Michael Carroll News
Fishing industry officials plan lawsuit over impact of Louisiana wetlands restoration efforts
Louisiana fishing industry officials who fear the loss of their livelihoods are vowing to sue the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority over its planned $2 billion wetlands restoration project south of New Orleans.
Infant formula maker sued in wake of death of Louisiana preterm infant
A Pointe Coupee Parish resident whose preterm infant died in the hospital after being fed cow’s-milk-based infant formula is suing the maker of Enfamil, arguing that the formula caused the baby to suffer from necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Insurance costs among concerns aired during Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week
Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week, which is observed in Louisiana and other regions of the U.S. during the first week of October, this year highlighted the need for more legal reforms in Louisiana at a time when the cost of property insurance is ballooning.
Federal energy permitting reforms pulled after Landry leads opposition campaign
Attorney General Jeff Landry is claiming a legal win for Louisiana residents after leading a coalition of 18 states to block federal energy permitting reforms proposed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia).
Louisiana ranks fourth among all states in waterway toxic pollution releases, study finds
The amount of toxic pollution released into Louisiana rivers and waterways reached 11.3 million pounds in 2020 – the fourth highest annual pollution release among the 50 states, according to a new report published by environmental groups.
Hurricane Ian expected to batter Louisiana's property insurance market
Higher prices for Louisiana policyholders, more insurer insolvencies and a property insurance industry with less capacity to serve homeowner needs may be the cascading impact of the damage caused by Hurricane Ian in Florida, industry observers say.
Landry claims victory, moves to dismiss lawsuit over COVID-19 vaccine rule
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has moved to dismiss a lawsuit against Gov. John Bel Edwards challenging the state’s COVID-19 vaccination rule for schoolchildren, now that the vaccine mandate has been officially rescinded.
Federal judge denies motion to block transfer of juvenile inmates to Angola
A federal judge has denied a motion by Louisiana children’s rights groups to block the state Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) and Gov. John Bel Edwards from housing juvenile offenders at Angola State Penitentiary.
Louisiana Citizens seeks 63% rate hike for residential insurance customers
Louisiana Citizens, the state’s property insurer of last resort, is seeking a 63% increase in residential insurance premium rates beginning Jan. 1, 2023, to deal with the fallout from the past two hurricane seasons.
Parties respond to judge's decision overturning Head Start vaccine mandate
The federal government has yet to indicate whether it will appeal a judgment handed down by a Louisiana judge that stops the government’s vaccine mandate for staff and volunteers in the Head Start program for young children.
Panel OKs $95 million deposit for victims of 1983 Tangipahoa Parish flooding
A joint legislative committee last week approved a $95 million allocation for the victims of a 1983 flood in the Baton Rouge area that was blamed by numerous courts on the construction of Interstate 12 in southeastern Louisiana.
State judge vacates 14 air permits needed to develop plastics complex in St. James Parish
A Louisiana district judge has reversed state environmental regulators’ decision to issue 14 air permits that were key to the development of a 2,400-acre plastics and chemical manufacturing complex in St. James Parish.
Lawmakers to examine idea of abolishing Louisiana's individual income tax
Louisiana lawmakers have begun to take a holistic look at the state’s tax system, with a vow to make recommendations that may include the elimination of the state’s income tax levied on both individuals and corporations.
Tulane fares poorly in new ranking of free speech at top U.S. universities
Tulane University finished near the bottom of a new ranking examining how well U.S. universities’ policies promote campus free speech, coming in 156th out of a total of 203 universities studied.
Defendants in Louisiana librarian's defamation lawsuit seek to have case thrown out
Critics of a middle school librarian who urged the Livingston Parish Library Board not to remove controversial books from children’s bookshelves are seeking to dismiss a defamation lawsuit the librarian filed against them.
Fauci, Jean-Pierre ordered to turn over emails in Louisiana lawsuit alleging censorship
A judge in Louisiana has ordered federal officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, to turn over emails and answer questions as a result of a lawsuit alleging a “sprawling federal censorship regime.”
'Moon' Landrieu, former New Orleans mayor and judge, dies at age 92
Louisianans last weekend said a final good-bye to Maurice “Moon” Landrieu, the former New Orleans mayor who guided the city through a key period of desegregation during the 1970s. Landrieu died Sept. 5 at the age of 92.
Federal appeals court hears Louisiana's case against federal horseracing authority
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office remains optimistic about its efforts to sideline a new federal effort to regulate the horseracing industry in the wake of oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.
Louisiana's U.S. senators back bill supporting independent local news outlets
Louisiana’s two U.S. senators are supporting a bipartisan bill that would allow small, local news organizations to earn compensation from tech companies such as Facebook and Google, which bill supporters say are unfairly profiting off of small publishers’ content.
Appeals court sides with Louisiana bar owners who challenged governor's COVID-19 orders
A state appeals court has overturned a lower court’s conclusion that Louisiana bar owners had no cause of action in their 2021 challenge to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ use of business shutdown orders during the pandemic.