ankle dismissed
NEW ORLEANS — A lawsuit against a fishing boat captain alleging negligence after a man suffered an ankle fracture after disembarking a boat has been dismissed for lack of evidence.
Class status granted in former Grand Isle Shipyard worker's wage case
NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on May 3 conditionally granted a former Grand Isle Shipyard employee’s request for class certification in his lawsuit alleging the company violated wage laws by not paying employees for overtime work.
Chalk Paint maker granted partial summary judgment in case against US distributor
The maker of Chalk Paint was granted partial summary judgment by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana after suing its United States distributor alleging breach of contract.
4th Circuit rules hospital cannot relitigate claims against insurance company
NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal has ruled that a local hospital cannot relitigate claims that have been dismissed in federal court in its suit against Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.
Appeals court denies Department of Economic Development request to change lawsuit venue
NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal on April 6 denied the state Department of Economic Development’s appeal to change court venues in its lawsuit with a film company.
Louisiana appeals court agrees doctor not negligent in botched surgery
The Louisiana Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court ruling that a doctor was not negligent in a lawsuit that claimed a mistake during emergency surgery totally disabled a man.
Appellate court won't let Louisiana DOTD off the hook in dangerous road case
A Shreveport couple will go back to trial after the Second Circuit Court of Appeal reversed a judgment in the state’s favor, finding conflicting testimonies about the safety of a local road were sufficient to merit sending the case back to the First Judicial District Court for the Parish of Caddo.
Court won't let BP off on technicality in Deepwater Horizon cleanup workers' case
NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 16 agreed with a magistrate's recommendation to reject BP’s motion to dismiss lawsuits filed by two plaintiffs who allege they became ill after cleaning up the Deepwater Horizon oil rig spill.
New Orleans-based legal advocacy group calls on judge to end certain court fees
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is asking Chief Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson to prevent courts from assessing fees against defendants in what the group calls a direct violation of Louisiana statutes, with the hope of reversing some verdicts that have already been enforced.
LLAW keeping a close eye on Louisiana's opioid epidemic lawsuits
BATON ROUGE — The executive director of the Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch (LLAW) was pleased to see the state's governor and attorney general finally come to an agreement on how to handle a dozen pharmaceutical company lawsuits related to the state's opioid epidemic.
Coalition for Common Sense attorney blames high car insurance rates on lawsuit abuse
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has been quoted as saying he believes lawsuit abuse is one of the biggest reasons auto insurance rates are so high in Louisiana, and at least one attorney agrees with him.
Louisiana citizens tackle redistricting during Fair Districts Louisiana’s summit
On Jan. 19, citizens and politicians gathered to discuss the issue of redistricting in Louisiana at a summit put on by Fair Districts Louisiana, a bipartisan movement that aims to change the way redistricting is done in the state.
Louisiana appeals court tosses doctor's defamation suit
BATON ROUGE — The First Circuit Court of Appeals for Louisiana on Jan. 23 agreed with a trial court in the case of a doctor who sued a patient's husband for defamation after the man claimed his wife's death was caused by a misdiagnosis and requested a medical review panel (MRP).
Baton Rouge, mayor pro tem accused of violating 1st Amendment rights
BATON ROUGE — Three prominent Louisiana community leaders kicked out of a public city council meeting in Baton Rouge earlier this year filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wilson on December 4, alleging their First Amendment rights were violated.