Michael Carroll News
U.S. Supreme Court denies Louisiana's bid to suspend climate-change rules
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has lost its bid to overturn an appeals court ruling allowing the Biden administration to apply its climate-change rules for calculating the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions (SC-GHG).
Louisiana bill would provide protections for state workers who use medical marijuana
A bill that would protect state employees who use marijuana for medical purposes from discrimination has passed the Louisiana House of Representatives and is now advancing in the Senate as the 2022 session nears its end on June 6.
Louisiana bill seen as creating more employment lawsuit headaches for businesses
A bill that opponents contend would lead to costly legal actions against small business managers who ask about a job applicant’s medical history has passed the Louisiana Senate but seems to be bogging down in the House.
New Orleans council members urge state to halt litigation against storm victims
The New Orleans City Council is calling on the state to stop its practice of filing lawsuits against thousands of Louisiana residents who took part in a home-restoration program in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Shreveport refinery to appeal EPA ruling on renewable fuel blending requirements
A Shreveport refinery has filed an appeal with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge a recent federal Environmental Protection Agency decision revoking the refinery’s previously granted exemption from a requirement to blend renewable fuel with gasoline.
Oral arguments over legality of Louisiana's congressional redistricting map wrapped up
The parties in a federal lawsuit challenging the Louisiana Legislature’s approval of a congressional redistricting map concluded their oral arguments last week, leaving Judge Shelly Dick to decide if the plan illegally dilutes the power of Black voters.
State's high court finds Edwards' COVID-19 orders violated religious freedoms
The Louisiana Supreme Court last week found Gov. John Bel Edwards’ restrictions on places of worship during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic unconstitutional, concluding that the state cannot punish the Rev. Tony Spell for violating those orders.
New Orleans, plaintiffs settle lawsuit challenging city's social media policy for employees
Two New Orleans library employees have agreed to dismiss their lawsuit against the city after officials agreed to drop the city’s questionable restrictions on workers’ private social media posts.
Baton Rouge judge OKs liquidation of Lighthouse Property Insurance Co.
A Baton Rouge judge granted the Louisiana insurance commissioner’s motion to liquidate Lighthouse Property Insurance Co. late last month, marking the fourth insurer insolvency in the state in the wake of the 2020 and 2021 hurricane seasons.
State's high court hears arguments on making unanimous verdict ruling retroactive
The Louisiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week about whether a U.S. Supreme Court’s finding that non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional should apply retroactively to 1,500 Louisiana inmates.
COVID-19 lawsuits accuse Louisiana veterans home of medical malpractice
The families of two residents of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home in St. John the Baptist Parish who died during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 have filed medical malpractice lawsuits against the health care facility.
Louisiana property insurance market 'melting down' as legal climate worsens, insiders say
Louisiana’s property insurance market is headed toward a calamity as state lawmakers consider stiffer penalties on insurers who delay hurricane damage payouts and the state’s litigation climate becomes more hostile, industry groups say.
Judge green-lights lawsuit challenging grain elevator project in St. John Parish
A state judge last week rejected an attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a community group that seeks to block a $400 million grain elevator project in St. John the Baptist Parish whose zoning was the product of “illegality and corruption.”
EPA probes racial bias in Louisiana air pollution permitting process
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a probe into whether Louisiana’s environmental and health agencies have violated federal law by allowing dangerous air pollution in the predominantly Black John the Baptist Parish.
Federal rule change would overly burden Louisiana charter schools, officials say
Louisiana has joined 15 other states in opposing proposed new public charter school regulations, which critics say would add roadblocks when such schools apply for federal education grants.
New oil and gas development in Louisiana seen as unlikely despite high gasoline prices
Federal energy policy changes made in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine likely won’t result in more energy development in Louisiana, even as gasoline prices continue to spike, industry officials say.
Health care firms sued, accused of inflating Louisiana prescription drug prices
Louisiana’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit against a pharmacy services firm and United Healthcare of Louisiana, accusing the companies of exploiting supply-chain complexities that led to billions of dollars in inflated prescription drug prices.
Lafayette seeks to get last laugh by getting comedian to pay $33,000 in lawyer fees
A comedian who was sued by the Lafayette mayor-president over a made-up, satirical antifa event at a local mall is now on the hook for the consolidated government’s attorney fees after courts rejected motions to dismiss the lawsuit.
Landry to appeal ruling on administration's carbon costs formula to U.S. Supreme Court
Attorney General Jeff Landry will seek to overturn a federal appeals court decision this month that allows the Biden administration to apply its more costly formula for estimating the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions (SC-GHG).
Court ruling allows Louisiana to use federal COVID-19 relief funds for tax cuts
A federal district court decision will allow Louisiana to use American Rescue Plan funds allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide tax relief to struggling small businesses, according to the Louisiana NFIB.