Karen Kidd News
Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch says attorney fees paid out from $20 billion BP oil spill settlement is 'absurd'
BATON ROUGE – The attorney fees paid out of the $20 billion settlement with BP over the Deepwater Horizon spill is "absurd," the executive director of a lawsuit abuse watchdog group recently told the Louisiana Record.
UberX drivers keep working as months of legal process loom in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS – The 26 New Orleans cabbies and 10 UberX drivers in a lawsuit filed in New Orleans Civil District Court Judge have several months of proceedings ahead before trial but the UberX drivers will remain on the road.
Deepwater Horizon Trustees receive much of $20 billion BP settlement
NEW ORLEANS — Deepwater Horizon Trustees have announced an $8.8 billion settlement with BP, part of the $20 billion proposal reached earlier this week and the largest settlement paid by a single entity in federal law enforcement history.
Two Canal Street Investors: Senate bill an unconstitutional attempt to circumvent the judiciary
NEW ORLEANS – Two Canal Street Investors, suing over its losing bid to develop New Orleans' World Trade Center, claims the mayor's office is attempting an end run around the judiciary by backing a new state Senate bill that could cost the developer millions.
Veterans high on Ricky John's mind as he runs for 4th U.S. Congressional District seat
SHREVEPORT – Shreveport attorney and businessman Richard "Ricky" John says he has his mind on veterans and their families as he makes his first bid for public office, the 4th U.S. Congressional District seat.
Mayor spokesman says latest WTC lawsuit 'frivolous' and 'desperate,' but developer claims necessity
NEW ORLEANS – “Frivolous” and “desperate” is how the New Orleans mayor’s press secretary sums up Two Canal Street Investors’ latest lawsuit over losing its bid to develop the World Trade Center.
Bill to repeal political subdivision jury trial prohibition passes Senate, seeks House companion
BATON ROUGE – A bill that would repeal a Louisiana law prohibiting jury trials in lawsuits filed against a political subdivision was passed today by the state's Senate and is now in the House.
LOGA: Security is gas station concern, despite judge's ruling
BATON ROUGE – The Mother’s Day 2013 beating of a St. Francisville man outside a north Baton Rouge gas station is unfortunate, but not the fault of gas companies that provide fuel to the gas station, a Louisiana Oil & Gas Association (LOGA) spokesman said in a recent interview.
Two Canal Street Investors emails shed light on WTC development
NEW ORLEANS – In its latest lawsuit over losing its bid to develop the World Trade Center, Two Canal Street Investors criticize the real estate consultants who advised the city leaders, despite praising the development in one of three emails approximately a year ago.
Justice of the peace removed for misconduct has days remaining to request rehearing
NEW ORLEANS – Former Ascension Parish Justice of the Peace Leroy Laiche Jr. has only days remaining to ask the Louisiana Supreme Court to reconsider its decision last week to remove him for misconduct.
New Orleans World Trade Center project moving ahead, despite October trial date
NEW ORLEANS – The trial date is set for a lawsuit that challenges New Orleans' lease to a Four Seasons developer of the vacant World Trade Center tower but that developer is moving ahead with work on the project, a spokesman said.
Louisiana ACLU backs Supreme Court Chief Justice's warnings about underfunded public defenders
BATON ROUGE – Louisiana's American Civil Liberties Union has thrown its weight behind the state's Supreme Court Chief Justice's dire warnings about the present crisis of underfunded public defenders that has left thousands of litigants on waiting lists.
Labor law prof says NOLA Taxicab Legal Fund may be trying to 'heat things up' in Uber suit
NEW ORLEANS – Creating "a level playing field" and finding "a way to heat things up" could be what's behind postcards sent to New Orleans UberX drivers this month, a labor law professor said recently.
Postcard warns New Orleans UberX drivers they may be sued
NEW ORLEANS – Postcards with the return address of the nonprofit "NOLA Taxicab Legal Fund," whose directors include plaintiffs in a lawsuit against 10 UberX drivers, are being mailed to other New Orleans-area UberX drivers claiming they "may be the subject of a lawsuit."
Uber lawsuits common across the U.S., but New Orleans case unique
NEW ORLEANS (Louisiana Record) – A lawsuit filed earlier this year by more than two dozen cab drivers against UberX drivers is unique as Uber lawsuits go, but isn't unique to Louisiana, a labor law professor said recently. law professor said in an interview.
New LADCP president hopes to increase participation in drug courts
BATON ROUGE – More activity with the state's drug courts and district attorneys' offices is what Louisiana Association of Drug Court Professionals' (LADCP) new president is hoping for in his two-year term.
Baton Rouge official: Weather events to blame for huge spike in sewage-backup settlements
BATON ROUGE – The numbers alone don't tell the entire story behind the dramatic increase in what the city-parish of Baton Rouge has paid out to settle lawsuits involving sewage backups.
Governor's office: Edwards set example for rest of the nation by dropping Common Core suit
BATON ROUGE – The rest of the country could learn a lesson from Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards' decision to end a lawsuit filed by his Republican predecessor against Common Core, a spokeswoman for the governor said.
Lawyer: Kenner firefighters pension case outcome may solidify earned compensation in Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS – The impact of a Louisiana Supreme Court decision in favor of Kenner firefighters in a pension case is not yet clear, but may herald favorable outcomes for plaintiffs in similar cases, an attorney with the law firm who represented the firefighters said in an interview.
Genovese touts experience in Louisiana Supreme Court bid
NEW ORLEANS — Judge James "Jimmy" Genovese, a candidate for the Louisiana Supreme Court, hopes experience gained during his time on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal and his 41-year-law career will appeal to state voters in November.