The Supreme Court of Louisiana’s recent decision in Rismiller v. Gemini Ins. Co., 2020-0313 (La. 12/11/20), will impact all stages of civil litigation. In Rismiller, the Court held that, like biological and adopted children, children who have been given in adoption fall within the enumerated class of beneficiaries who may bring a wrongful
Louisiana Supreme Court
Kean Miller Wins Major Property Tax Case at Louisiana Supreme Court
On October 20, 2020, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued a major decision in an ad valorem (property) tax case involving oil and gas wells. D90 Energy, LLC v. Jefferson Davis Parish Board of Review, 2020-C-200 (La. 10/20/2020).
D90 Energy, an independent oil and gas operator, purchased from Goldking two gas wells and one salt-water…
Louisiana Court Closures and Updates in Accordance with COVID-19
The coronavirus continues to adversely impact so many, and the court systems across the country are adapting in kind. On April 2, 2020, Louisiana’s Governor in Proclamation JBE 2020-41 suspended all legal deadlines at least until April 30, 2020. Further, the Louisiana Supreme Court has issued orders over the last few weeks to help the…
Jones Act Vessel Status Update: The Louisiana Supreme Court Finds Riverboat Casino is not a Vessel in Navigation
Although the riverboat casino Grand Palais was originally designed to transport people over water, and did so until 2001, and is theoretically capable of navigation, the Louisiana Supreme Court has determined that it is no longer a vessel in navigation. Don Caldwell v. St. Charles Gaming Co., 2019-1238 (La. 1/29/20), So.3d _____. The Court’s…
Kean Miller’s Insurance Recovery Team Helps Secure a Big Win for Louisiana Insureds at the Louisiana Supreme Court
On October 22, 2019, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued its opinion in the Smith v. Citadel Insurance case. Kean Miller’s Insurance Recovery Team assisted several amici in presenting arguments to the Court in the case.
In Smith, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that an insured’s bad faith claims against its insurer are governed by…
Louisiana First Circuit Declines to Supply Right of Publicity to Barry Seal Succession
On June 21, 2018, the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals addressed the right of publicity and right of privacy in connection with Barry Seal (“Seal”) and the movie titled “American Made”. In 2014, Universal City Studios, LLC (“Universal”) entered an agreement to purchase the life story of Barry Seal from his surviving spouse and…
Forest Oil: Texas Supreme Court Rejects Exclusive Jurisdiction of the Texas Railroad Commission over Oilfield Contamination Claims
The Texas Supreme Court recently handed down a decision in Forest Oil Corp. v. El Rucio Land & Cattle Co., Inc., 14-0979, 2017 WL 1541086 (Tex. Apr. 28, 2017), that at first glance, is reminiscent of the landmark Louisiana legacy cases Corbello and Magnolia Coal. Forest Oil, like Corbello, supports the…
Bridges v. Nelson Industrial Steam Company, Inc. and Recent Amendments to Louisiana’s Further Processing Exclusion from Sales and Use Tax
INTRODUCTION
Louisiana law imposes a sales tax on “sales at retail.” “Sale at retail” is defined in the sales tax law, and the definition provides that the term does not include “sales of materials for further processing into tangible personal property for sale at retail.” This provision is commonly referred to as the “further processing…
EDLA Confirms That LHWCA Medical Benefits Are Not Subject To Collateral Source Rule
The application of the collateral source rule is a common dispute in personal injury litigation because it affects the amount of recoverable damages in the case. When it applies, the defendant is potentially on the hook for a higher amount of past medical expenses, typically, the amount invoiced by the medical providers. When it does…
Contract Claims Still Viable for “Imperfect” Contractors under the Louisiana Public Works Act
On May 3, 2016, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that the notice and recordation requirements of the Louisiana Public Works Act do not bar a suit on contract by a subcontractor against the general contractor’s surety. The Court’s opinion is nuanced, and dependent on the meaning and word choice of certain terms in the Louisiana…