Louisiana

New Louisiana AG Wants to Prosecute Like a Private Practitioner

In his first 12 weeks on the job, the new Louisiana attorney general says he has been busy dealing with (and, in some cases, dismissing) a number of civil actions his predecessor filed at the end of his term and trying to depoliticize the office. James “Buddy” Caldwell, 61 and…

Apr 24, 2008 6:34 PM CDT

Judge: School Wrong to Allow Gideons to Pass Out Bibles

Within hours of a federal court ruling that a Louisiana school district violated the First Amendment by allowing Gideons International to pass out pocket bibles to fifth-graders last May, a unanimous school board voted to appeal the case to the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit. “We are somewhat surprised, but very…

Apr 23, 2008 1:23 PM CDT

LSU May Create Much-Desired Clinical Education Program

Encouraged by the American Bar Association to do so, officials of a Louisiana law school are trying to establish a clinical education program there. The ABA is urging Louisiana State University Law Center to create a legal clinic that would offer students a chance to get some hands-on experience before…

Apr 22, 2008 5:49 PM CDT

U.S. Judge Reveals Details of Discipline Case, Seeks Release of Secret Dissent

A New Orleans federal judge is revealing more details of the disciplinary case against him and is seeking release of a secret dissent to an impeachment recommendation. U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous has until Thursday to file a memo to address impeachment issues, the Times Picayune reports. Porteous’ lawyer, Lewis…

Apr 15, 2008 2:06 PM CDT

La. High Court Rules for Insurers: Levee Breach Clearly a ‘Flood’

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled today that the levee breach damage caused by Hurricane Katrina was clearly a “flood” and is excluded from insurance coverage. The decision reverses lower courts which had ruled that the definition of “flood” was ambiguous in all-risk homeowners policies, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. The…

Apr 8, 2008 5:48 PM CDT

Supreme Court’s Juror Ruling Reinforces Batson’s Bar on Bias

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision yesterday emphasizing the importance of eliminating racial bias in jury selection, according to the lawyer for a black murder defendant who won a retrial in the case. The high court ruled a trial court erred when it allowed a prosecutor to remove…

Mar 20, 2008 12:01 PM CDT

Jena 6 Defendant Arrested in ‘Minor Shoving Incident’

One of the defendants in the “Jena Six” case that sparked national civil rights marches last year has been arrested over an incident at his new high school in Texas. Bryant Purvis, 19, charged with misdemeanor assault in Carrollton, Texas, after an altercation with another student at the high school…

Feb 7, 2008 7:40 PM CST

Judge Tosses Katrina Levee Suit

A New Orleans judge has thrown out a lawsuit seeking damages caused by levee breaks during Hurricane Katrina. U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval ruled yesterday that the Army Corps of Engineers is immune from liability under a 1928 law protecting the agency from suits over flood-control projects, NOLA.com reports. Duval…

Jan 31, 2008 3:55 PM CST

Ex-PI Lawyer, Accused of Keeping Client Settlements, Gets 41-Month Sentence

A former personal injury lawyer in Louisiana has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for lying to banks and forging client signatures. Mel Credeur of Lafayette pleaded guilty last year to making false statements to a bank and forging securities of private entities, the Daily Advertiser reports. The charges…

Jan 17, 2008 1:40 PM CST

Supreme Court to Review Death Penalty in Child Rape Case

The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to decide whether it’s constitutional to impose a death sentence for the crime of child rape. The case of 43-year-old Patrick Kennedy was among six the high court granted for review, SCOTUSBlog reports. Kennedy, who sits on death row for raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter,…

Jan 4, 2008 8:36 PM CST

Some Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Contest All-or-Nothing Vioxx Settlement

Several plaintiffs’ lawyers are opposing a controversial provision in a $4.85 billion Vioxx settlement that requires them to recommend the deal to all of their clients if at least one participates. In a motion filed Monday in New Orleans federal court, the lawyers say the requirement would prevent them from…

Dec 21, 2007 4:36 PM CST

Federal Judge’s Conduct Cited as Possible Grounds for Impeachment

A special court panel has found that U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous of New Orleans has engaged in conduct that might constitute grounds for impeachment, including filing false statements with a bankruptcy court and accepting lawyer gifts. The report (PDF) by the Judicial Council of the 5th U.S. Circuit will…

Dec 21, 2007 12:17 PM CST

Obit Blames Lawyer’s Death on Stress of Law Firm Job

An obituary apparently written by a lawyer’s widow blames his stressful law firm job for his heart attack. “Robert Bruce Evanick (always known as Bruce to those who loved him—and those who employed him and exploited his work ethic)—died Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 4, 2007. A massive heart attack killed him,”…

Dec 13, 2007 2:20 PM CST

No Jail Time for Loyola Law Prof Who Helped Client Find Counsel

A Louisiana appeals court has overturned a contempt finding by a state judge that would have required a law professor working with the Orleans Parish public defender’s office in New Orleans to serve a brief jail term and take a legal ethics course. Steve Singer, who is on leave from…

Dec 5, 2007 7:35 PM CST

Loyola Law Grad Irked by Katrina Accommodation Loses Suit

A New Orleans federal judge has tossed a lawsuit by a Loyola University New Orleans law grad who sought the refund of tuition that enabled him to receive free classes at another law school. Plaintiff Brian Branch, now a Louisiana lawyer, took advantage of an offer made after Hurricane Katrina…

Dec 5, 2007 3:37 PM CST