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4/9/2013 - ACTION ALERT: House to Consider Lawsuit Lending Bill Monday

4/30/2013 - Practice a danger to consumers

4/29/2013 - Bill would cap litigation loans

4/28/2013 - Loan and Order: States Object to 'Payday' Lawsuit Lending

4/26/2013 - Supreme Court creates another snag for class actions

4/2/2013 - N.O. judges not off the hook for insurance purchases yet

4/1/2013 - 5th Circuit Court sides with EPA in Clean Air Act case brought by Texas environmental groups

4/1/2013 - Class action settlements face growing scrutiny

3/28/2013 - Louisiana attorney general passes on sanctions against Orleans judges for suspect spending

3/19/2013 - Personal injury lawyer defends $900,000 in judicial spending as "amazingly efficient"

3/15/2013 - In BP oil spill trial, attention turns to Halliburton, Transocean

3/12/2013 - Bill would Require Details on Asbestos Payouts

3/14/2013 - Plaintiffs' lawyer resigns amid BP oil spill trial

3/12/2013 - Local judges put fish tanks, gun permit, handmade robes on expense accounts

3/11/2013 - As Asbestos Claims Rise, So Do Worries About Fraud

3/8/2013 - Second week of BP oil spill trial focuses on gross negligence

3/5/2013 - Scruggs asks 5th Circuit to toss guilty plea (BLOG)

3/5/2013 - Sinkhole case draws Brockovich

3/1/2013 - Tough road ahead for BP in Gulf oil spill trial, legal experts predict

3/1/2013 - BP's false oil flow claims may have delayed plugging of Macondo well, Transocean claims

2/28/2013 - Attorney Shelly Dick wins Judiciary Committee OK for seat on BR federal court

2/28/2013 - Johnson takes oath in public ceremony

2/27/2013 - Denton withdraws from judicial race

2/25/2013 - Oil spill begins for BP, Transocean, other companies: Blame game marks the first day

2/22/2013 - BP oil spill trial begins Monday in New Orleans almost three years after one of the worst spills in US history

2/22/2013 - Meet the lead attorneys involved in the BP oil spill trial

2/21/2013 - Federal judge rules some parts of BP criminal guilty plea, indictments of BP workers, can't be used in civil trial

2/15/2013 - Breaking Bad on the Bayou: Supreme Court and Attorney General Giving Louisiana a Bad Name

2/15/2013 - Vote on judge likely in two weeks

2/12/2013 - Judge nominee to get vote

2/11/2013 - UPDATED: Outside lawyers contracted by La. Attorney General making millions - have close ties to AG

2/08/2013 - Outside lawyers contracted by La. Attorney General making millions - have close ties to AG

2/04/2013 - Attorneys want $22.3 million in expenses reimbursed for work on economic and property damage settlement with BP

1/29/2013 - Federal judge accepts $4 billion BP guilty plea for Deepwater Horizon oil disaster

1/21/2013 - Top 10 jury verdicts of 2012

1/18/2013 - Justice department, BP defend $4 billion Deepwater Horizon criminal plea agreement

1/16/2013 - Louisiana AG's "Pay-to-Play" Party Rolls on in 2013

1/15/2013 - La. AG's oil spill tab nears $24M

1/11/2013 - Federal judge approves BP Gulf oil spill medical settlement

1/8/2013 - Justices Weigh Intent of a Class-Action Law

1/7/2013 - Chehardy elevates to appellate chief judge

1/6/2013 - Supreme Court class action

1/4/2013 - Beware Louisiana's Civil Justice System; It's a 'Hellhole'

12/26/2012 - Obama could reshape conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

12/18/2012 - Louisiana makes 'Judicial Hellholes' list for third straight year; 'Legacy Lawsuit' reform noted as step in right direction

12/17/2012 - Louisiana looms large in oil spill case

12/13/2012 - Louisiana lands on 'Judicial Hellhole' watch list for third consecutive year

12/13/2012 - Louisiana Lands on 'Judicial Hellholes' Watchlist Again

12/12/2012 - Shelly Dick finally gets confirmation hearing, but it may be too late for Senate OK this year

12/11/2012- Building the Trust Fund (Op-Ed)

12/11/2012 - Asbestos lawsuit disclosure bill heads to Ohio gov

12/9/2012 - McDonald wins, Theriot on appellate court

12/7/2012 - Hughes, PAC have big money lead in court race

12/5/2012 - The State Supreme Court Race is a Classic Single-Issue Muddle

12/5/2012 - "Leave it to Beaver" emerges in Supreme Court race

12/5/2012 - Supreme Court candidates boost coffers

12/4/2012 - High court ruling to affect life terms for juveniles

12/4/2012 - Personal Injury Lawyers Go "All In" for Jeff Hughes

11/30/2012 - Contributions key in high court runoff

11/30/2012 - Judges bristle over finances

11/29/2012 - Clean water and land PAC spent roughly 40 percent of funds it raised on Hughes

11/29/2012 - Vitter removes block on judicial nominee

11/27/2012 - Wife of former pipe cleaner sues oil companies over alleged secondary exposure to radioactive materials

11/27/2012 - Class actions back on U.S. Supreme Court's radar

11/25/2012 - Voter turnout key in 1st Circuit race

11/25/2012 - Dupont, Theriot face off for appellate seat

11/25/2012 - Two appeals judges seek Supreme Court seat

11/21/12 - Louisiana Manufacturers Political Action Committee Endorse Judge John Michael Guidry for the Louisiana Supreme Court, District 5 Seat

11/18/12 - Jindal's support for judge opposed

11/16/12 - Court Candidates Split GOP, LABI endorsements

11/15/2012 - ATRA "disappointed" by Jindal's endorsement of Hughes for high court

11/15/2012 - Not just any Supreme Court race

11/14/2012 - BP, plaintiffs' attorneys urge federal judge to extend deadline in Gulf oil spill settlement

11/14/2012 - Clean Water and Land PAC money money makes its way into Supreme Court race

11/14/2012 - LABI PRESS RELEASE: Judge John Michael Guidry Receives Business Group Endorsement

11/13/2012 - Finally, an end to legacy-lawsuit abuse

11/12/2012 - Judicial candidate campaigns take divergent paths

11/11/2012 - Jindal backs Hughes for Supreme Court

11/7/2012 - Three judicial elections won outright, four headed to runoff

11/5/2012 - BP settlement, if approved, likely destined for appeal

11/5/2012 - Legacy Lawsuit Lawyers Working to Tip the Scales of Justice?

11/3/2012 - 8 candidates fight for seat on Louisiana high court

11/2/2012 - Thousands of opt-outs not expected to scuttle BP oil spill settlement

11/1/2012 - With less than a week to go, LA Supreme Court race still wide open

10/31/2012 - Panel oks revamp of judge pay review

10/31/2012 - LA Supreme Court races rakes in $1.98 million

10/30/2012 - Julie Quinn says she won't run for the judgeship in Jefferson Parish

10/30/2012 - Jennifer Sneed, former Jefferson Parish Council member, loses round on ethics charges

10/28/2012 - Letters: Learn about candidates in judicial elections

10/26/2012 - Judge delays oil spill trial, cites Super Bowl, Mardi Gras distractions

10/25/2012 - State to receive $18.6 million in drug settlements

10/23/2012 - Alexandria native Catherine "Kitty" Kimball looking forward to retirement after 20 years on Louisiana Supreme Court

10/22/2012 - Eight vie for Supreme Court District 5 seat

10/22/2012 - Small business owner plagued by asbestos lawsuits fears for future of business

10/19/2012 - District 5 hopefuls take part in forum

10/16/2012 - Louisiana Supreme Court dismisses role of politics, race in ruling on chief judge

10/16/2012 - Bernette Johnson will be LA Supreme Court's next chief justice

10/15/2012 - Judge Paul Bonin reelected to 4th Circuit Court of Appeal after opponent withdraws

10/5/2012 - Family of pipe cleaner claims radiation poisoning; Seeks punitive damages in suit against Shell, others

9/21/2012 - Louisiana drivers suffer high rate of auto misery

9/20/2012 - Supreme Court justice seeks $380K in fees, expenses

9/10/2012 - Chamber of Commerce Study give low marks to Louisiana civil courts

9/8/2012 - State appeals ruling in Louisiana chief justice spat

9/7/2012 - Letters: Lawsuit abuse hurts all of us

9/5/2012 - Class action lawsuit filed against Entergy following power outages

9/4/2012 - Federal Judge Picks Winner in Louisiana Supreme Court Dispute

8/21/2012 - More Lawsuits, Less Growth

8/17/2012 - Appeals court won't toss ex-Miss. lawyer's plea

8/16/2012 - Louisiana Supreme Court chief justice controversy argued before federal judge07/11/2012 - Louisiana high court squabbles turns ugly

07/11/2012 - NAACP passes emergency resolution backing Bernette Johnson's claim to become Louisiana's chief justice

07/10/2012 - La. chief justice declines to discuss successor

07/09/2012 - Appeals court asked to toss ex-Miss. lawywer's plea

07/09/2012 - Marc Morial, Cedric Richmond ask Justice to block effort to keep Bernette Johnson from becoming chief justice

07/06/2012 - La. justice sues court for post

07/01/2012 - Commentary: Louisiana AG takes missteps with outside counsel

06/12/2012 - Private attorneys hired by AG in quasi-criminal proceedings rasies serious questions

06/11/2012 - Miss. high court orders new trial in asbestos case

06/08/2012 - House Judiciary Committee Passes Asbestos Transparency Bill

06/08/2012 - Tort Reform proponent says 2012 Legislative session had ups and downs

06/06/2012 - Diabetes Drug Maker Fights Pay-to-Play in Once-and-Future Judicial Hellhole

06/06/2012 - Gov. Bobby Jindal signs plan that could elect third African-American judge to 24th Judicial District

06/01/2012 - Report: Drug maker suing La. AG over outside counsel hiring

05/31/2012 - Legacy lawsuit compromise sent to governor's desk

05/31/2012 - Judge outlines new plan for Gulf oil spill trial

05/29/2012 - Appeals court upholds verdict in Miss. fraud suit

05/22/2012 - Legacy Lawsuit compromise advances

5/20/2012 - Tort reform group wary of Jindal

05/17/2012 - Why trial lawyers love Bobby Jindal

05/17/2012 - Deal reached on process for cleaning up old drilling sites

05/17/2012 - Oil and gas industry, landowners reach compromise in cleanup dispute with La. Legislature

05/16/2012 - Compromise in Legacy Lawsuits Reached

05/11/2012 - Controversial presentation on creating legacy lawsuits uncovered

05/11/2012 - Special Report: The long, lethal shadow of asbestos

05/02/2012 - Feds seek summer trial date for Gulf spill claims

04/21/2012 - Citizens' assets seizure on hold pending hearing

04/19/2012 - Judge authorizes seizure of Citizens Insurance money

04/18/2012 - Judge asked to sign off on BP oil spill settlement

04/18/2012 - BP oil spill medical claims settlement covers workers, some coastal residents

04/11/2012 - Second class action filed over vinyl plants explosion

04/04/2012 - BP oil spill trial plan could change

04/03/2012 - Should Gulf oil spill dispersant, clean-up companies stay in the litigation?

04/02/2012 - House Committee rejects lowering threshold for jury trials in lawsuits

03/25/2012 - Wide-ranging civil cases slow justice at federal court in New Orleans

03/23/2012 - Louisiana oil companies decry "abusive" rash of lawsuits, say industry hurting

03/23/2012 - Civil litigation reform bills could pass this session, advocate says

03/22/2012 - Measure limiting malpractice lawsuits coming up for vote in Congress

03/21/2012 - Property owners can challenge EPA in court, Supreme Court rules

03/20/2012 - La. Legislation Could Shield Louisiana Citizens From $104M Judgment

03/20/2012 - ExxonMobil should pay $10 million to Westwego man who has cancer, Jefferson Parish jury says

03/19/2012 - Fifth Circuit Rejects Appeal in $20M Transocean Case

03/14/2012 - "Secondary" asbestos exposure case filed against sewerage and water board and others

03/11/2012 - BP oil spill settlement is a bonanza for lawyers, columnist writes

03/10/2012 - BP oil spill claimants' legal fees might be paid by BP, plaintiff lawyers say

03/08/2012 - The Young Firm files another drilling mud asbestos suit

03/07/2012 - Lawmakers Targeting Asbestos Litigation

03/07/2012 - Legacy Lawsuits: The fight continues in Louisiana

03/01/2012 - Gulf oil spill case court docket is busy as settlement talks continue

03/01/2012 - Bill would increase salaries for La. judges

03/01/2012 - Bills would alter rules for trials, suits

02/28/2012 - Study: Legacy lawsuits sapping Louisiana jobs

02/28/2012 - Mississippi man sues Chevron and others over asbestos exposure

02/22/2012 - Gulf of Mexico oil spill liability rulings filed

02/19/2012 - Gulf of Mexico oil spill trial to bring high-profile players into the ring

02/19/2012 - Man sues Exxon Mobil, others for hearing loss; claims he was battered by occupational noise

02/15/2012 - Appeals court affirms order that BP set aside up to 6 percent of any settlement for lead plaintiffs' attorneys

02/15/2012 - Class action filed against East Jefferson Hospital for allegedly overcharging patients

02/15/2012 - Most BP plaintiffs may be ineligible for compensation

02/14/2012 - Judge sets 1st hearing for diabetes drug lawsuits

02/13/2012 - Jury trials requested in asbestos suit on behalf of three offshore workers

02/12/2012 - Judge in Gulf oil spill trial can handle numbingly complex trial ahead, colleagues say

02/09/2012 - BP's blemished safety record is off-limits in trial, judge rules

02/07/2012 - Judge allocates time for start of oil spill trial

02/05/2012 - Gulf oil spill's "trial of the century" could end before it begins

02/05/2012 - Gulf oil spill blame is focus of New Orleans court case

1/30/2012 - BP tries to seal testimony, strike evidence in upcming oil spill litigation

01/30/2012 - With trial pending, BP asks judge to cull experts

01/28/2012 - Commissioner responds to Citizens' lawsuit

01/22/2012 - Caldwell, governor agree on legal fees

01/21/2012 - High Court refuses to overturn Citizens ruling

01/18/2012 - Gulf of Mexico oil spill claimants who settle, but don't sue, exempted from paying into lawyer fund

01/17/2012 - Attorney General reverses course, supports holding back percentage of BP settlements

01/09/2012 - Editorial: BP Makes Amends

01/05/2012 - Editorial: Put BP oil spill victims first in court hearing about potential attorney fees

01/05/2012 - BP oil spill payments resume after fee wrinkle

01/05/2012 - Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance asks for rehearing in adjustment case

01/05/2012 - Attorneys big winner in lawsuit

01/04/2012 - US Judge Tosses $322M Asbestos Lawsuit Verdict

01/05/2012 - BP oil spill payments resume after fee wrinkle

01/05/2012 - Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance asks for rehearing in adjustment case

01/05/2012 - Attorneys big winner in lawsuit

01/04/2012 - US Judge Tosses $322M Asbestos Lawsuit Verdict

12/29/2011 - Big year leads to bigger 2012 for U.S. Supreme Court

12/29/2011 - Fund will be creatd to reimburse plaintiff attorneys working on BP litigation

12/21/2011 - Four lawsuits filed against Temple-Inland

12/13/2011 - Barbier rejects state, city government damage claims against BP

12/10/2011 - Family, oil firm fight over land

12/10/2011 - Help decide the top 10

12/09/2011 - Zach Scruggs goes to federal appeals court

12/08/2011 - Asbestos case names nearly all employers man had in lifetime

12/08/2011 - New lawsuit filed in Gulf oil spill

12/5/2011 - Attorney fees in BP litigation are disputed

11/30/2011 - Louisiana needs to speed away from No. 1 ranking

11-28-2011 - Jury favors BP in environmental damage suit; Houssiere plaintiffs seek second trial

11/21/2011 - Lower Threshold for Jury Trials Could Reduce Louisiana Car Insurance Rates

11/17/2011 - BP not entitled to insurance coverage under Transocean, Barbier rules

11/16/2011 - Federal judge rules against Feinberg

11/15/2011 - Judge Allows Alabama, Louisiana to Seek Punitive Damages in Oil Spill

11/15/2011 - BP loses two Gulf oil spill rulings

11/14/2011 - At a premium

11/07/2011 - Texaco sued for supplying benzene to Louisiana company over 35 years ago

11/06/2011 - Landrieu nominates 3 attorneys for vacant federal judgeship

10/31/2011 - Senate confirms Stephen Higginson for seat on 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals

10/28/2011 - Louisiana must turn over records to BP: judge

10/16/2011 - Tort Reform Issue in Race

10/04/2011 - "Litigation lottery" reviewed

10/3/2011 - Brown confirmed as N.O. federal judge

09/30/2011 - More jobs, not lawsuits

09/30/2011 - Groups Maneuvering for Active Legislative Session

09/27/2011 - Ad campaign touts limits on civil lawsuits

09/27/2011 - Group fights "frivolous" lawsuits

09/26/2011 - Louisiana voters back lawsuit reform

09/26/2011 - Poll: Statewide Consensus Backs Lawsuit Reform

09/26/2011 - Business coalition wants to limit civil lawsuits

09/26/2011 - Ad campaign seeks limits on civil lawsuits

09/23/2011 - In praise of Perry's Texas lawsuit reform

09/20/2011 - Judge must decide if state law applies to punitive damages in BP oil spill

09/18/2011 - Man awarded $7.55 million in Orleans Parish asbestos suit

09/15/2011 - Blame for 2010 Gulf Blast, Spill Will Be Decided by Trial Judge

09/12/2011 - House hearing: Louisiana's business growth stunted by asbestos lawsuits

09/08/2011 - Sulphur family appeals cap on damages to 3rd Circuit

09/02/2011 - Sound legal climate essential for a healthy job market

08/18/2011 - Guest Commentary: Legal Reform in the Lone Star State

07/27/2011 - Don't sound the death knell for class actions just yet

07/27/2011 - Judge orders Chinese drywall supplier to divulge details of $54 million settlement

07/27/2011 - Plaintiffs challenge GCCF's OPA compliance filed in BP oil spill

07/15/2011 - Judge gives preliminary approval of settlement in Chinese drywall litigation

07/15/2011 - Judge tosses RICO claims against BP for oil spill

07/14/2011 - Asbestos case hits a snag

7/10/2011 - BP fights payout formula

07/08/2011 - Martin Co. not liable for Alexandria woman's cancer, jury decides

07/03/2011 - La. Jury awards $1.5M in asbestos case

Links of Interest

Louisiana Association of Business & Industry: Civil Justice Reform 2009 Business Issues

Manhattan Institute - Trial Lawyers Inc.

Institute for Legal ReformI Am Lawsuit AbuseLouisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch

Louisiana Record The American Tort Reform Association American Justice Partnership

2013 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session

The 2013 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session will end at 6 PM on June 3, 2013.

After lengthy debate, SB 166 by Sen. Claitor was involuntarily deferred on a vote of 6-11 in the House Committee on Commerce, due to heavy lobbying and misinformation by the other side. Many thanks to all those who contacted legislators, and to Sen. Claitor for all his work to advance the issue.

HB 472 by Rep. Jay Morris is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary A. This is a good class action reform bill dealing with the certification of a class.

HB 321 by Rep. Huval is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary A. This bill provides for expedited jury trials.