Random Miscellaneous

Chinese drywall seminar coming to New Orleans in July

Published on: June 23, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

A seminar dealing with the Chinese drywall fiasco going on across the Gulf Coast will be held July 31, 2009, in New Orleans, LA. Feating a host of speakers dealing with a wide assortment of issues relating to the Chinese drywall issue, the conference is billed as “a practical, one-day seminar for attorneys, engineers, architects and contractors” looking to explain health effects property damage, exploring claims and litigatory issues, demonstrating strategies for the matter and discussing the various complexities of the cases.

The Berniard Law Firm’s own Jeffrey Berniard will present on the matter of “Exploring Potential Liability for Damages Caused by Chinese Drywall Problems” with fellow attorney Scott Wolfe of the Wolfe Law Group. The lecture will cover matters relating to what parties are facing potential liability exposure, theories of recovery for construction defects, defenses and crossclaims and damages.

As part of the seminar, various different learning credits are available for participating professionals as part of continued learning education requirements. This includes 5.0 approved CLE hours for attorneys from the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

Louisiana receives an F for insurance coverage

Published on: June 19, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

According to a report released this week, insurance policy holders in Florida and Louisiana, among other states, are paying some of the highest rates for homeowners policies that are vastly overrated. While states like Utah and Idaho have residents who are receiving a great value for their policies, this illustrates yet again a theme of insurance prices in the Gulf Coast being out of control.

The Times-Picayune reports

Louisiana is one of six states receiving an “F” on a newly released report card ranking states’ insurance climates.

Army Corps of Engineers reports on New Orleans progress

Published on: June 17, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

In a news piece by Talk Radio News, testimony regarding the barriers being put in place to avoid another disaster like Katrina is profiled and has some interesting points that it brings to light

Brigadier General Michael Walsh, Commander of the Mississippi Valley Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, informed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee the goal of providing hurricane protection and coastal restoration in Louisiana is on track.

In his testimony, Walsh said, “the system is stronger and more resilient than prior to Katrina or any other time in history”.

Four charged with fraud in Katrina relief case

Published on: June 17, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

While catching up on some hurricane news for the Gulf Coast region from June, we came across this story about relief fraud in the wake of Hurricane Katrina

A federal grand jury in Atlanta has accused four people of fraudulently obtaining tens of thousands of dollars in government assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that 37-year-old Kristine Clark and 24-year-old Michael Rouzan, both of Decatur, Ga., were charged in one indictment, and 26-year-old Markisha Burks of Dallas and 43-year-old Lucien Danthon of Atlanta were named in separate indictments accusing them of falsely claiming they resided in New Orleans at the time of the 2005 storm.

Revised New Orleans flood-risk maps on display

Published on: June 16, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Per The Times-Picayune

Newly revised Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps showing the potential for flooding caused by a 100-year rainfall and hurricane-strength surge for New Orleans will be available for review and discussion at a Wednesday open house in City Park.

The event will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in the City Park Botanical Gardens on Victory Drive.

Cox Class Action proceeding on schedule

Published on: June 14, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The Berniard Law Firm, along with a collection of other attorneys from the region, has continued its class action lawsuit against Cox for what we believe to be unfair practices relating to the set-top box used for premium services. Motions have been handled and research is full-swing as we try to build the best case possible for customers who feel they have been unfairly charged or not given acceptable options for purchasing their own box. Our goal is to have the judiciary see that Cox’s refusal to provide option or choice in their practices injures their customers and that change is necessary to keep things fair in the cable market. We welcome any Cox customers who would like to join the class action to click here and become a part of this important lawsuit.

To keep abreast of the developments as they become available, bookmark CoxClassAction.com or continue to read this blog.

Berniard Law Firm on Twitter

Published on: June 13, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

Follow the Berniard Law Firm on Twitter for more information about Chinese drywall, hurricane insurance disputes, Gulf Coast news and other legal issues relating to residents of Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Mississippi.

Go to http://twitter.com/BerniardLawFirm for more information

Upgraded New Orleans storm barrier system to cost $1.8 Billion

Published on: June 9, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

While the Army Corps of Engineers continues to design, build and implement a storm preparedness system that prevents the type of flooding New Orleans saw after Hurricane Katrina, the price has gone shockingly high. Per an Associated Press article, creating a satisfactory system of floodgates and other water barriers will cost nearly two billion dollars, nearly 15% of the budgeted money the area was given to rebuild.

Top brass at the Army Corps of Engineers say the estimated price of a major project to build three floodgates and a 1.8-mile storm surge barrier to protect New Orleans from hurricanes is now $1.8 billion.

The cost of closing off the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal has risen since the project began last year. The structures being built on the eastern flank of New Orleans are among the most important features in the Army Corps’ plan to defend the city against hurricanes.

Government offers to sell FEMA trailers to storm victims for $1

Published on: June 9, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

The United States government has decided that those trailers that have not already been recalled from victims of the hurricane may be sold to them to the tune of one dollar. The Associated Press reports

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Wednesday that it would allow hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast still living in government-supplied trailers to buy their temporary homes for as little as $1.

The government will also provide $50 million to help other trailer residents, whose homes were destroyed by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, move into rental or public housing.

New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin quarantined for swine flu exposure

Published on: June 7, 2009 | By Berniard Law Firm

In news of the strange, New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin, his wife and an aide are being quarantined in China as a result of swine flu exposure. CNN reports

New Orleans, Louisiana, Mayor Ray Nagin, who traveled to China on an economic development trip, has been quarantined after possible exposure to the H1N1 virus, his office confirmed Sunday.

Nagin flew on a plane that also carried a passenger who is being treated for symptoms suspected to be from the virus, commonly known as swine flu, the mayor’s office said in a statement.