A New Orleans film company is suing a state official, alleging breach of contract and and loss wages.
L. I. F. T. (Louisiana Institute of Film and Technology) and Film Factory, filed a lawsuit Sept. 17 in U. S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana against Stephen Moret, Steven Grissom, individually and in his capacity as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, and Tim Barfield, individually and his capacity as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue, plus certain John and Jane Does.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs entered a MPCA agreement with the defendants a decade ago in order to create rules and regulations for the film industry. On March 3, the suit says, LIFT reached out to the Department of Economic Development via e-mail to see if it had issued the requisite to LDR in order to register for tax credits.
The suit says the plaintiffs was given the runaround by the defendants and even told by in-house counsel that everything was being talking care of. After months of going back and forth via e-mail it finally was revealed that LIFT would would not be registered because the award information was not issued by LED, the suit states.
The plaintiffs contend they lost millions of dollars and hold the defendants responsible.
The film companies seek compensation for past and future earnings, pain and suffering, plus legal costs. They are represented by attorneys Greg Lathum and Kent Barnett of Intellectual Property Consulting in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:15-cv-04508-HGB-MBN.