Michael Carroll News
Louisiana governor signs higher-education reform bills on sex abuse reporting
Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a series of bills that aim to make higher education officials more accountable for reporting sexual harassment and abuse in the wake of systemic reporting failures at Louisiana State University.
Louisiana oil industry doesn't see immediate benefits from judge's oil lease ruling
A federal court judge’s opinion blocking the Biden administration’s oil lease “pause” on public lands and the continental shelf won’t have any dramatic initial effects on Louisiana’s energy industry, according to those following the litigation.
New Louisiana law will expand ability of child abuse victims to file civil lawsuits
Child abuse victims who were previously barred from filing civil litigation due to statutes of limitation (SOL) will soon have a three-year window to file their complaints, as a result of legislation signed by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.
Tanker collision with oil platform off Louisiana prompts legal battles
The Louisiana Oil & Gas Association has filed a brief in federal court highlighting the industry’s concerns about a recent ship accident at the mouth of the Mississippi River that caused extensive damage to an offshore oil platform.
Federal judge issues injunction against Biden administration's oil lease ban
Coming on the heels of oral arguments last week, a federal judge has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s moratorium on oil leases on public lands, including offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico.
Federal probe of staged big-rig accidents in New Orleans nets five more guilty pleas
Five more defendants accused of conspiring to stage big-rig truck accidents in a wide-ranging insurance fraud scheme have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Orleans reported.
Louisiana hotel owner sues InterContinental Hotels, alleging abuses against franchisees
A Louisiana hotelier has filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) that alleges the company and its franchising unit are illegally squeezing franchisees through abusive and exploitative tactics.
Bill to decriminalize low-level marijuana possession expected to pass Louisiana legislature
A bill that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana is scheduled for final passage in the Louisiana Senate on Sunday – a turn of events that supporters see as a sign of growing acceptance of marijuana use in the state.
Louisiana agricultural workers sue paraquat makers, allege Parkinson's disease link
Two Louisiana residents who each spent decades in agricultural jobs have filed federal lawsuits against manufacturers of the herbicide paraquat, alleging that their exposure to the chemical led to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
LMU not inclined to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students, despite faculty's urging
Louisiana State University officials say LMU won’t be able to require that students attending class in the fall be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, despite a Faculty Senate resolution calling for mandatory immunizations
Federal judge narrows focus of lawsuit to overturn offshore oil and gas leasing moratorium
Environmental groups have been denied permission to intervene in a multi-state lawsuit aimed at overturning a moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and coastal waters imposed by the Biden administration.
Louisiana launches bipartisan push to modify Biden administration oil lease moratorium
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and Gov. John Bel Edwards are making a bipartisan push to convince the Biden administration to rethink its moratorium on new oil and gas leases.
Bill to set up framework to tax recreational marijuana sales in Louisiana dies in House
Efforts to hash out a plan to legalize recreational marijuana in Louisiana came to an end this month as a tax framework bill for cannabis died on a 47-48 vote in the state’s House of Representatives.
Louisiana's high court sides with landowners in oil pipeline litigation
A recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision could cause oil and gas pipeline companies to be more cautious in exercising eminent domain rights when constructing pipelines in the state, according to an attorney who represented three plaintiffs in the litigation.
Louisiana business groups urge governor to end federal jobless assistance payments
A coalition of Louisiana business groups is urging the governor to end Louisiana’s participation in the federal COVID-19 supplemental unemployment assistance program because thousands of jobs are currently going unfilled.
Two Louisiana bills that would expand worker rights seen as boon for trial attorneys
A Louisiana business group is urging state lawmakers to oppose two bills relating to worker rights that critics say would create new venues for civil lawsuits and add to burdens facing small businesses.
State's high court OKs new rules to help root out misleading attorney ads
The Louisiana Supreme Court has adopted new rules on attorney advertising in an attempt to make such commercial messaging more transparent and to root out false or misleading ads.
Louisianans want legal settlement funds dedicated to coastal restoration, poll finds
More than 70 percent of Louisiana residents oppose diverting funds from coastal erosion lawsuits filed against energy companies for purposes unrelated to marshland restoration, according to a new survey.
Louisiana Senate to reconsider bill allowing social media firms to be sued for editing content
A Senate bill that would allow Louisianans the right to sue social media companies that delete or censor their religious or political speech will be reconsidered next week after falling short during a floor vote earlier this month.
Louisiana crawfish industry accused of lowballing wages in federal lawsuit
The federal government’s rules to determine how much temporary foreign workers should be paid in Louisiana’s crawfish-processing industry violates an appeals court decision and is depressing wages for U.S. workers, according to a new lawsuit.