Michael Carroll News
Fifth Circuit pauses lower-court injunction against Louisiana's Ten Commandments law
A federal appeals court has overturned a statewide injunction blocking enforcement of Louisiana’s new law requiring the placement of the Ten Commandments in all public-school classrooms.
New Louisiana law requiring Ten Commandments displays in classrooms is unconstitutional, judge finds
A new Louisiana law that requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed prominently in all public school classrooms was found unconstitutional by a federal judge who characterized the statute as coercive and discriminatory.
St. John's school board to shutter elementary school in the wake of environmental lawsuits
Amid ongoing litigation over chemical emissions and school desegregation, the St. John the Baptist Parish school board has voted to close an elementary school located about 450 feet from a petrochemical plant.
Louisiana catering firm sues Biloxi Shuckers baseball team for breach of contract
A Louisiana catering company is suing the Mississippi-based Biloxi Shuckers baseball team in federal court for allegedly breaching a contract during the 2024 season for the sale of food items at the team’s home games.
U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Louisiana's long-running congressional redistricting dispute
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a long-running legal dispute over congressional redistricting in Louisiana in the wake of a lawsuit filed by “non-African Americans” that challenges the legality of the state’s second majority-Black congressional district.
2 Baton Rouge therapists file suit over state law restricting their use of psychological terms
Two Baton Rouge therapists are suing an occupational regulatory board and seeking to overturn a state law that bars practitioners from using terms such as “psychology” and “psychological” unless they are licensed psychologists.
Louisiana high court overturns state law allowing lawyers in Legislature to delay their legal cases
The Louisiana Supreme Court has overturned a law allowing state legislators who are also attorneys to delay court proceedings when those schedules conflict with their legislative duties.
Catholic Diocese of Alexandria seeks 'mediated resolution' for sexual abuse victims
The Diocese of Alexandria is moving to conduct a “mediated resolution” with victims of alleged sexual abuse by priests prior to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy – a scenario that may offer both benefits and challenges for abuse victims, according to observers.
Federal regulators reject Energy Transfer bid for review of competitor's Louisiana pipeline project
A northern Louisiana energy project that will bring natural gas from the Haynesville Shale region to Gulf Coast markets will not be subject to oversight from federal regulators, a panel decided last month.
Louisiana roofing company hit with cease-and-desist order after allegedly trying to defraud homeowners, insurer
Exercising enhanced enforcement powers in a new state law, Louisiana’s insurance commissioner has issued a cease-and-desist order to a roofing contractor over an alleged attempt to defraud homeowners and their insurer.
Louisiana attorney general sues TikTok, alleging addictive effects on youth
Attorney General Liz Murrill is suing TikTok in state court, alleging that the social media platform is purposefully exposing Louisiana’s youth to sexual content, violence and drug and alcohol use in an “endless scroll” that’s addictive and dreamlike.
Court upholds Louisiana law requiring discounts for certain drugs dispensed at community pharmacies
A pharmaceutical company is appealing a federal judge’s recent ruling that upheld a Louisiana law requiring drug makers to provide discounts on certain outpatient drugs dispensed at community pharmacies under the terms of a 1992 federal statute.
Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week highlights economic consequences of excessive litigation
After a year of successes and some setbacks, advocates of tort reform in Louisiana are observing Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week to inform the public about the economic consequences and household costs of excessive litigation statewide.
Louisiana cosmetologists petition state regulatory board seeking right to jury trial
Several Louisiana cosmetologists have filed an administrative petition with the state board that licenses manicurists and hairdressers, demanding that the regulators uphold the petitioners’ right to a jury trial when hit with fines for enforcement violations.
Jury orders Louisiana Blue Cross to pay $421 million over fraud, rights abuses
A surgical hospital and doctors specializing in reconstructive breast surgery won a $421.5 million damages award last month against Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana, which was found to have been negligent for fraud and abuse of the plaintiffs’ rights.
Longtime Baton Rouge attorney and LSU grad Mary Olive Pierson remembered as trailblazer
Longtime Baton Rouge attorney Mary Olive Pierson, a trailblazing member of the local legal community and most recently known for her work in fighting the incorporation of St. George, died earlier this month after a career that spanned 54 years.
LSU museum director seeks to dismiss defamation allegation filed by Pennsylvania's Doug Mastriano
A military museum director at Louisiana State University is mounting a legal counter-offensive against an unsuccessful Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate, Doug Mastriano, arguing that the GOP state senator’s defamation lawsuit against him should be dismissed.
Louisiana judge rejects restraining order on hiring of new Caddo Parish superintendent
Community members challenging the process to select a new superintendent for the Caddo Parish School District are awaiting a First Judicial District Court judge’s decision next week on whether to enjoin the school board’s actions.
Baton Rouge mayor-president offers transition plan for breakaway St. George
Baton Rouge’s mayor-president has proposed a transition plan to allocate local revenues to the new city of St. George in the wake of the city’s Transition District authorizing a lawsuit against the city-parish over the transfer of sales tax revenues.
Claims severity, litigation seen as key reasons behind high Louisiana auto insurance rates
More expensive car insurance claims in Louisiana, along with associated litigation and inflationary pressures, have pushed up costs for policyholders as the state emerged from the coronavirus pandemic, a business professor recently told a legislative panel.