Louisiana Case Commentaries

Deemed‑Admitted Noncooperation and Failure to Return Client File Warrant a One‑Year‑and‑One‑Day Suspension: In re Tristan Patrick Gilley

Date: Sep 11, 2025

Deemed‑Admitted Noncooperation and Failure to Return Client File Warrant a One‑Year‑and‑One‑Day Suspension: In re Tristan Patrick Gilley Introduction In In re: Tristan Patrick Gilley, No. 2025-B-0713...

Unauthorized Practice by Advice-and-Fee Acceptance During Suspension Warrants Suspension—Not Disbarment—Absent Direct Court Filings: In re Haley (La. 2025)

Date: Sep 11, 2025

Unauthorized Practice by Advice-and-Fee Acceptance During Suspension Warrants Suspension—Not Disbarment—Absent Direct Court Filings: In re Haley (La. 2025) Case: In re: Ronald Sidney Haley, Jr., No....

Reasonableness and “Good Faith for Cause” Reaffirmed: Louisiana Supreme Court Limits Judicial Power to Alter Civil Service Board Sanctions and Clarifies the Board’s Discretion to Modify Unreasonable Discipline

Date: Sep 8, 2025

Reasonableness and “Good Faith for Cause” Reaffirmed: Louisiana Supreme Court Limits Judicial Power to Alter Civil Service Board Sanctions and Clarifies the Board’s Discretion to Modify Unreasonable...

“Service-Contracts-as-Debt”: Louisiana Supreme Court Requires Bond Commission Approval for Multi-Year Municipal Service Agreements

Date: Jul 1, 2025

“Service-Contracts-as-Debt”: Louisiana Supreme Court Requires Bond Commission Approval for Multi-Year Municipal Service Agreements 1. Introduction In 23rd Psalm Trucking, L.L.C. v. Madison Parish...

Extinguishment Upon Delay: The 90-Day Peremptive Deadline and Waiver Doctrine Confirmed in Gerald Williams v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections

Date: Jul 1, 2025

Extinguishment Upon Delay: The 90-Day Peremptive Deadline and Waiver Doctrine Confirmed in Gerald Williams v. Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections Introduction In Gerald Williams v....

Irwin v. Brent: Reaffirming the Manifest-Error Standard and Implied Consent in Louisiana Intentional-Tort Appeals

Date: Jul 1, 2025

Irwin v. Brent: Reaffirming the Manifest-Error Standard and Implied Consent in Louisiana Intentional-Tort Appeals 1. Introduction On 27 June 2025 the Supreme Court of Louisiana issued a per curiam...

Liquidated Damages as Community Property – The New Rule in Orgeron v. Orgeron

Date: Jul 1, 2025

Liquidated Damages as Community Property – The New Rule in Orgeron v. Orgeron Introduction On 27 June 2025, the Supreme Court of Louisiana delivered a landmark decision in Kelly O. Orgeron v. Edward...

“Hands-On, But Not Locked-Out” – Louisiana Supreme Court Narrows the Manual-Labor Exception to Independent Contractors Only

Date: Jul 1, 2025

“Hands-On, But Not Locked-Out” – Louisiana Supreme Court Narrows the Manual-Labor Exception to Independent Contractors Only Introduction On 27 June 2025 the Supreme Court of Louisiana decided...

The Robinson Principle: Louisiana’s Post-Glossip Clarification on Brady/Napue Materiality

Date: Jul 1, 2025

The Robinson Principle: Louisiana’s Post-Glossip Clarification on Brady/Napue Materiality Introduction State ex rel. Darrell J. Robinson v. Darrel Vannoy is the Louisiana Supreme Court’s most recent—...

“Not Punishment but Protection” – The Louisiana Supreme Court Affirms the Civil Character of Juvenile Sex-Offender Registration in State ex rel. D.D. (2025)

Date: Jul 1, 2025

“Not Punishment but Protection” – The Louisiana Supreme Court Affirms the Civil Character of Juvenile Sex-Offender Registration in State of Louisiana in the Interest of D.D. (2025) 1. Introduction On...

State v. Thomas (2025): Re-articulating the “Reasonable-Likelihood” Prejudice Standard and Expanding Defense Counsel’s Evidentiary Duties

Date: Jul 1, 2025

State v. Thomas (La. 2025): Re-articulating the “Reasonable-Likelihood” Prejudice Standard and Expanding Defense Counsel’s Duty to Exploit Available Exculpatory Evidence Introduction On 27 June 2025...

State v. Bracken: Louisiana Embraces the Modified Allen Charge and Overrules Nicholson

Date: Jul 1, 2025

State v. Bracken: Louisiana Embraces the Modified Allen Charge and Overrules Nicholson 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of Louisiana’s decision in State of Louisiana v. Dionte Bracken, 2024-K-00375...

State v. Noehl (2025): Re-affirming the Objective “Custody” Test for Miranda in Non-Police-Station Settings

Date: Jul 1, 2025

State v. Noehl (La. 2025): Re-affirming the Objective “Custody” Test for Miranda in Non-Police-Station Settings Introduction State of Louisiana v. John Noehl and Analise Noehl is the Louisiana...

State v. Coutee: When “Stand-Your-Ground” Trumps the Aggressor Doctrine – A New Clarification from the Louisiana Supreme Court

Date: Jul 1, 2025

When “Stand-Your-Ground” Trumps the Aggressor Doctrine: An In-Depth Commentary on State of Louisiana v. Kayla Jean Giles Coutee (La. 2025) 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of Louisiana’s per curiam...

“Apprendi Errors and the Sentencing-Only Remedy” – A Commentary on State of Louisiana v. Malcolm J. Chester (La. 2025)

Date: Jul 1, 2025

“Apprendi Errors and the Sentencing-Only Remedy” A Comprehensive Commentary on State of Louisiana v. Malcolm J. Chester, 2024-K-00207 (La. June 27, 2025) 1. Introduction The Supreme Court of...

“Any” Special Privilege or Advantage: The Louisiana Supreme Court Clarifies the Intent Element in False Personation of a Peace Officer (State v. Reginald Ruffins, 2025)

Date: Jul 1, 2025

“Any” Special Privilege or Advantage: The Louisiana Supreme Court Clarifies the Intent Element in False Personation of a Peace Officer (State v. Reginald Ruffins, 2025) 1. Introduction State of...

Comity and Identical Sanctions in Reciprocal Attorney Discipline — A Commentary on In Re Daryl Andre Gray (La. 2025)

Date: Jun 20, 2025

Comity and Identical Sanctions in Reciprocal Attorney Discipline — A Commentary on In Re Daryl Andre Gray (La. 2025) Introduction The Supreme Court of Louisiana’s per curiam decision in In Re Daryl...

Express Warning Against Product Misuse Precludes LPLA Liability: Caterpillar Inc. v. Hardisty Precedent

Date: Jun 10, 2025

Express Warning Against Product Misuse Precludes LPLA Liability: Caterpillar Inc. v. Hardisty Precedent Introduction In Brady Hardisty v. Dusty L. Walker et al., the Supreme Court of Louisiana...

Permanent Disbarment for Repeated Misconduct and Lack of Rehabilitation: In Re Kevin Michael Steel

Date: Jun 10, 2025

Permanent Disbarment for Repeated Misconduct and Lack of Rehabilitation Introduction In In Re: Kevin Michael Steel, 2025-SC-LA-B-01471, the Louisiana Supreme Court addressed consolidated disciplinary...

Precedent on Written Fee Agreements and Diligent Representation: In Re: Lindsey J. Leavoy

Date: Jun 10, 2025

Precedent on Written Fee Agreements and Diligent Representation: In Re: Lindsey J. Leavoy Introduction In In Re: Lindsey J. Leavoy, the Supreme Court of Louisiana clarified the obligations of...