John Sammon News
Attorney says public records bill, dead for now, would threaten government transparency
An attorney for the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, a New Orleans-based watchdog nonprofit tasked with ensuring fair taxation and reform, said a proposed bill that was withdrawn from the Legislature could have decimated transparency and the public’s right to access public records.
Legislators consider Louisiana abandoning current 'jungle' mixed system for primaries
Louisiana state legislators have formed a task force to consider if the state should abandon a current primary political system where a candidate for office runs against every other candidate regardless of political party, referred to as a “jungle system.”
Family of woman killed by float during New Orleans parade files suit against parade, city
The family of Geraldine Carmouche, who was killed by a tandem float during a parade in New Orleans on Feb. 19, 2020, is suing the city, the parade company and its captain for wrongful death, alleging negligence.
Summary judgment granted to Loyola University in alleged sexual harassment case
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 3 granted summary judgement to Loyola University and denied more time for evidence gathering to a former student alleged to have sexually harassed another student at the facility’s law school.
Judge quashes parts of vacuum cleaner firm's subpoena
NEW ORLEANS – A U.S. Circuit Court magistrate quashed parts of a subpoena as being overbroad or irrelevant in a complaint in which a vacuum cleaner company claims breach of contract by several of its distributors.
Louisiana court dismisses most claims against Sheriff’s Office alleging anti-male bias
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana partially dismissed a claim from a man who sued the Orleans Parrish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) alleging that a female captain of the force discriminated against him because he is a man.
Louisiana federal court dismisses some defendants in claims that boy’s AML caused by paint exposure
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana dismissed plaintiffs' allegations against some of the paint companies they claims caused their son to develop leukemia.
Father recounts loss of son in Oklahoma Johnson & Johnson opioid trial
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Fighting back tears, a father who lost his son to an opioid overdose recounted the nightmare during testimony in a trial alleging that Johnson & Johnson flooded the state with addictive drugs for profit.
Opening remarks in opioid case against Johnson & Johnson alleges greed created drug epidemic
NORMAN, Okla. (Legal Newsline) – Opening arguments began Tuesday in a first-ever trial in attempt to hold drug manufacturers accountable for an opioid over-dose crisis, accusing Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary company Janssen Pharmaceuticals of providing medications for profit that destroyed thousands of lives.
Woman's lawsuit against Costco is transferred to federal court
BATON ROUGE – A lawsuit in which a woman alleged the contaminated smoothie drink she consumed caused her to contract Hepatitis A is being moved from a state to a federal court.
Louisiana African-American voters target Secretary of State in fight against districting tactics
BATON ROUGE – A lawsuit filed June 13 with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana seeks relief from what plaintiffs allege is the unfair packing of African American voters into one voting district and spreading them out among others to minimize black politicians' chances to hold office.
Filipino teachers claim Caddo Parish violated their civil rights
A group of teachers formerly from the Philippines has filed a lawsuit against the Caddo Parish School Board alleging discrimination in that they were paid less than other (non-Filipino) teachers.
Judge rejects reconsideration of decision regarding physical evaluation in case of injured oil worker
NEW ORLEANS – A judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana denied a motion to reconsider a magistrate judge's decision denying a request to compel an injured oil worker to submit to a functional capacity evaluation (FCE), the ability to perform work activities.
Louisiana court denies request to transfer suit against coffee products firm CEO to Hawaii
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana recently turned back a request for a change of venue regarding a lawsuit alleging that the CEO of a coffee products firm abused his position to profit a new company he had started.
First Emanuel Homes of New Orleans denied partial summary judgment in renter's suit
NEW ORLEANS – The owner of a low-income housing development recently a setback in a legal dispute with a renter when the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana recently denied the owner's motion for a partial summary judgment.
Federal court says it lacks jurisdiction in computer information theft case filed in Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana recently dismissed a lawsuit alleging the theft of computer information by a Texas-based direct mail marketing firm saying it had no jurisdiction over the case.
Tennessee man claims drug companies ignored Xarelto bleeding risks
NEW ORLEANS – A Tennessee man is suing the companies that manufacture and distribute the drug Xarelto, claiming the firms ignored warnings that the drug could cause dangerous bleeding events of the kind that led to his own physical harm.
Lack of in-person interpreter for nonverbal deaf man leads to discrimination claim against health care provider
A man who is deaf, visually impaired and nonverbal is suing a medical care center, claiming the center deprived him of his rights by denying him an in-person interpreter to explain his treatment and instead forced him to use a VRI (video-remote interpreting) device.
Fired banker cites age discrimination in lawsuit
A Louisiana woman is suing the bank where she served as an employee for 19 years, alleging Sabine State Bank & Trust Co. terminated her without cause in part because of her age and a desire to bring in “new blood.”
Man demands jury trial over alleged Takata airbag failure
A man is suing the manufacturer and distributor of what he maintained was a defective airbag that allegedly failed properly deploy during an accident, causing him physical injury.