The Louisiana House of Representatives blocked House Bill 112, a bill purporting to provide a definition of “bullying” among school students. This bill sought to define prohibited acts under Louisiana’s current anti-bullying law. The bill stated that a bullying gesture must be motivated by “an actual or perceived characteristic, such…
A daunting question in employment discrimination litigation is whether Title VII’s anti-retaliation protection may apply to third party employees. In Thompson v. North American Stainless Steel, the Supreme Court addressed this very issue, holding that Title VII’s ban on workplace retaliation protects co-workers of discriminated employees under certain circumstances. Under…
After more than a year of accepting claims, BP has asked a federal judge to dismiss several economic claims . Several of these claims were brought by commercial fisherman, tourism-driven businesses, property owners and offshore workers. BP argues that the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) is the only theory…
In April, three train accidents occurred within a 24-hour period in Louisiana. The first collision occurred in Jefferson Parish, when a driver, attempting to beat an oncoming Amtrak passenger train, collided with the train. Tragically, the driver was killed in the accident. The second collision involved another Amtrak train that…
The Louisiana Legislature’s 2011 Regular Session convened on April 25. In the midst of this fiscal session, the Legislature introduced three new state-wide bills relative to distracted driving, including a potential ban on the use of handheld cell phones in automobiles. Last session, Governor Jindal signed into a law a…
The Supreme Court recently heard Wal-Mart v. Dukes, the largest class action lawsuit in American history. Over 1.5 million female Wal-Mart employees filed a systemic class-action sex discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart, alleging that they were part of a system of discrimination where they received lower wages than their male counterparts…
The U.S. Department of Interior recently released a report showing the results of a federal investigation of the Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer (BOP). The Department of Interior hired a team of forensic experts to salvage the BOP from the gulf floor and to study the cause of its malfunction. According…
In Williamson v. Mazda, the Supreme Court ruled that a deceased woman’s relatives could sue her vehicle’s manufacturer for failing to install lap-and-shoulder belts, even though the manufacturer had complied with all relevant federal safety regulations. The decedent, Mrs. Williamson, was killed while riding in the backseat of a Mazda…
The Environmental Protection Agency recently scaled back its environmental rules for incinerators and boilers. Under the new regulations, companies using industrial boilers and incinerators will now spend less to prevent air pollution. According to The New York Times, companies operating large boilers that burn renewable fuels would not be required…
Slip and falls are a leading cause of injury today in the United States. If an individual slips and falls in a public place and suffers an injury due to the fall, he may have legal rights. Slip and fall cases hinge upon whether the owner of the property had…