Kyle Barnett News
GSK accuses La. AG Caldwell of attempting to pursue case that was already settled
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline is attempting to have an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office last December thrown out claiming it is a copycat of a similar class action lawsuit settled in 2013.
Ala. AG changes course, rehires private attorneys to represent State in BP oil spill case
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange made headlines following the 2010 BP oil spill when he said private attorneys would not represent the State in litigation against the oil giant, but in an about-face, Strange has appointed two Alabama law firms to assist in suing BP on behalf of the State.
Alleged phony resort scheme nets man $2.3M Deepwater Horizon claim, and indictment
NEW ORLEANS – In one of the more brazen schemes to defraud BP in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a North Carolina man has been indicted for mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly creating a web of paperwork to substantiate a multimillion dollar claims payment for a non-existent luxury resort.
Judge dismisses massive suit against oil and gas companies by La. flood protection board
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – A federal judge has dismissed a case brought on behalf of a local flood protection authority looking to pin billions of dollars worth of coastal land loss on oil and energy exploration activities.
Prominent plaintiffs attorney backs BP’s bid to remove Claims Administrator Patrick Juneau
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit hears arguments concerning BP’s attempt to remove Deepwater Horizon Claims Administrator Patrick Juneau, prominent plaintiffs’ attorney Daniel Becnel says he backs the oil giant’s position.
New Orleans-based biotech firm Renaissance Rx hit by layoffs, future of company in question
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – Months after announcing a large investment from a private equity firm and a huge expansion partially funded by taxpayers, a Louisiana biotech lab is facing serious financial issues.
BP spokesman tells environmental journalists they got it wrong
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – In a speech given to the Society for Environmental Journalists on Wednesday, BP spokesman Geoff Morrell told the group that he was discouraged by speculative reporting that took place during and after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill regarding the impact the spill would have on the environment.
Asbestos venue-shopping bill passes La. committee
BATON ROUGE, La. (Legal Newsline) - A bill that would limit where lawsuits involving latent diseases can be brought narrowly passed a Louisiana House of Representatives committee earlier this week.
BP asks appeals court to decertify Deepwater Horizon class action
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - BP argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit for the second time this year asking that a settlement agreement reached with the plaintiffs' steering committee last year not be upheld unless procedures involving certain payments to businesses are altered.
Claims administrator ordered to halt oil spill claims payments
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier has ordered claims administrator Patrick Juneau to immediately stop business-related loss payments connected to the 2010 BP oil spill.
Appeals court rules for BP -- allows claims process to be revisited
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- Despite U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier saying BP had no right to revisit a settlement reached with the plaintiffs' steering committee last year over the 2010 BP oil spill, an appeals court has ruled that Barbier's court must do just that.
BP claims investigation finds attorney took $40K kickback in exchange for expediting nearly $8M claim
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) -- The results of a two-month long investigation into allegations of fraud within the 2010 oil spill settlement program have revealed an alleged kickback scheme enacted by a claims attorney.
BP's request to put emergency stop on claim process during fraud investigation denied
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Federal Judge Carl Barbier has ruled against a temporary stop to claims payments stemming from the 2010 Gulf oil spill while an investigation is underway into potential wrongdoing in the office of Claims Administrator Patrick Juneau.
Plaintiffs' attorneys respond to NY Times columnist's biting critique of BP claim process
NEW ORLEANS - Two attorneys on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee have responded to New York Times' columnist Joe Nocera's op-ed published on July 8, alleging that the claims process awarding damages to those affected by the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill is not just flawed, but likely evidence of corruption within Louisiana's legal profession.
Barbier grants motion for hearing on temporary suspension of BP claims program
GRETNA - U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier has granted a hearing to be held 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 19, concerning BP's request for a temporary injunction to stop the claims process paying damages to those affected by the 2010 BP oil spill, while a court appointed investigator court determines if two top legal counsel in the claims administrators office intervened in claims in which they had a personal
BP faces off against class action plaintiffs
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals court today heard arguments involving the administration of claims processing to individuals and businesses negatively affected by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.