In a prior post, we examined the case of Berk-Cohen Associates, L.L.C. v. Landmark American Insurance Company, which concerned a dispute over an insurer’s coverage of lost revenue suffered by the Forest Isle Apartments complex in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The district court found that the…
Articles Posted in Property Rights
Supreme Court of Louisiana Rules on Hurricane Katrina Insurance Policies’ Anti-Assignment Clauses
In insurance, an assignment is the transfer of legal rights under an insurance policy to another party. The legality of assignments became a major issue in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. During this period, the federal government, in an effort to aid rebuilding efforts, issued money through the…
Hurricane Damage at New Orleans Apartment Leads to Dispute Over Insurance Coverage Calculation
Insurance policies routinely include provisions that are intended to limit the scope of the insurer’s coverage in the event of a claim by the policyholder. For instance, most homeowner’s insurance policies exclude coverage for fire damage that results from the policyholder’s deliberate arson. Commercial premises insurance policies, which commonly also…
Keeping Up with Your Louisiana Home’s Construction Defects (Part II) – Understanding Statutes
As previously discussed in Part I, the case of Charles Ebinger, et ux. v. Venus Construction Corporation, et al. focuses on the time period in which a claim for damages can be brought against a contractor and the time period in which a contractor may bring an indemnifying action against…
Handling Faulty Home Construction Defects in Louisiana
Being able to be involved in the design and building of a new home can be an exciting experience. But there is nothing more special than seeing the home’s construction completed and fully furnished. After all of this, there can be nothing more upsetting than the discovery that the new…
Louisiana Supreme Court Settles Circuit Dispute Over Insurance Policy Renewal Issue
In a prior post, we reviewed the Johnson v. Louisiana Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. case. The case concerned the undelivered notice from Farm Bureau to Janice Johnson that the company would not renew her homeowner’s insurance policy. The case centered around the state law that requires notice of the…
Understanding Class Action Lawsuits in Louisiana
Class actions are a common and popular legal tool for cases involving a large group of people who share the same grievance against a defendant. Specifically, the plaintiffs have to have a real and actual interest in order to join a class action. An issue may arise however, if a…
Fire Rages After New Iberia Chemical Plant Explosion
With little details available, the residents of New Iberia sit and wait to find out more about an explosion that took place at the Multi-Chem plant. Conflicting reports exist regarding harm caused by the incident, though the most recent release states all plant employees are accounted for and there were…
The Fifth Circuit Explores a Maritime Dilemma in Barge Wreck
General maritime law holds that there can be no recovery for economic loss absent physical damage to or an invasion of a proprietary interest. The issue in many cases is whether or not any actual damage has occurred. In a recent Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, the court explores…
Distinct Legal Consequences in a Legal Partnership
A partnership is a legal relationship that carries with it certain rights and obligations. Whether or not two or more persons have alegal partnership may become an issue. Our law defines a partnerhsip as a “juridical person, distinct from its partners, created by a contract between two or more persons…