Articles Posted in Civil Matter

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car_old_car_car-2-1024x683The following case explores the concept of “permissive use” in the context of uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) insurance coverage. Specifically, it examines whether a son, given a company truck for work and personal use, had the authority to grant his father permission to drive the vehicle, thereby extending UM coverage to the father under the company’s policy.

Case Background

Randal Boudreaux was involved in an accident while driving a truck owned by AES Drilling Fluids, LLC, and insured by Commerce and Industry Insurance Company. The truck was assigned to Randal’s son, Micah, an AES employee. Micah had been given the truck for both business and personal use, subject to certain company policies.

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pexels-brett-sayles-1756957-1024x683A celebratory night out turned into a nightmare for Reuben Ellis when he was shot in a parking lot after attending a friend’s wedding reception at Bella Noche nightclub. Ellis’s quest for justice led him to sue not only the nightclub but also the property owner, Plaza Holdings, LLC. This legal battle highlights the complexities of premises liability and the extent to which property owners are responsible for the safety of their tenants’ patrons.

The Incident & Ensuing Legal Battle:

In the early hours of July 27, 2015, gunfire erupted in the parking lot outside Bella Noche, leaving Ellis with a gunshot wound to the neck. He sued several parties, including Plaza Holdings, the owner of the shopping center where the nightclub was located.

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pexels-pixabay-532001-2-1024x683Emergency responders have a critical job, often requiring them to speed and navigate through traffic to reach those in need. But what happens when those actions result in an accident? Who’s at fault when an officer responding to an emergency collides with another vehicle? A recent Louisiana Court of Appeal case, Karonda Washington v. OneBeacon America Insurance Company, et al., sheds light on these complex issues.

The Collision

Late one night in Baton Rouge, Karonda Washington was a passenger in a car driven by her daughter, Shankeyshia Jones. Two sheriff’s deputies, Brad Manuel and Tyler Comeaux, were rushing to a disturbance call with their lights and sirens activated. Jones moved her vehicle into the left lane to make a turn, and Deputy Manuel stopped behind her. As Deputy Comeaux attempted to pass, he rear-ended Manuel’s cruiser, pushing it into Jones’ vehicle and injuring Washington.

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pexels-tomfisk-2116721-1024x682In today’s fiercely competitive business environment, safeguarding trade secrets and confidential information has never been more crucial. A recent legal clash between Brand Services, an industrial scaffolding company, and Irex Corporation, a competitor, illustrates the challenges of protecting intellectual property in the digital age. This blog post examines the dispute, the key legal arguments presented, and the court’s ruling on the Louisiana Uniform Trade Secrets Act (LUTSA) and common law conversion claims.

The Alleged Misappropriation

Brand Services accused its former employee, James Stanich, of stealing trade secrets when he joined Irex. Stanich allegedly transferred sensitive files from his work computer, including information about Brand Services’ proprietary software used for invoicing and job tracking. Brand Services claimed that Irex leveraged this stolen information to develop similar software, giving them an unfair competitive advantage.

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pexels-rdne-6669103-1024x683In a heart-wrenching incident, Dr. Alan Sandifer, an avid bow hunter, tragically lost his life in a freak accident involving his Hoyt compound bow. The Sandifer family’s quest for answers led them to the courtroom, seeking justice through a lawsuit against the bow’s manufacturer, Hoyt Archery, Inc. This blog post delves into the complexities of the case, the legal arguments presented, and the ultimate ruling that brought the Sandifers’ pursuit to a close.

The Unforeseen Tragedy:

Dr. Sandifer was at home, engrossed in his passion for bow hunting. While his wife was in another room, he was examining his Hoyt Vulcan XT500 compound bow, possibly making some modifications. A loud noise startled his wife, and she rushed to find her husband unconscious, the bow’s metal cable guard tragically embedded in his head. Dr. Sandifer succumbed to his injuries the following day.

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pexels-pixabay-159832-1024x683In a recent decision, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, overturned a trial court’s ruling that had dismissed a plaintiff’s uninsured motorist (UM) claim against her insurer, USAA, based on a previous settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The case, Tonyel Singleton v. United Services Automobile Association, highlights the complexities of release agreements and the importance of considering the parties’ intent.

Case Background:

Tonyel Singleton was involved in a car accident and subsequently settled with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, State Farm, for their policy limits. The release agreement she signed included broad language releasing “all other persons, firms or corporations liable or, who might be claimed to be liable” from any claims related to the accident.

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pexels-kelly-1179532-3794777-1024x683In a recent decision, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, overturned a summary judgment in favor of the City of Kenner and Veolia Water North America-South, LLC, in a personal injury case. The case, Candido Perdomo v. City of Kenner and Veolia Water, involved a garbage collector, Candido Perdomo, who was injured when a portion of the street collapsed under his garbage truck.

Mr. Perdomo, employed by Ramelli Janitorial Service, was collecting garbage for the City of Kenner when a section of 27th Street near the intersection of Salem Street crumbled beneath the weight of the garbage truck he was riding in. The collapse was attributed to a leaking sewer line.

Kenner and Veolia, the company contracted to operate and maintain the Kenner sewer system, moved for summary judgment, arguing that Mr. Perdomo could not prove they had prior knowledge (or ‘notice’) of the defect in the road, a crucial element in such cases. The trial court agreed and dismissed Mr. Perdomo’s claims.

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pexels-eray-karatas-756165405-28428022-683x1024In a case stemming from the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, recently reversed a trial court’s summary judgment, highlighting the complexities in determining a worker’s status in maritime injury cases.

The case, Nathaniel Smith v. H&E Tugs LLC and Lawson Environmental Service LLC, centers around whether Nathaniel Smith, the injured worker, qualifies as a seaman under the Jones Act or an employee under the Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA).

Case Background:

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pexels-ekaterina-bolovtsova-6077447-1024x683In a stark reminder of the importance of procedural precision in the legal world, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, recently dismissed an appeal due to a lack of a final, appealable judgment. The case highlights the critical importance of precise decretal language in judgments, even in seemingly straightforward summary judgment grants.

Cassandra Smith filed a lawsuit against B-3 Property, Blair Bail Bonds, and St. Roch Villa, alleging negligence in connection with a slip-and-fall incident at her apartment complex. After several years of litigation, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Smith. The defendants appealed this decision.

The Issue of Appellate Jurisdiction

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pexels-bentonphotocinema-1095602-1024x683In a recent decision, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, overturned a trial court ruling in a medical malpractice case involving the death of Nicole Phillips. The case, Jamal Wright et al. v. The State of Louisiana, O/B/ of Jamie Alleyn, M.D., et al., highlights the critical importance of adhering to proper service of process procedures when suing state-employed healthcare providers.

The case originated from a medical malpractice claim against several doctors employed by the State of Louisiana. The claim was initially brought before a medical review panel in 2015 and subsequently amended following the death of Nicole Phillips in 2016. The lawsuit was then filed by Jamal Wright, the father of Ms. Phillips’ minor child.

The Doctors, upon being served with the Petition for Damages, filed declinatory exceptions of insufficiency of citation and insufficiency of service of process. They argued that the service was improper as it was not directed to the designated agents for service of process as required by Louisiana law.

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