Civil Matter

June 14, 2023

Courts Dismisses Claims Brought By Employee Who Voiced Criticisms In “Reply All” Email

spam_mail_email_mailbox-1024x532 We can all relate to the embarrassment of hitting “reply all” on an email only intended for a smaller audience. Although usually “replying all” just results in embarrassment that eventually subsides, sometimes it can lead to more severe actions, such as losing your job.

Frith Malin worked as a deputy director at the Orleans Parrish Communications District (“OPCD”), which was responsible for providing 911 services. After she had worked there for eight years, the executive director of the OPCD emailed all employees to inform them one of OPCD’s board members had been named CEO of another organization so that he would be stepping down from OPCD’s board. Malin accidentally hit “reply all,” instead of emailing just OPCD’s executive director criticisms about the departing board member.

Three days later, Malin was suspended. OPCD conducted an internal investigation, which led to Malin’s eventual termination. A few months before sending the email, Malin had reported the Human Resources manager who investigated commentary related to sexually explicit images on six different occasions. There was no evidence Hobson was aware Malin had reported her, and Hobson was never disciplined. Following her termination, Malin filed a lawsuit against OPCD under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming a violation of her First Amendment rights. She also brought claims under Title VII and La. R.S. 23:967, Louisiana’s whistleblower statute. She alleged OPCD had retaliated against her for reporting the Human Resources manager. OPCD filed a motion to dismiss, which the trial court granted. Malin appealed, arguing the trial court erred in dismissing her claims against OPCD.

June 13, 2023

How Does a Court Determine Liability in a Child Pedestrian Accident?

by Berniard Law Firm

yard_bike_lawn_mower-1024x768 One of a parent’s worst nightmares is something happening to their child. This case delves into the heart-wrenching incident of a young child being struck by a neighbor’s car, leading to a complex legal battle to determine responsibility for the resulting injuries. While the child eventually recovered, the accident’s aftermath unleashed a lawsuit that delved into conflicting accounts and legal statutes governing pedestrian conduct. By examining the trial and appellate court’s proceedings, we gain insights that help answer the question: How does a court determine liability in a child pedestrian accident?

First – a bit of background on the context of the vehicle accident. When Sonya Meyer was driving home from taking her daughter to school, Cole Troxclair played in his front yard. As Meyer drove down the street from Troxclair’s home, her car struck Cole Troxclair. He was injured and spent about a day at the hospital. He returned to normal activities about a month or two later. Troxclair’s parents filed a lawsuit against Meyer and her insurer, Liberty Personal Insurance Company. Following a trial, the court found Meyer liable for the accident and awarded Troxclair $29,619.99 in damages.

Meyer and her insurance company challenged the trial court’s finding that Meyer was solely responsible for the accident. They argued Troxclair was accountable for his injuries because he ran in front of Meyer’s vehicle, and Meyer did not have time to take action to avoid hitting him. They argued that Troxclair violated La.R.S.32:212(b), which says pedestrians shall not suddenly leave a curb or other safe place and enter a vehicle’s path.

June 12, 2023

Blind Trust: The Importance of Timely Appeals in Personal Injury Cases

by Berniard Law Firm

courthouse_311_jarvis_st-1024x768 In personal injury cases, plaintiffs are often left vulnerable due to the accidents leading to their injuries. Hence, they require excellent attorneys who don’t exploit these vulnerabilities but instead zealously advocate on their behalf. For Claude Allen Newsome (“Newsome”), a November 2010 car accident in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, left him without sight, which was a direct result of macular degeneration caused by the accident. After that, Newsome was deemed legally blind and rendered a person with quadriplegia. Newsome appointed Robert Lansdale (“Lansdale”) as his power of attorney. What unfolded while seeking damages on behalf of Newsome demonstrates the necessity to lodge objections on the record and timely appeal matters.

After Newsome named Lansdale as his agent, Lansdale hired an attorney, Norman Gordon (“Gordon”), to represent Newsome in his personal injury lawsuit. The lawsuit eventually settled for approximately $7.4 million, and Gordon recommended to Newsome and Lansdale that setting up a special-needs trust would benefit Newsome. Lansdale told Gordon that Newsome would not consider establishing a trust.

Concerned, Gordon withdrew his representation of Newsome, expressing that a conflict of interest had developed and relaying to the court that he believed Lansdale would not use the settlement proceeds for Newsome’s benefit. The court held a status conference where Gordon appeared allegedly without Newsome’s knowledge and asked the court to protect Newsome from the possibility of undue influence by Lansdale. Resulting of this conference, the court ordered that a special needs trust be created to receive the funds from Newsome’s settlement. Later, at a second status conference, the court-appointed Regions Bank as the corporate trustee of Newsome’s newly established special needs trust and appointed Newsome’s aunt, Stella Jean Godley as the trustee over Newsome’s person. The court also ordered that $3,879,835.67 of the $7.4 million settlement proceeds, minus the payment of fees, expenses, and liens, be transferred into the trust. At no point during these conferences and court orders did Newsome object or appeal.

June 10, 2023

East Baton Rouge Court Relies on Witness Testimony to Decide Automobile Accident Case

by Berniard Law Firm

rear_mirror_mirrors_auto-1024x768 Following an automobile accident, you will likely deal with insurance companies unwilling to pay what you believe you are owed. Insurance companies may rely on a multitude of evidence to support their decisions, including witness testimony. The following East Baton Rouge lawsuit demonstrates the weight courts may place on witness testimony following a car accident.

Darral Norwood was driving a car owned by Toshika W. Smith, the mother of Laterrica Gustave. Gustave had Smith’s express permission to drive the car under certain circumstances without asking, although she was required to ask permission from Smith for all other purposes. Smith had an automobile liability policy on the car, where Smith was named as the only insured. The policy, however, included a provision excluding coverage of any damage caused by someone operating the vehicle at the time of the accident without the express or implied permission of the insured.

On the day of the accident, Norwood, who did not have a driver’s license or a vehicle, claimed Gustave told him to take the car to work. Gustave, however, denied ever permitting Norwood to take the vehicle. Norwood, driving Smith’s car, then rear-ended Rachel Pray’s vehicle as she slowed down due to congested traffic.

June 9, 2023

When Is It Too Late to Request Paternity Blood Tests In Louisiana?

by Berniard Law Firm

child_paternity_kids_baby-1024x669 When a married couple welcomes a new child, the father is presumed to be the legal father. In many cases, the legal father is also the biological father. Unfortunately, there are cases when biological and legal fathers exist separately. What legal rights and remedies does a biological father have to this child? The timing of legal action is critical to answering the question.

Courts typically use the parties’ initials in cases involving a minor child. In a recent case on appeal from the Parish of Terrebonne, the alleged father, L.J.D., filed a lawsuit to establish paternity. L.J.D. alleged involvement with M.V.S. while she was married to J.P.S. M.V.S. had a child presumed to be J.P.S.’s legal child (the husband). L.J.D. wanted the Thirty-Second Judicial District Court for the Parish of Terrebonne to order blood testing of all parties. M.V.S. and J.P.S. responded, stating it was too late for L.J.D. to bring such an action because the child was older than one year. The District Court disagreed that it was too late and ordered M.V.S. to get a blood test. M.V.S. and J.P.S. appealed to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal, asserting the action was perempted.

Peremption is a period of time fixed by the law for the existence of a right. If the right is not exercised within the time limits statutorily prescribed, that right is extinguished at the end of the peremptive period. See La. C.C. 3458. Louisiana law states that if a child is presumed to be the child of another man, an action to establish paternity must be brought within one year from the child’s birth. See La.C.C. 198. The article also provides that if the mother deceives the father about his paternity, the father has one year from when he knew or should have known about paternity or within ten years of the child’s birth to bring an action. To request a court to order blood testing, a potential father must also have the right to file a petition to establish paternity. See La. R.S. 9:398.2(A)(2).

June 8, 2023

When a Cow’s Journey Turns into a Legal Showdown, Liability for Escaped Cows in Louisiana

by Berniard Law Firm

cow_beef_alm_cows-1024x683 What happens when a cow crosses a road? Although that might sound like the start of a joke, that is the situation Zaine Kasem found herself in after being run over by a cow that escaped from a herd owned by Joyce B. Williams and H.R. Williams Cattle Company (“HRW”).

There had been a heavy rainstorm. One of HRW’s employees inspected the pasture and fence, but he did not see any damage caused by the storm. Nonetheless, a cow escaped from the herd through a damaged fence and entered Kasem’s front yard in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Kasem described the scene as a “circus” with many people running around trying to capture the cow. Finally, she went outside to see what was happening, and the cow ran into her, knocked her into the bed of a truck, and caused her to suffer injuries to her eye, nose, back, and neck, requiring medical treatment and pain and suffering.

Kasem sued Williams and HRW, claiming they breached the duty under La. C.C. art. 2321 to restrain their cattle and prevent them from entering other properties, injuring others, or otherwise causing damage. Williams and HRW filed a motion for summary judgment in response to the lawsuit.

June 7, 2023

Navigating the Rules of Evidence: How They Can Impact Your Lawsuit and the Jury’s Perception

by Berniard Law Firm

crane_load_crane_crane-1024x683 When you are preparing for a lawsuit, it is crucial to understand what evidence you will be allowed to present in support of your claim. On the flip side, if there is evidence you do not think the other party should be able to present, you can file a motion to try to exclude that evidence. Rulings on evidence can have a major effect on a case because they limit what a jury gets to see or hear.

In product liability lawsuits, it is essential to understand the various parties involved in the manufacture and sale of the at-issue equipment. The following lawsuit out of St. Charles Parish Louisiana shows the importance of understanding the rules of evidence and when and how to produce evidence at trial.

Grove U.S. LLC manufactured, sold, and delivered the at-issue Grove crane to H&E Equipment Services. H&E then leased the crane to Dow Chemical to use in Taft, Louisiana. While in use Grove sent H&E a notice of a Product Improvement Program related to issues involving the crane’s boom extension and structural deficiencies. H&E was authorized to repair because it was an authorized distributor. A manager at H&E contacted the crane’s supervisor at Dow to make the repairs. Dow’s supervisor said they would remove the parts instead of permitting H&E to do so.

June 6, 2023

Who Is Responsible If I Was Injured in Jail Due to Unsafe Conditions?

by Berniard Law Firm

penitentiary_jail_police_crime-1024x768 Jails are supposed to be safe for the people in them and can’t expose inmates to unnecessary risk of injury. Even though prisons are not required to be legally comfortable, they must still provide safe living conditions. If someone gets hurt because of unsafe conditions in jail, they can seek relief from the county. This relief may come in different forms, but the inmate must follow administrative procedures outlined in the jail handbook or other administrative guides before filing a lawsuit.

Korey Bossier had water running through his jail cell from a nearby shower that he slipped on and injured himself. As a result, he filed a lawsuit against the Lafayette parish sheriff and jail for a tort action. At the trial court, the jail claimed the handbook had specific administrative remedies for grievances that Bossier did not undertake. The trial court threw out the case because Bossier did not follow specific administrative procedures outlined in the jail handbook before filing the lawsuit. Bossier appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to review his case.

In his appeal, Bossier argued the jail handbook does not have any section on administrative steps for an inmate to take when submitting a tort action or grievance. The only language in the grievance handbook does not clearly state any proscribed administrative remedies. The jail read the same section of the handbook as requiring a grievance report to be filed before any tort action can occur in a state court. The appeals court reviewed the trial court’s decision to see if the lower court correctly applied the law.

June 5, 2023

Prevailing Against All Odds: Triumphing in a Workers’ Compensation Claim

by Berniard Law Firm

louisiana_shrimp_boats_grand-1024x709 In the realm of lawsuits, there are always two sides to the story, presenting challenges in determining who will emerge victorious. However, even when faced with factual disputes, there is still hope for success in your worker’s compensation claim. The case of David Thibodaux, a truck driver for Grand Isle Shipyard, serves as a prime example of overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of justice. Despite skepticism about the origin of his injuries and facing resistance from his employer, Thibodaux’s perseverance and the support of a skilled attorney led to a favorable outcome. This story emphasizes the crucial role of legal counsel in guiding individuals through the complexities of workers’ compensation claims and ensuring the presentation of compelling evidence to support their case.

Thibodaux was allegedly injured while working as a truck driver for Grand Isle Shipyard. He was driving a truck in Isabel, Louisiana picking up sand. His truck stalled in a pothole he had attempted to drive through, and the front axle of his truck broke. Thibodaux claimed the truck bounced around, and he hit his arm on an armrest. He was eventually able to stabilize the vehicle.

Within a few days, Thibodaux informed his supervisor he was injured. He claimed his supervisor did nothing in response. Approximately eight days later, Grand Isle Shipyard terminated Thibodaux. He claimed at the time of his termination, he had not filed a workers’ compensation claim, nor had anyone at Grand Isle Shipyard informed him of how to file such a claim. However, before his termination, Thibodaux had visited his doctor related to the accident because of ear and neck pain. His doctor prescribed him various pain medications. Nevertheless, Thibodaux continued to have pain and sought additional medical treatment.

June 4, 2023

When Is a Doctor Required to Warn Someone of a Patient’s Threat?

by Berniard Law Firm

skeleton_bone_medical_doctor-1024x768 The case of Danell Brice, a home health nurse who was attacked while visiting Timothy Bragg’s apartment, highlights the complex legal issues surrounding the duty of care owed by healthcare professionals in situations involving potential harm to third parties. Brice filed a lawsuit against Dr. Lynn Simon, Braggs’ treating psychiatrist, and Dr. Vasanthi Vinayagam, who provided medical treatment to Braggs. The central dispute revolves around whether the doctors had a duty to warn Brice about Braggs’ changed medication and potential for violence. This article examines the court’s ruling on the motion for summary judgment and the application of relevant statutes in determining the doctors’ liability.

While visiting Bragg’s apartment, Danell Brice, a home health nurse, was attacked by Braggs. Braggs was admitted to Serenity Community Mental Health Center, an outpatient partial-day program for psychiatric patients. Braggs had paranoid schizophrenia and benign hypertension and was considered “poorly integrated.” When Brice was taking Bragg’s blood pressure in his apartment, he made sexual advances toward her. When Brice attempted to leave the apartment, Braggs shoved her into a corner by the door. However, she managed to push Braggs away and leave his apartment. Brice said that she sustained injuries when she pushed Braggs away from her.

Brice sued Dr. Lynn Simon, Braggs’ treating psychiatrist at Serenity, and Dr. Vasanthi Vinayagam, who treated Braggs for minor medical conditions at Serenity. Brice alleged that both doctors failed to warn her that Braggs’ medication was changed, failed to provide her with adequate security when treating Braggs, failed to protect her from a predicable assault, and breached their standard of care.