Michael Carroll News
Civil liberties group backs comedian in Lafayette's lawsuit over fake antifa events
A civil liberties group has filed a legal brief in support of a comedian who is being sued by the Lafayette Consolidated Government after his satirical Facebook posts about fake antifa events caused a commotion and police response.
Tort reform advocates await Louisiana Supreme Court's study of attorney ad reforms
Legislation aimed at making attorney advertising in Louisiana more transparent and less susceptible to misleading claims took effect this month, but tort reform advocates are now waiting for the state Supreme Court to embrace the new rules.
Social worker's lawsuit alleges health agency blocked her bid to help special-needs kids
A New Orleans woman is suing Louisiana Department of Health officials in federal court for rejecting her bid to launch a business aimed at helping special-needs children learn basic life skills.
Louisiana bar owners lose bid to overturn governor's COVID-19 order
A federal appeals court has upheld a coronavirus order issued by Gov. John Bel Edwards that forced traditional bars around the state to stop serving alcohol and food to customers on their premises.
Amite city councilman accused of submitting fraudulent voter applications
An Amite city councilman was arrested on multiple counts of election fraud earlier this month in conjunction with an investigation carried out by the Louisiana attorney general and secretary of state.
PETA sues LSU for records on bird experiments, deaths
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals last month filed suit against Louisiana State University, alleging that LSU failed to respond to PETA’s repeated public record requests for information about bird experiments carried out by a faculty member.
New Louisiana tort-reform law may take a year to affect car insurance rates, supporters say
A landmark Louisiana tort-reform bill aimed at reducing auto insurance costs took effect as the new year unfolded, but supporters say consumers may have to wait another year to see lower insurance bills.
Louisiana prosecutors drop charges against plastics plant opponents
Prosecutors have dropped charges against two Louisiana environmentalists who were accused last year of “terrorizing” after they placed a sealed container of plastic pellets on the porch of a chemical industry lobbyist.
Lawsuit against EPA takes aim at industrial flare pollution
Several environmental groups are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review and update its regulations governing industrial flares in a case that could have repercussions for Louisiana’s energy industry.
Dispute between Edwards, lawmakers over his coronavirus orders returned to district court
The Louisiana Supreme Court has sent a dispute between Gov. John Bel Edwards and Republican lawmakers over the governor’s authority to issue coronavirus orders back to the district court.
Sen. Kennedy signs on to bid to challenge election results in swing states
Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy has little to lose in joining with several other Republican U.S. senators to challenge the presidential election results in key swing states, a Louisiana political science professor said Monday.
Federal judge's ruling a defeat for Louisiana landlord advocates
In a defeat for Louisiana landlords, a federal district court judge rejected a request to overturn an eviction moratorium put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Only the legislature has power to deal with public defender caseload burdens, court rules
The state legislature, and not the Louisiana Supreme Court, must decide whether the state should spend more money and resources on reducing the caseloads of public defenders, the high court decided this month.
Four more plead guilty to taking part in staged big-rig accidents in New Orleans
A federal probe into staged accidents involving 18-wheelers in New Orleans continued to barrel along this month as four more participants entered guilty pleas in a scheme to bilk an insurer and a trucking company out of millions of dollars
St. Landry Parish sues energy companies over alleged groundwater pollution
St. Landry Parish and the village of Crankton have filed suit against Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron U.S.A. and other energy companies, alleging that they’re responsible for groundwater contamination from a former oilfield tank farm.
Louisiana corrections system faces probe over prisoner release delays
The U.S. Justice Department has launched a probe into practices within the Louisiana Department of Corrections that critics say have kept inmates behind bars long past their release dates.
Louisiana finishes in top 5 in 'Judicial Hellholes' report
Despite the recent passage of some civil litigation reforms and COVID-19 liability protections for businesses and health care facilities, Louisiana has earned a spot on the “Judicial Hellholes” list for the eighth year in a row.
Google antitrust lawsuit won't benefit consumers, tech expert says
An antitrust case filed against Google by the U.S. Justice Department and state attorneys general, including Louisiana’s Jeff Landry, fails to address the best interests of consumers, a tech expert at the Pelican Institute said.
Sen. Cassidy acknowledges Biden win in presidential race
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy’s acknowledgement last month that Joe Biden won the Nov. 3 presidential election hasn’t resulted in other prominent Republicans in the state accepting the election outcome.
Pastor's challenge to Edwards' COVID-19 orders still alive, attorney says
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a Baton Rouge pastor’s quest for an injunction against Gov. John Bel Edwards’ coronavirus orders in the early months of the pandemic, but his attorney said the original case remains alive.