Sickness often begets a doctor’s visit, and sometimes severe illness calls for a trip to the emergency room. So when parents, David Pitts, Jr. and Kenyetta Gurley, arrived at Hood Memorial Hospital in Amite City, Louisiana, with their daughter, Lyric, it’s likely neither expected to leave there without their daughter’s…
Timing is always important; however, in legal matters, it determines whether you can even bring a lawsuit to the courts. In most states, the time frame to bring lawsuits is called the statute of limitations, and in Louisiana, it is called prescription. Generally, you have one year to file a…
Imagine you were just in an accident, and you pulled over on the shoulder of the interstate highway. Traffic is roaring in your ears, the wind is whipping past your face, and you can feel the congested car flows as your tires buzz. Luckily, you are not injured. As you…
Decretal language, what on earth is it, and why is it so important? The Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal because the trial court’s judgment lacked proper decretal language. So what are these “magic words”? Why are they indispensable for a final judgment to be given…
It is a sadly familiar scenario: a family suffers a loss and soon after devolves to fighting over the will. The family may never imagine turning against one another, yet it happens over and over. The Youngblood family from Caddo Parish recently found themselves in such a fight. Frances Youngblood…
Imagine an injury on a ladder, lawnmower, boat, or other manufactured product. The product might appear defective; however, is defectiveness sufficient to win a lawsuit against the manufacturer? Under Louisiana law, to prevail in a lawsuit alleging medical injuries from a defective product, a plaintiff must provide adequate medical evidence…
The difficulty of losing a loved one is compounded when death results from a faulty product. Further anguish occurs when a lawsuit against the defective product manufacturer is dismissed, barring recovery. It is essential to be aware that there are many deadlines and requirements to comply with to avoid the…
What would you do if you were heir to property and found out the City had issued a demolition order for that property? A recent case decided in New Orleans discusses that question. The City of New Orleans, Louisiana, brought administrative proceedings against property owners whose property was allegedly blighted.…
Knowing what is in an insurance agreement can determine whether or not you are covered for different injuries. If a buyer signed a policy, did not ensure that certain aspects were covered, and then never bothered to check or revise the policy, this person will likely be held accountable for…
The history of American jurisprudence is filled with various attempts by state legislatures and courts to grapple with the issue of liability that should be imposed on those in the business of serving alcohol. On the one hand, it makes logical sense to hold bars responsible for profiting from serving…