Municipal Law
Courts Rule on the Basis of Qualified Immunity in Clarkson v. White
The trial and appellate courts recently ruled in the case of Clarkson v. White on the basis of qualified immunity—the well-established doctrine that government officials... More
Louisiana Supreme Court Ruling Reaffirms Limitations to Absolute Judicial Immunity
The Louisiana Supreme Court recently addressed on a supervisory writ, Palowsky v. Campbell et al., where the plaintiff alleged that a law clerk, “spoliated, concealed,... More
Deputies Entitled to Qualified Immunity in 42 U.S.C. §1983 Case
Recently, Judge Ivan Lemelle, Senior United States District Court Judge, Eastern District of Louisiana, granted a Motion for Summary Judgment to Deputies Charles Cook... More
Louisiana State Police Announce Arrests for Automotive Insurance Fraud
On Thursday, January 3, 2019, the Louisiana State Police announced the arrests of seven New Orleans-area residents on charges related to automotive insurance fraud.... More
Internal Revenue Service Issues 2019 Optional Standard Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2019 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business,... More
Louisiana Passes Amendment Requiring Unanimous Jury Verdicts for Felony Convictions
Since the Jim-Crow era, Louisiana has not required unanimous jury verdicts to obtain a felony conviction in non-capital cases. Historically, it was shown that... More
Summary Judgment Granted on Claim Arising out of Angola Prison Knife Attack
A security officer at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana was sued by an Angola inmate, Alfred Deal, for failing to stop another... More
Decision by Fifth Circuit: Vehicle Passengers’ Arrest for Refusing to Provide Identification Violates 4th Amendment
A recent case, Johnson v. Thibodaux City, 887 F.3d 726 (5thCir. 2018) should be of interest to law enforcement as to the limits of what... More
Louisiana Constitution Requires Payment of Fair Market Value for Levee Improvement Servitudes
In January 2010, in an effort to upgrade the size of permanent levee servitudes, the Board of Commissioners of the South Lafourche Levee District... More
Officers Violate First and Fourth Amendment Rights of Anti-Abortion Protestor and Are Not Entitled to Qualified Immunity
Jonathan Davidson stood in a green space between the parking lot of a commercial strip center which included a Planned Parenthood clinic and U.S.... More