News from March 2011
Barbier order clarifies filing options for government entities
Barbier U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier issued a pre-trial order Wednesday rewording language defining the pleading bundle for government entities in the BP oil spill multidistrict litigation (MDL).
Boater seeks $1 million from Chevron after hitting unmarked structure
Braud A boater is suing Chevron for more than $1 million after striking an unmarked structure in Highline Pond in Venice.
Texas Roadhouse sued over handicap ramp
A Harvey restaurant is being sued by a Jefferson Parish resident for not providing an adequate handicap ramp.
Texas law firm sued for allegedly filing incorrect Jones Act lawsuit
A Mexican national is filing a lawsuit against a Texas law firm for improperly filing a lawsuit against his employer causing his workers' compensation benefits to be terminated.
Avalon owner sues Toyota after car runs into church
A Toyota owner is suing the car manufacturer after her vehicle's accelerator became stuck in a depressed position and she accelerated into the side of St. Mark's Church in Schriever.
Barbier boils down plaintiff steering committee's claim notice
Barbier U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier pulled the punches from a public notice his plaintiff steering committee composed about the Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Insurance issues surface in BP oil spill litigation
Haycraft NEW ORLEANS – Below the surface of lawsuits blaming oil company BP for the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion, tremors of insurance disputes begin to roll.
U.S. SC won't hear challenge of $246B tobacco deal
Caldwell WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court won't hear the appeal of a group that claims the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement created a marketplace unfairly hostile to smaller cigarette manufacturers.
Orleans Parish Civil Court closed tomorrow for Mardi Gras
The Orleans Parish Civil Court will be closed in observance of Mardi Gras.
Louisiana civil codes 'exacerbate' New Orleans' dysfunction, according to report
Landrieu A specialist hired by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said Louisiana's civil laws make bureaucratic dysfunction worse and has led to a "shocking" situation in City Hall.
What Reagan really said about tort reform
Cochran During the recent 100th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan, we read many tributes to him and re-read many of his greatest speeches.
Woman awarded damages in suit against debt collector
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal court judge has awarded a Louisiana woman a $1,500 default judgment in her Fair Debt Collection Practices suit against a New York collections agency.
Bowler dislocates elbow after falling on sticky approach lane, suit says
Sutton A bowling alley patron has filed a lawsuit against the bowling alley after she slipped in a sticky substance and fell, breaking her elbow.
Denise Timmerman and Pierre Timmerman filed suit against AMF Bowling Centers Inc. d/b/a AMF All Star Lanes and ABC Insurance Co. on Jan. 6 in Jefferson Parish District Court. The defendant removed the case to federal court in New Orleans on Feb. 21.
Disabled vet sues Entergy claiming rates are discriminatory
A Louisiana energy company is accused of discriminating against retired, older, disabled and lower-income residents by arbitrarily raising rates and fees in order to drive the residents out of New Orleans.
State and local governments claim economic hardship over Obama's drilling moratorium
Strange NEW ORLEANS – States and local governments blaming oil company BP for damage from the Deepwater Horizon explosion now blame BP for damage from the drilling moratorium President Obama imposed after the explosion.
LSU nursing student sues over hazing incident involving instructor
A nurse anesthetist student has filed a federal lawsuit against Louisiana State University for allegedly allowing hazing of students.
Construction companies agree to pay $110,000 to settle sexual harassment lawsuit
Four national construction companies have agreed to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of a former employee of the Conoco Phillips facility in Belle Chasse for $110,000.
GSK sued over Avandia
GlaxoSmithKline is facing another federal lawsuit for allegedly failing to warn of the risks associated with its diabetes drug Avandia.
Louisiana legislature to examine GCCF
Leger III Louisiana state House and Senate leadership announced that a special committee has been assigned to oversee the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) and its claims process.
Jindal to spend $12 million on oyster restoration, bill BP later
Jindal Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced Tuesday that his state will spend an estimated $12 million restoring oyster beds and wetlands damaged by the BP oil spill, and then bill the oil company later for the cost.