In light of some of the more current events affecting citizens of Louisiana, it is important to know and understand property rights resulting from personal property damages from oil spills. Especially in the Gulf region where this event seems to be more common than it should be, you may be…
Articles Posted in Litigation
What You Should Know About Property Damage Claims Under the Oil Pollution Act
In a previous post, we explored the role of the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) and the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) in compensating Louisiana residents who incur oil removal and clean-up costs. These funds are also available for coastal residents who suffer property damage as a result of an…
Understanding Property Damage Claims and Amount of Time to File Suit
In Mallett v. McNeal, 939 SO.2d 1254, 2005-2289 (La. 10/17/06), the Supreme Court of Louisiana held that an unconditional payment of a property damage claim constitutes an acknowledgement sufficient to interrupt prescription. Thus, for example, an insurance company’s tender of an unconditional payment to an injured third-party claimant is an…
Understanding a Hospital or Doctor’s Duty of Care Requirements
A patient visiting Lake Charles Hospital, located in Calcasieu Parish, filed a lawsuit against his treating physician alleging the doctor was negligent while diagnosing his symptoms. After the patient was hospitalized, the doctor ordered a stress test. Just minutes after the start of the test, the patient began to suffer…
An Example of the Duty of Care For Stores and Injured Customers
The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of the owner of a Lafayette hardware store and affirmed the trial court’s granting of Summary Judgment against a customer who was bitten by a spider while shopping there. While in the store, Lee Johnson picked a rosebush from…
Oil Pollution Act May Provide an Extra Source of Compensation to Those Affected by Gulf Coast Oil Spill
In the aftermath of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and the disastrous oil spill that now encroaches on Louisiana’s coastline, many individuals and business will be looking for a way to handle the massive financial burden associated with clean up and recovery. Luckily, the law provides a way for…
Officials Warn of Oil-Related Health Hazards to Louisiana Residents
The massive oil slick drifting ominously in the Gulf of Mexico has state officials worried for the health of Louisiana residents who live along the coast. Since April 20, when the oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and subsequently sank, oil has been flowing into the Gulf at a rate of…
The Importance of Timing in Making an Asbestos Claim
Employees injured on the job are usually bared from filing a claim against their employers because they are fully compensated under the Louisiana Workers Compensation Act. However, while the act provides for most injuries, it does not provide for all. Whether or not your injuries are covered by Workers Compensation…
Long History of Accidents Near Sharp Addis Curve Serves as Sufficient Constrictive Notice to DOTD
A February 1996 car accident led the First Circuit Court of Appeals of Louisiana to find that testimony indentifying an ample history of car accidents near a sharp curve in Addis, Louisiana, established that the curve had presented a problem for a significant period of time. The Court found that…
Police Chief’s Complications Good Example of Workers’ Compensation Limits
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, there’s a good chance that workers compensation was a topic of conversation. By law, employees injured during and in the course of their employment are entitled to monetary benefits. However, the right to collect worker’s compensation does not…