News from February 2011
Jefferson Parish men sue four companies after vehicle collision
Two Jefferson Parish men have filed a lawsuit against four companies after their vehicle was struck by another and caused personal injuries and property damage.
Gulf drilling can resume in 30 days, judge rules
Deep drilling in the Gulf of Mexico must resume in 30 days, U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman ruled on Feb. 17.
Environmental group sues over asbestos product dumping
Van Dalen A community action group and an environmental group have filed a lawsuit against a waste disposal facility for allegedly allowing illegal open dumping of asbestos products and other hazardous materials.
Seaman sues after slipping in hydraulic fluid
After slipping in hydraulic fluid and falling, a seaman is suing his employer for not providing a safe place to work.
Wal-Mart sued after shopper trips over folded rug
A Wal-Mart shopper has filed a lawsuit claiming she tripped and fell over a folded mat.
Employee allegedly peeped on undressing co-worker, suit claims
A Metairie business is facing a lawsuit after it allegedly fired a female employee who complained about a co-worker trying to watch her undress in a restroom.
Oil spill clean-up supervisor sues for overtime wages
A supervisor for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill clean-up has filed a lawsuit against BP in an attempt to obtain overtime wages.
Court boundaries won't be redrawn this year
Louisiana lawmakers will not be redistricting the state Supreme Court and five appeals court districts during a special reapportionment session being held in March and April, according to a report on NOLA.com.
BP writes letter saying GCCF payments have been too high
Feinberg In a letter posted on the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) Web site Thursday morning, BP states that there "is no credible support for adopting an artificially high future loss" and that claims payments should be lower going forward.
IRS confirms that BP claims money is taxable
The Internal Revenue Service has confirmed that anyone who received money from BP through the Gulf Coast Claims Facility as a result of Gulf of Mexico oil spill will have to pay taxes on that income on their 2010 tax forms.
Judge rules for defendants in John McDonogh school shooting liability suit
Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Robin Giarusso issued a ruling for the defendants in a liability trial involving a shooting at John McDonogh 28 high school in 2003.
BP MDL hearing set Feb. 25 will be moved to larger courtroom
Barbier The monthly status conference in the BP oil spill multi-district litigation (MDL) schedule for Feb. 25 has been moved to the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle.
NFL seeks to continue 'Who Dat' trial
Harris The National Football League is seeking to postpone a trial date set for July in a lawsuit involving ownership of the phrase "Who Dat" saying the litigation has changed dramatically.
Lawyers want Barbier to rewrite order preventing them from suing Deepwater captain and crew
Itkin Houston lawyers want U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier to rewrite a Houston judge's order that keeps them from suing the captain and crew of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.
Sierra Club files motion to intervene in BP MDL
Huber The Sierra Club filed a motion to join a lawsuit filed by the U.S. government against BP in the multi-district litigation (MDL) surrounding the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and subsequent oil spill.
Rigger sues over liftboat accident
A liftboat rigger has filed a Jones Act lawsuit against his employer in order to recover damages for humiliation and physical injuries he claims to have suffered in an accident.
Becnel challenges Barbier's authority over GCCF
Becnel NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana lawyer Danny Becnel challenges the authority of U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier over Gulf Coast Claims Facility chief Ken Feinberg.
Louisiana delegation pushes BP to pay to fix oyster beds
Landrieu Louisiana's eight congressional members wrote and signed a letter to BP America president Lamar McKay asking that the oil company immediately pay $15 million to help restore the state's oyster beds.
Colombia law professor says Katrina ruling could have lasting impact on environmental law
Gerrard A Columbia law professor warned that a court ruling which held the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers liable for Katrina-related flooding in New Orleans could have lasting effects on environmental litigation.
Toxic tort defender says lawyers in oil spill MDL won't say 'word one' about case
Morris Chicago attorney H. Patrick Morris, an experienced toxic tort attorney who has represented major oil companies, said that not a single defense lawyer involved in the BP oil spill litigation would talk to him before his speech at the DRI Toxic Tort and Environmental Law conference held today in New Orleans.