Louisiana’s Workers’ Compensation fund exists to pay employees injured at work. Payment can be used for medical care and lost wages. When parties sign a settlement agreement on payment terms, an employee may assume payment is imminent. In a recent case from Rapides Parish, an employee discovered some conditions in…
Insurance Dispute Lawyer Blog
Louisiana Court Denies Workers Compensation for Injured Minor
Injury in the workplace can usually be avoided with proper safety measures in place. Safety measures, however, become hard to enforce when minors and adults work in conjunction. This was the case for Austin Griggs, an illegally employed minor injured in a forklift accident while working. Bounce N’ Around Inflatables,…
Louisiana Court Finds Hospital Director Void of Liability in Medical Malpractice Suit Involving His Staff
A visit to the hospital is a stressful and anxious time for patients and family members. Most people, however, assume that their doctors are competent and will administer the proper standard of care. This was not the case for Richard Smallwood. Smallwood fell at his home and sustained bilateral patella…
Louisiana Court in East Baton Rouge Evaluates and Reverses Due Process Violation Judgment
The fundamental right to due process is a cornerstone of constitutional protection, ensuring that individuals are treated fairly within legal proceedings. Nevertheless, the delicate line between potential bias and genuine due process violations is not always easily discernible. A telling example can be found in a noteworthy case from East…
Lafourche Parish Court Demonstrates the Importance of Employee-Employer Relationship in Workers’ Compensation Cases
Unfortunately, accidents in the workplace are not uncommon. What happens, however, if you unknowingly signed an agreement making your employer immune from a liability claim? The following Lafourche Parish case outlines this predicament. In September 2013, Neville Patterson signed multiple documents with Raceland Raw Sugar, LLC (RRS) and Raceland Equipment…
Liability in Product-Related Injury Cases: Key Legal Questions and Liability Theories
When an injury related to a product occurs, assigning fault can involve multiple parties. In personal injury litigation, crucial legal questions arise regarding whom the plaintiff can seek compensation from, if anyone, and the underlying theory of liability. The following case offers a valuable exploration of common liability theories often…
Faulty Foundations: Battling the Dark Side of Medical Innovation – The Defective Medical Device Lawsuit Saga
Medical professionals are expected to uphold a standard of care in their practice. Unfortunately, life can present us with unfortunate circumstances where this standard is not met. When we experience injuries or worse due to the actions of those responsible for our treatment, healing, or diagnosis, medical malpractice claims can…
Could the Foreseeable Have Been Unforeseen? Deciphering Liability in Accidents
Some accidents are unpredictable, while others appear to be accidents waiting to happen. Having reliable witnesses, qualified experts, and an excellent attorney in either unpredictable or predictable cases could be the dividing line in determining your liability when an accident arises. For Larry Jeane, Sr. (“Mr. Jeane”), the deceased party…
How Are Liability and Damages Allocated In A Complex Car Accident?
Allocating fault in a car accident is especially difficult when involving multiple individuals. This case illustrates how the allocation of fault affects how damages are awarded and illustrates what type of expenses are compensable. While driving on Highway 28 East in Louisiana, Erin Wright rear-ended Christina Dauzat. Before they reached…
Res Judicata Does Not Apply To Dismissal Without Prejudice
In law, there is a saying that you do not get two bites from the same apple. This means if a court issues a final judgment on the merits of your claim, you cannot file another lawsuit against the same parties involving the same claim. Does a dismissal without prejudice…