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Stories by Michael Carroll on Louisiana Record

LOUISIANA RECORD

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Michael Carroll News


Judge's order in property insurance claim upends embattled MMA law firm's contingency fee contracts

By Michael Carroll |
Recent federal court decisions have ratcheted up financial pressures on McClenny, Mosley & Associates, the Houston law firm facing federal disciplinary proceedings related to a mass-filing about 1,600 property-claims lawsuits in western Louisiana last year.

State courts reject injunction to block enforcement of Louisiana abortion restrictions

By Michael Carroll |
Two Louisiana courts have denied abortion-rights supporters a path to block the enforcement of Louisiana statutes establishing a near-total abortion ban in the state in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last year.

Court rejects hedge funds' petition to intervene in MMA disciplinary case

By Michael Carroll |
A judge has denied a bid by Florida hedge funds to intervene in federal disciplinary proceedings in Louisiana against a Houston law firm accused of unethical and illegal actions for mass-filing hurricane-damage claims in the Bayou State.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Louisiana withdraws plan for merger with for-profit insurer

By Michael Carroll |
Public hearings on the proposed sale of the nonprofit health insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to for-profit Elevance Health have been sidelined for now, though the parties hope to refile the proposal sometime in the future.

Federal lawsuits allege Baton Rouge police abused citizens at 'Brave Cave'

By Michael Carroll |
Two recent federal lawsuits accuse the Baton Rouge Police Department of illegal activities at what has become known as the “Brave Cave,” a nondescript warehouse where a 47-year-old plaintiff said she was subject to humiliating body-cavity searches.

Biden administration to appeal injunction on scaled-back Gulf oil lease plan

By Michael Carroll |
The Biden administration is moving to appeal a federal judge’s Sept. 21 decision approving an injunction to block environmental restrictions on a pending oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico.

Judge hears oral arguments on Louisiana's challenge to FEMA flood insurance maps

By Michael Carroll |
Oral arguments were held last week in a federal lawsuit spearheaded by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office that argues new federal flood-risk mandates will burden Louisiana homeowners with skyrocketing property insurance premiums.

Judge enjoins further airing of anti-Landry TV ad labeled false and manipulative

By Michael Carroll |
Jeff Landry remains the leading Republican in this year’s Louisiana governor’s race, according to recent polling, even after the airing of a dark-money television ad that accused Landry of having a personal connection with a wealthy donor found with child pornography.

Louisiana inmates file class action over Angola prison's farm work requirements

By Michael Carroll |
Louisiana State Penitentiary inmates have filed a class action against public safety officials, alleging that they were illegally required to perform agricultural work at the Angola prison during humid, triple-digit weather for 2 cents an hour or less.

2 hedge funds seek to intervene in MMA law firm disciplinary proceedings

By Michael Carroll |
Two Florida hedge funds have filed motions in the Western District of Louisiana to become intervenors in disciplinary proceedings against a Houston law firm accused of participating in a litigation-harvesting scheme involving Louisiana hurricane-damage victims.

Juveniles removed from Angola prison facility amid continuing legal actions

By Michael Carroll |
Louisiana officials removed juvenile inmates from a controversial holding facility on the grounds of the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola on Friday, but the legal battle surrounding the conditions at the facility is continuing.

Federal judge orders removal of juveniles now being held at Angola prison

By Michael Carroll |
Louisiana corrections officials are appealing a recent federal court order that requires the Office of Juvenile Justice to remove all youth housed at the former death row at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola by Friday.

Ethics board recommends Landry pay penalty for alleged ethics violation

By Michael Carroll |
Gubernatorial candidate Jeff Landry has labeled the Louisiana Ethics Board “heavily left-leaning” and a practitioner of election interference after the board filed ethics charges over his acceptance of private airfare for a trip to Hawaii.

Appeals court rules Biden administration illegally pressured social media platforms

By Michael Carroll |
A federal appeals court has affirmed that some federal agencies coerced social-media companies in violation of the First Amendment, but justices also narrowed a lower court decision in litigation advanced by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.

Online news site sues Baton Rouge, alleging discriminatory information-access policy

By Michael Carroll |
A federal judge has denied a motion by the city of Baton Rouge and its Police Department to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an online news outlet alleging city officials discriminate against “bloggers” when releasing information to the media.

Trial attorney donations to Landry raise concerns from tort reform supporters

By Michael Carroll |
GOP gubernatorial candidate Jeff Landry has reportedly received more than $700,000 from trial attorneys, a constituency that usually backs Democrats, prompting concerns that Landry might be less committed to civil litigation reforms than other hopefuls.

Entergy Louisiana among least helpful utilities for offering consumers conservation options, new study finds

By Michael Carroll |
Entergy Louisiana ranked 43rd among the nation`s 53 largest electric utilities in a new study examining the utilities’ energy efficiency programs, which help the companies avoid customer rate hikes.

Landry files amicus brief in support of RFK Jr.-aligned health group's media lawsuit

By Michael Carroll |
State Attorney General Jeff Landry is supporting the arguments of a Robert F. Kennedy Jr.-aligned group in its federal lawsuit accusing large media companies of conspiring to stamp out certain political viewpoints.

Louisiana program to get property insurers to expand coverage is 'a failure,' insurance commissioner-elect says

By Michael Carroll |
Louisiana’s insurance commissioner-elect, Republican Tim Temple, says he will not seek any additional funding for the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program, which offers matching funds to new and current property insurers to expand coverage in the state’s coastal areas.

Louisiana law degrees ranked fifth best in nation for return on investment

By Michael Carroll |
A law degree in Louisiana offers graduate students the fifth best return on investment among the 50 states, based on criteria such as tuition costs, job prospects, cost of living and potential future earnings, a new study concludes.