Michael Carroll News
Republican senator's bill would offer insurance rate relief for Louisiana Citizens customers
Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. would suspend a 10% surcharge paid by customers in the state’s coastal zone and be shielded from bad-faith penalties if a newly amended bill is enacted into law.
Business groups urge Louisiana Senate leaders to jumpstart stalled tort-reform bills
A coalition of Louisiana business groups is urging state Senate leaders to break a legislative logjam that has kept a pair of tort-reform bills stalled in the Senate Judiciary A committee.
U.S. Supreme Court allows Louisiana to use disputed congressional map for fall elections
Overturning a lower court decision, the U.S. Supreme Court last week allowed Louisiana's fall election preparations to go forward using a congressional redistricting map passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jeff Landry in January.
Senate panel puts the brakes on 2 key tort reforms that sailed through Louisiana House
Two key Louisiana tort-reform bills remained stalled in Senate Judiciary Committee A this week even after they overwhelmingly passed the state House of Representatives in March.
Louisiana governor signs 4 insurance reform bills in bid to lower rates
Gov. Jeff Landry last week signed into law four insurance reform bills backed by Louisiana’s insurance commissioner that the governor said will help to drive down property insurance costs for the state’s homeowners.
Louisiana high court to reconsider ruling striking down law giving sex assault victims 'lookback window'
In an unusual move, the Louisiana Supreme Court on Friday granted a rehearing of its recent split decision overturning a state law that gave childhood sexual abuse victims additional time to sue their alleged assailants.
Federal court throws out Louisiana congressional map with 2 majority-Black districts
A federal court has rejected Louisiana’s newly redrawn congressional map, creating uncertainty about fast-approaching fall election deadlines and sending voting-rights advocates on a scramble to get the U.S. Supreme Court to sort out the matter.
'Nuclear verdicts' in Louisiana last year totaled $437 million, new study finds
Louisiana jury awards exceeding $10 million over the years 2009 to 2023 amounted to a total payout of $9.97 billion, making the Bayou State sixth in the nation in terms of the combined value of these so-called “nuclear verdicts.”
Proposal to convene state constitutional convention passes Louisiana House
Louisiana’s House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a measure to convene a constitutional convention in August to overhaul the state’s governing principles and give lawmakers the tools to make major reforms.
Commissioner hails passage of 4 insurance reform bills to address Louisiana's insurance crisis
Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has expressed gratitude to the state Legislature for passing a package of insurance reform bills he said would make the state’s insurance market more stable and competitive.
Legal reform measures set for Louisiana Senate panel vote this week
In the wake of intense debate last week, a key Louisiana Senate panel plans to vote on two legal reform measures on Tuesday, including one to mandate the disclosure of third-party litigation-funding contracts.
Louisiana panel OKs $1.9 billion grid resilience plan advanced by Entergy Louisiana
The Louisiana Public Services Commission approved a $1.9 billion grid-hardening plan advanced by Entergy Louisiana amid concerns the proposal was brought up too hastily and that ratepayers will face burdensome electricity rate hikes.
Child sex abuse victims in New Orleans Archdiocese case accuse Jones Walker firm of excessive legal fees
A group of sexual abuse survivors who have filed claims against the Archdiocese of New Orleans blasted the archdiocese’s law firm for “vague, redundant, unnecessary and/or excessive” bankruptcy billing practices.
Louisiana family services agency hit with class action over 'overwhelmed' foster-care system
A federal class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of 4,000 Louisiana foster children, alleging that the state’s Department of Children and Family Services operates under overwhelming caseloads and fails to protect kids from mental and physical harm.
Louisiana bill to help prisoners convicted by non-unanimous juries dies in committee
A Louisiana State Senate panel voted earlier this month to table a bill that would have provided a way for inmates convicted by non-unanimous juries to challenge their sentences after such jury verdicts were designated unconstitutional.
SEC suspends rule requiring disclosure of companies' climate-change data in wake of lawsuits
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has stopped enforcement of a rule requiring companies to disclose information about their efforts to fight climate change, pending the outcome of lawsuits filed in Louisiana and elsewhere.
Louisiana attorney general urges state Supreme Court to rehear case on 'lookout window' for abuse victims
Louisiana’s attorney general has filed a request with the state Supreme Court asking justices to rehear their 4-3 decision last month that overturned a state law giving child sexual abuse victims some additional time to file civil lawsuits.
Federal judge rejects Louisiana legislative districts, saying they dilute Black voting strength
The future boundaries of Louisiana state legislative districts remain uncertain in the wake of a federal judge’s decision that the districts violate the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 because they diminish the voting power of Black residents.
Louisiana insurance commissioner, business groups back reform bills to modernize regulations, fix legal climate
Business groups and Louisiana’s insurance commissioner are supporting multiple measures under consideration in the state Legislature aimed at curbing excessive regulations and improving Louisiana’s civil litigation climate.
Special election in litigated Caddo Parish sheriff's race goes to Democrat
A Democrat was elected Caddo Parish sheriff by six percentage points last weekend in a contest that was closely watched because an appeals court ordered a new election after finding multiple questionable votes were cast in a razor-thin election last fall.