News from July 2011
Seaman sues employer for not providing safety equipment after falling 40 feet
After falling approximately 40 feet and suffering a serious head injury, a seaman has filed a lawsuit against his employer for not providing appropriate safety equipment.
America's Best Contacts accused of allowing racial and gender discrimination
A racial and gender discrimination lawsuit has been filed against National Vision Inc. d/b/a America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses over allegations that a Slidell store manager harassed an employee.
Kangaroo Express sued after woman slips and breaks wrist
In a recently filed lawsuit, a gas station and convenience store is being accused of failing to clean up oil, resulting in a St. Tammany Parish woman falling and breaking her wrist.
Law grad sues Louisiana Supreme Court for denying bar admission
An applicant for admission to the Louisiana bar has filed a lawsuit claiming his constitutional rights were violated after he was denied admission to the bar because of alcohol-related incidents which included two DWIs.
Texas lawyer Watts represents 44,510 clients in BP litigation
Watts NEW ORLEANS – Mikal Watts of Corpus Christi, Texas, represents an astonishing total of 44,510 clients preparing for the first trial over the Deepwater Horizon explosion, according to a report U.S. District Judge Barbier received on July 6.
Magistrate vacates order that called on YouTube and The Daily to pull Hayward clips
Mince NEW ORLEANS – In swift victory for free speech, U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan confessed she lacked authority to pull video clips of testimony from former BP chief Tony Hayward from websites YouTube and The Daily.
Employer sued for allowing employee to work while taking prescription narcotics
A Lafayette woman has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her husband's employer for allowing him to come aboard a vessel with a serious medical condition and while taking prescription narcotics.
Barbier orders Anadarko-BP dispute to arbitration
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ordered that claims brought on by Anadarko against its partner BP in the failed Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico need to be settled in arbitration.
Barbier dismisses RICO claims in BP MDL
Barbier U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier issued an order dismissing claims brought under the Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) against BP and its partners for their involvement in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Plaintiffs opting out of settlement in Chinese drywall MDL
Herman Attorneys for a group of Florida plaintiffs involved in Chinese drywall litigation have announced their clients are opting out of a recently proposed $54.5 million settlement and will seek damages individually.
Beau Rivage Resorts sued for $950K after woman's heel becomes stuck in escalator
A Mississippi Casino is being sued for more than $950,000 after a patron's shoe became stuck in an escalator and as a result, the patron fell and suffered injuries.
Hewlett-Packard sued after laptop overheats and burns Mandeville woman
A Mandeville woman has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard after she suffered burns when her laptop overheated.
Seaman claims groin injury in suit
MacFetters A Louisiana company is facing accusations that it failed to properly train and supervise its employees after an employee allegedly suffered an injury to his groin.
Crewmember sues after suffering disabling herniated disk while fishing
A crewmember on a fishing vessel has filed a lawsuit against his employer after he slipped and suffered a herniated disk.
Judge gives preliminary approval of settlement in Chinese Drywall litigation
Herman U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon has given preliminary approval to a $55 million settlement between plaintiffs and a Florida-based Chinese drywall supplier.
Pizza chef sues for unpaid overtime wages
Forester A pizza chef at a Louisiana restaurant and bar has filed a lawsuit against the company in an effort to obtain unpaid overtime wages.
Control of popular Catholic high school sought in federal court dispute; St. Augustine last school in country to use corporal punishment
St. Augustine New Orleans' society of Josephite priests have filed a federal injunction seeking to stop what they perceive is an attempted takeover of the historic St. Augustine High School in Gentilly.
Lawsuit accuses Medtronic of hiding ICD risks and causing Louisiana man's death
Shorty The manufacturer of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads is facing a federal lawsuit which argues the device was misrepresented and defective and those defects led to a Louisiana man's untimely death.
Math teacher claims he lost job for taking too much sick leave
A New Orleans math teacher has filed a discrimination lawsuit after he lost his job for taking too much sick leave.
Seaman sues for $7 million after injuring knee
A seaman has filed a lawsuit for more than $7 million after he injured his knee attempting to move machinery.