There are some circumstances under which states and local governments are immune from liability. For example, in most states a state or local government is immune in relation to the normal acts of governance. However, what things a government can be liable for is defined by the state constitution and…
Larry Carriere was unable to bring a successful legal malpractice claim against his lawyer because he brought the claim in the wrong venue. Carriere filed suit in Lafayette Parish, where he lived when he hired his attorney, David Szwak. Instead, the suit should have been brought in Caddo, where his…
A recent case within the Kentucky Court of Appeals demonstrates very extremely the need for quality counsel in all court proceedings. Regardless the subject or reasons you may find yourself in court, it is important that the lawyer you hire is not only able to represent you well in the…
In a semi-recent Third Circuit Court of Appeal decision, the Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act was explored in order to determine whether the lower Vernon Parish District Court’s decision was appropriate. Despite the sad facts of the case, the appellate court may only overturn a trial court’s decision if there was…
In nearly all cases, sand on a beach is enjoyable and safe. Sand used for sandblasting, however, creates dust that, upon being inhaled by an unprotected worker, increases the risk of lung disease or other lung-based medical concerns. The Louisiana Court of Appeal decided in Bates v. E. D. Bullard…
At their core, car accidents are inherently unexpected events that only some of the time can be avoided. Two common causes behind avoidable accidents are obstructions in the roadway and distracted driving. While road crews do their best to clean up roads and highways of clutter, flat tires and other…
In the case of Johnson v. Smith, an ambulance driver drove his vehicle into the rear panel of another driver’s vehicle. This occurred in the drive-through lane of a Taco Bell. The defendant ambulance driver was determined to be at fault and lost at trial. On appeal, the defendants urged…
The civil justice system has a few bare minimum requirements that must be met before a party can be successful in any given litigation. In order for a party to be successful in a civil action, that party’s case must make sense to the court in terms of the party…
Location can be crucial in determining what law applies to a given situation. When an ambulance driver struck Mr. Dwight Johnson’s truck in the Marksville Taco Bell drive-through lane, Mr. Johnson and his friend were injured. His truck was damaged as well. Since this accident occurred in a parking lot,…
Drunk people and gasoline mix very poorly. One such ill-advised combination occurred near Bastrop, Louisiana in 2009. The blend of impaired judgment and a highly combustible, but readily available, substance often end in tragedy. That was the case for a Mr. Ryan Brodnax. He and some friends were drinking beer…