Rental situations are often particularly hairy, with unfortunate stories emerging of how renters can be put into uncomfortable circumstances due to issues with the property. A landlord in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, lost his appeal of the landlord liability judgment against him. While the landlord was able to collect some of…
Articles Posted in Business Dispute
Malicious Prosecution Case Lends Elements of Successful Gain
Two former employees of a large loan business located in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, succeeded in their malicious prosecution against their former employer. Deborah LeBlanc and Teri Shirey left the Cash Back Loans company where they both had held management positions. After their employment terminated, Linda Mills, another employee began reorganizing…
Deposition Two-Step: Conflicting Reasons for Quitting Job Early Leads to Perjury Charge
This case is a welcome reminder of how an attorney’s advice may sometimes lead to more harm than good. Brown brought suit against his former employer, Skagit, under Title VII claiming racial harassment and constructive discharge. In a deposition, Brown testified that his sole reason for quitting his job at…
Timeliness to Rebuild in New Orleans Still an Issue after Hurricane Katrina
The idea of timeliness is a common contract clause that requires that one of the parties perform a mandatory act within a certain amount of time. There is often a specific amount of time attached, but sometimes the clause can simply state that an action be carried out “within a…
Third Circuit Upholds Alexandria Doctor’s Actions As Within Standard of Care
Every year thousands of medical malpractice claims are filed. Why? The answer is simple. The practice of medicine is complex, and, as advanced as our medical sciences are, mistakes are made, false diagnosis are given, and new conditions emerge. Since there are so many complexities, the fact that a patient…
Crowley Auto Accident Gives Rise to Causation Examination in Louisiana Auto Case
When an auto accident results in an injury and is taken to court, one of the most important issues a judge must decide is causation. If a plaintiff can show that an injury was directly caused by the accident, then the judge will determine the amount of damages to be…
Class Action Goes to Federal Court in Texas Plant Release Case
Class actions are a type of action that most people have heard of but that may not be well understood. In Klier v. Elf Atochem North America, Inc. a class action was initiated against the operator of an industrial plant in Bryan, Texas. The class was divided into three subclasses…
Happy Holidays to all of our Friends
Happy Holidays from the Berniard Law Firm! We will resume blog posting on Tuesday.
Lawsuit Over Jackson Parish Car Wreck Dismissed Due to Late Filing
Under Louisiana law, the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit may file his complaint with the court by fax. However, the plaintiff must, within five days of transmitting the fax, forward to the clerk of court the original, signed complaint and any fees that are due. If the plaintiff fails…
Closing Overview of Class Action Certification for Chemical Leaks, Other Disasters
In this, our final post of the Union Carbide/Dow Taft plant chemical leak series, we will consider the fifth requirement for class certification under Louisiana law: that the class is “defined objectively in terms of ascertainable criteria, such that the court may determine the constituency of the class for purposes…