A recent case appealed from the Parish of East Baton Rouge provides a great example not only of the potential difficulties of recovering damages for negligence from a merchant, but also of summary judgment and how it works. In November 2006, the plaintiff entered the defendant’s store, tripped on what…
Articles Posted in Strict Liability
Burden of Proof in Claims Against Merchants
Louisiana merchants must keep their premises safe not only for their guests or customers but also for any person invited onto the property for business purposes. This also includes persons delivering goods to restaurants like in the case of Jones v. Jula Trust, LLC. Jones was a deliveryman for Pepsi.…
Court Throws Out Lafayette Parish Case As Plaintiff Fails To Deliver Service of Process Before Deadline
It is vital to know proper court procedures at the outset of litigation or else an otherwise valid claim might be thrown out of court without ever being heard. One prime example is the need to send initial court documents to a defendant within a set deadline (sending such documents,…
Appeals Court Upholds Summary Judgment Against Manufacturer in Evangeline Parish Products Liability Case
Companies manufacturing items that are inherently dangerous in the course of its normal use have certain legal obligations under products liability law. This case illustrates the necessary components of a successful products liability claim in Louisiana. The plaintiff was working on a backhoe to clean out a drainage culvert when…
Appeals Court Upholds Jones Act Claim for Seaman Injured Off Gulf Coast
The Jones Act is a law that provides seamen the chance to bring personal injury suits against the owners and operators of vessels they are working on in cases where the owner or operator was negligent or in some other way at fault for the injury. One of the types…
Parish Judge Affirms Denial of Class Certification in Oil Spill Suit
A class action suit occurs when a group of people bring a case together as representatives of an entire class of people who are similarly situated. In order to bring a class action in Louisiana, a judge must certify the class. This means that the class of plaintiffs meets the…
Injured Ouachita Patient Fails to Meet Burden of Proof in Medical Malpractice Action
When treatment provided by a health care professional falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to a patient, it is said that medical negligence or medical malpractice has occurred. To establish a claim for medical malpractice, a plaintiff must prove: (1)…
New Orleans Land Developer Wins and Loses On Appeal
A degree of legal closure has settled following a failed New Orleans housing project and years of litigation. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling in a dispute between the developer, Levy Gardens Partners, and its title insurance company, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance…
Understanding Premises Liability in Louisiana Injury Cases
Over the years, major advances in the field of transportation have made it relatively easy for people to move about the country. Many people find themselves in indefinite living situations, changing jobs, going to college or maybe just moving to a new area. In these types of circumstances, ownership may…
Public Entities Afforded Special Treatment by the Law in Injury Cases
Public entities, such as the food bank in the City of Kenner, get special treatment when it comes to personal injuries. A plaintiff must prove that a hazard was not open and obvious in order to collect damages for their injuries. The thing must also pose an unreasonable risk of…