When a products-related injury occurs, multiple parties may be at fault. In litigating personal injury claims, among the most important legal questions, are whom may the plaintiff recover from, if anyone, and under what theory of liability. The following case provides a good discussion of some typical theories of liability…
Articles Posted in Civil Matter
Filing Deadline Makes All The Difference in Court of Appeal Legal Malpractice Claim
Court litigation involves the filing of multiple court submissions, and of course, deadlines. Procedural rules dictate deadlines for when certain motions need to be brought. Effective attorneys stay informed of these deadlines. Untimely filings generally result in a denial of legal relief by a court. Courts must be able to…
Court Rules in Favor of Plaintiff in Case Involving Defamation, Extortion, and Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
When an individual employs tactics to instill humiliation, fear, and emotional distress in another person, they should be held accountable for the damages they cause. Fortunately, Louisiana legislators agree and have provided for exactly that under its civil code. See La. C.C. art. 2315. As an initial matter, these bad…
42 U.S.C. § 1983 Civil Rights Lawsuit Dismissed in Louisiana
Lawsuits can be quite complicated, even for seasoned attorneys. However, when one is representing himself, the complications can be even more complex. Especially, when the law does not support your claim. The following case demonstrates the need for an experienced attorney when it comes to constitutional rights violation allegations and…
Stanford Ponzi Scheme Collapse Case Discusses Arbitration and FINRA
Ponzi schemes ultimately come to an end and unfortunately cause a lot of pain, suffering, and litigation. The Stanford Ponzi scheme is no exception. As demonstrated in the following case, the complex nature of such schemes demonstrates the need for excellent legal representation if you are the victim of an…
Can a Pro Se litigant Proceed In Forma Pauperis?
The commencement of pro se litigation, meaning without attorney representation, is no easy task. A common aspect of pro se litigation involves a request to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP). A granted IFP request allows a pro se litigant to have the prepayment of fees or costs waived. See 28 U.S.C.…
Inadequate Remedies Under Foreign Law Do Not Make Arbitral Awards Unenforceable on Public Policy Grounds (Part II)
This post continues our discussion on the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal’s analysis of the public policy exception in Article V(2)(b) of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (“New York Convention”). As discussed in the previous post, Article V(2)(b) of the New York…
Inadequate Remedies Under Foreign Law Do Not Make Arbitral Awards Unenforceable on Public Policy Grounds (Part I)
The world we live in today is more interconnected than ever before. International commerce has led to rapid economic development in the United States and abroad. As more and more firms participate in international commerce, complex legal disputes arise. International disputes involve a multitude actors of different nationalities, implicating…
Louisiana Supreme Court: Defendants in Civil Cases Must Be Afforded an Opportunity to Be Heard Before Striking Deficient Answers and Entering Default Judgements (Part II)
This post follows up on our discussion of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling requiring that a contradictory hearing is held before striking a defendant’s deficient answer and entering a default judgment in favor of a plaintiff. In this case, the defendant (Dirt Worx of Louisiana, L.L.C.) wrote a letter…
Louisiana Supreme Court: Defendants in Civil Cases Must Be Afforded an Opportunity to Be Heard Before Striking Deficient Answers and Entering Default Judgements (Part I)
In Louisiana, the plaintiff initiates a civil lawsuit by filing a petition with the Clerk of the Court and serving the defendant with a copy of the petition and citation. The defendant must answer the plaintiffís petition or risk a default judgment. A default judgment is a binding judgment in…