Articles Posted in Litigation

maritime_ship_daymark_65533-1024x768Activities on the water carry inherent risks. If you are injured while on the water, laws of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction generally rule. There are also allowances to invoke admiralty jurisdiction for injuries on land. To do so, one must satisfy conditions of both location and connection with maritime activity. But what happens if you are injured on a boat on land? Can you file a lawsuit with maritime claims? The following lawsuit out of Manchac, Louisiana, helps answer this question in the context of a prescription argument. 

Eddy Welch filed a lawsuit in October of 2013 against Jefferson Daniels to recover damages from bodily injuries he sustained from being a guest passenger on Daniel’s boat. While Welch attempted to come down from the boat’s upper level, a piece of steel rail caught his arm, and he sustained injuries. Welch claimed the injury was from a defect that posed an unreasonable and foreseeable risk of harm.

Procedural jostling caused Welch’s lawsuit to be transferred to another parish. Welch subsequently filed his amended petition with the new trial court, stating the incident falls under admiralty jurisdiction. Daniels then filed a motion for summary judgment and exception of prescription set forth under La. C.C. art. 3492. 

psychology_psychotherapy_531071-1024x768Discrimination in the workplace should never be accepted. If you feel that you have been discriminated against for age or disability reasons, the law allows you to seek damages. A lawsuit of that nature is not unlike others; proof and evidence are required to proceed with your claims. The following case out of New Orleans shows why sufficient evidence is required to proceed with a discrimination or hostile workplace claim.   

Dr. Gerald Lahoste is a tenured associate professor in the Psychology Department at the University of New Orleans (UNO) Psychology Department. Dr. Lahoste filed a lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (LSU), asserting his rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act were violated. Dr. Lahoste alleged LSU did not provide him with reasonable accommodations for his major depressive disorder. He argued he had been harassed and discriminated against, and his journal articles and grant had decreased due to his request for accommodations. 

LSU filed a motion for summary judgment, as they believed Dr. LaHoste could not prove discrimination or that a violation of Title VII. LSU also alleged that Dr. LaHoste failed to provide documentation regarding his diagnosis. Dr. LaHoste responded to the motion for summary judgment by arguing that LSU did not meet to discuss his condition. The trial court granted summary judgment for LSU, effectively ending his lawsuit. Dr. LaHoste appealed the trial court’s decision in hopes of overturning it.

housing_real_estate_estate-1024x681Generally, when you ask an insurance agent for a specific policy, you expect them to honor your request. But what happens when your insurance agent doesn’t procure the coverage you requested for? The following case is an example of a property owner who believed he maintained insurance when he did not. 

Ray Periso claimed he was an invitee to the property owned by Ban Vu when a balcony railing collapsed, causing Periso to fall fifteen feet. Periso also claimed that his subsequent injuries resulted from Vu’s negligence. Periso sued Vu, who then turned to his insurance company to provide coverage and representation for the claim. Vu was then told he didn’t have insurance coverage, which surprised him as he believed he told his insurance agent to “procure all necessary insurance on his properties for personal and property protection. “

To seek coverage, Vu filed a third-party demand against Frazier Insurance Agency, Inc. and Jamie Frazier (collectively referred to as “Frazier”), alleging negligence in not procuring a policy that provided personal liability coverage, as he requested. A hearing occurred in the 22nd Judicial District Court in and for the Parish of Tammany, Louisiana, wherein Frazier sought to exit the litigation by way of a peremption objection. The 22nd JDC ruled for Frazier, and an appeal to the Louisiana Court of Appeal First Circuit followed.  

asbestos_garage-1024x597Insurance policies are often lengthy and very complicated. Therefore, understanding who may be liable when an injury occurs is critical, as failure to do so may lead to complex and expensive court proceedings. The following Iberville Parish case demonstrates the problems that arise when multiple insurance companies and policies are involved in one lawsuit and when evidence is not properly admitted.  

After working as an electrician in several shipyards and plants in south Louisiana for most of his life, Sidney J. Mabile, Sr. filed a lawsuit against The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) and Westgate and its predecessor, Industrial Electrical Constructors, Inc. (IEC) for asbestos-related injuries. Following a jury trial, Sidney’s claims against Westgate and IEC were dismissed, although Dow was found to be one of three defendants liable for his damages. Dow and Sidney ultimately settled. 

While the case with Sidney was pending, Dow filed a cross-claim against Westgate and IEC (collectively Westgate). Dow argued that Westgate was under an Agreement for Services that mandated Westgate to indemnify Dow for claims brought by a Westgate employee against Dow for any injuries on Dow’s premises. In other words, Dow argued that Westgate owed Dow an indemnity for Sidney’s original claim. 

grinding_maintenance_labor_work_1-680x1024A disabling workplace injury can be a nightmare for an employee who suffers physical pain, mental side effects, loss of income, and the uncertainty of litigation. And when large sums of money are involved, an employer will want to fight tooth and nail to avoid liability. This can be particularly distressing when an employee wins at trial only to find the decision has been appealed. 

However, there is hope. Unless there has been a blatant error or abuse of discretion, a court of appeal will not want to overturn a factual conclusion or damage award from the trial court. Generally, that means an appeal will center around a question of law. See, e.g., Lasha v. Olin.

Sometimes the legal question is whether an injured worker qualifies for relief under a law. For example, an employee seeking coverage under the Jones Act must be classified as a seaman. To be one, your duties must “contribute to the function of the vessel or the accomplishments of its mission.” Determining who is a seaman under the Jones Act is a hotly contested issue, as seen in the case below. 

21_washer_dryer-1024x768Police officers can often put themselves in dangerous positions when responding to calls related to domestic violence because tensions and emotions are usually running high. In close-knit communities, it is also not uncommon for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence to have prior relationships with the police. Such was the case for Maringouin’s Chief of Police, John Simien (“Chief Simien”), who was both a friend and family member to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, when he got a call to come to the Wright’s house during a dispute.  

Mr. Wright was the former Mayor of the Town of Maringouin, and the night before the dispute, he told his wife, Mrs. Wright, that he wanted a divorce. As a result, Mrs. Wright left the couple’s house and secured a restraining order against Mr. Wright. The next day, Chief Simien received a distressed call from Mrs. Wright, asking that he come to the house. When Chief Simien arrived at the house, he took Mr. Wright to his car for a ride away from the home so that Mrs. Wright could collect clothes and medications for her and her son, Charles Wright, Jr. (“C.J.”).

When Chief Simien and Mr. Wright arrived back at the house, Mrs. Wright, C.J., and Mrs. Wright’s brother, Maxie Gray (“Mr. Gray”), were loading a washer and dryer into a pickup truck. Mr. Wright attempted to get out of the car, but Chief Simien grabbed his wrists and forced him back into the car. C.J. also confronted Mr. Wright, placing his hands around his father’s neck, while Mr. Gray hit his brother-in-law in the leg, all of which constrained Mr. Wright inside the car.

grape_season-1024x678
Imagine shopping at the grocery store, selecting fruit, when suddenly you are flat on your back.  Not just embarrassing but also painful and potentially injury-causing.  Who should be liable in this type of case? In a similar case involving a Lake Charles Kroger store, the answer lay in who had notice of the hazard.   

Glenda Parks was shopping at Kroger, perusing the produce section.  After she passed the grape display, she slipped and fell.  A store employee was working close by and helped Parks up.  Parks proceeded to shop in the same area, then walked back to the grapes where she had fallen.  She noticed several grapes on the floor, including some smashed ones.  The Kroger employee was cleaning up the grapes and the surrounding floor.  Parks was in the store for approximately twelve minutes in total.  

Parks filed a lawsuit against Kroger, and Kroger filed a motion for summary judgment. The Fourteenth Judicial District Court for the Parish of Calcasieu agreed with Kroger that Parks would not be able to show that Kroger had the requisite notice of the hazard.  Parks appealed to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal.  

ford_e_series_wagon_10-1024x814Customers have an expectation of safety while shopping in retail stores. When a customer is injured while on the premise, they are entitled to damages. However, a customer may only recover damages if adequate proof is shown. Proof of an unreasonable risk of harm is a critical element of Louisiana slip and fall cases. The following case out of Slidell, Louisiana, shows why facts are crucial when pursuing a slip and fall lawsuit.

Hope Held was injured while shopping at Home Depot with her child. She alleged her injuries were due to the misplacement of a wire hand truck(truck) in the electronic section of the store. After her fall, she was found by an employee, Jeffrey Crossland, and was escorted out of the aisle to receive help and complete an accident report.

Held filed a lawsuit for her injuries against Home Depot. The store responded by successfully filing a motion for summary judgment in the trial court. Held disagreed and appealed the judgment to the appellate court.

texas_flag_texas_flag-1024x683Have you ever been involved in a car accident that potentially involved two states and wondered which state’s laws would govern your personal injury lawsuit? Say, you have an insurance policy issued in Texas, and you get into a car wreck in Louisiana. Which state’s laws will apply if you file a lawsuit related to the accident? The following case shows how Louisiana Courts use a choice of law analysis to determine what state laws should apply in these situations. 

Rafael Garces-Rodriguez and Julio Alonso (Rafels) were involved in a car accident when another motorist struck their car from behind. At the time of the accident, they were insured by Progressive County Mutual Insurance Company. Two years after the accident, Rafels filed a lawsuit against Progressive seeking compensation for their injuries and other damages sustained during the car accident. Progressive filed a motion with the court seeking dismissal of the case, asserting that Rafels rejected uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM coverage). 

Progressive argued that Texas law should apply in the case because the policies were issued in Texas. Under Texas law, rejection for UM coverage is required to be in writing. However, there are no other special procedures or particular language that needs to be used for the writing. See: Ortiz v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 955 S.W.2d 353 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 1997, pet. denied). A satisfactory rejection in Texas requires minimal effort by the insured. 

u_s_customhouse_in-1024x768Filing for bankruptcy can be an overwhelming experience. Many disclosures must be made, and failing to do so can have severe consequences for other legal matters. For example, what happens if you are involved in a personal injury lawsuit after filing bankruptcy? Must you disclose that claim to a bankruptcy court? The following lawsuit out of Louisiana answers that question and shows the consequences that can flow from the failure to disclose. 

Helen and Robert Allen (HA) filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in 2009. In the five years, the court administered the HAs’ bankruptcy case, the HAs amended their case three times—one year after filing their initial bankruptcy case but before the three amendments. In 2010, Helen filed a personal injury lawsuit that alleged she was seriously and permanently injured when the stool she sat on broke apart. 

The defendants in her personal injury case filed a motion for a summary judgment seeking to dismiss Helen’s lawsuit because they contended that HAs didn’t disclose the existence of the filing in their bankruptcy. Moreover, they argued the court should prevent HAs’ personal injury claim from proceeding based on judicial estoppel because HAs did not disclose the lawsuit to the bankruptcy court. 

Contact Information