KATC.com

Tagged News

• Romero Sticks to Claims Against DA, Despite AG's Findings of "No Wrongdoing"

  April 18, 2012 10:38 PM

  The conflict between Iberia Parish President Errol "Romo" Romero and the District Attorney's Office continues, even after the Attorney General found no wrong-doing by the DA's office. Romero made two allegations against the DA's office. The first is that the DA is fraudulently paying for its employee's health insurance... more »

• DWI Case Could Shed Light on FBI's Investigation in DA's Office Play Video

  March 27, 2012 7:27 PM

  An FBI investigation into the Lafayette District Attorney's Office could be taking shape, as several indicators point to the handling of DWI and OWI cases. KATC first reported about the FBI executing a search warrant earlier this month. District Attorney Mike Harson confirmed that search took place on February... more »

• Desegregation attorney seeks $1.6M in fees

  February 1, 2012 8:49 AM

  VILLE PLATTE, La. (AP) - Opelousas attorney Marion Overton White is seeking $1.6 million in legal fees for his work in the Evangeline Parish desegregation case. The Advocate reports White's request comes as the school board is anticipating an end to the 47-year-old case. The $1.6 million request in Evangeline... more »

• Citizens board hires attorney to dispute judgment

  February 1, 2012 5:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The governing board of Louisiana's property insurer of last resort agreed Tuesday to a $500,000 contract with a law firm to lodge a challenge with the U.S. Supreme Court of a $93 million judgment against the company. The Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. was found... more »

• Attorney: Casey Anthony is back in Florida

  August 22, 2011 10:37 AM

  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Casey Anthony has returned to Florida. Speaking Sunday on Fox News' "Geraldo at Large," Anthony's attorney, Jose Baez, said she's in Florida and will report to a probation office in Orlando to start probation if an appeal fails. "We are going to follow the law wherever... more »

• LA Attorney General Bars N.O. from Railroad Money

  March 27, 2011 11:41 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana's attorney general says New Orleans officials have no authority to use New Orleans Public Belt Railroad funds to help balance the city's budget. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said that the city had no `claim' or right to any `surplus' revenue from public railroad entity. The... more »

• AG Caldwell to switch to the GOP

  February 1, 2011 9:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Democratic Attorney General Buddy Caldwell plans to switch parties this week, becoming the latest high-profile Louisiana defection to the GOP, according to persons with knowledge of the situation. Caldwell, who is up for re-election this year, is Louisiana's only Democratic statewide elected official. He's supported... more »

• Joey Durel Appoints Michael Hebert as City-Parish Attorney

  January 5, 2011 6:20 PM

  City-Parish President Joey Durel announced the appointment of Michael D. Hebert as City-Parish Attorney today. The appointment requires the favorable approval of the City-Parish Council and will be considered at its meeting on Tuesday, January 25, 2011. If approved, Mr. Hebert will succeed City-Parish Attorney Pat Ottinger who tendered his... more »

• Lafayette's city-parish attorney to resign

  December 29, 2010 8:33 PM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - City-Parish Attorney Pat Ottinger says he is leaving his post in January. In a statement released this week, Ottinger says he believes the administration and City-Parish Council would be well served by a fresh face. Ottinger has held the job since 2004. The Advocate reported Wednesday... more »

• Holder honors first black La. high court justice

  November 11, 2010 10:04 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The nation's first black attorney general has visited New Orleans to pay tribute to the Louisiana Supreme Court's first black justice. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke Thursday at Dillard University's dedication of a mock trial center named after Justice Revius Ortique Jr., who died in 2008... more »

• La. Attorney General sues drug companies over inflated costs

  November 1, 2010 5:08 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is alleging that 18 drug companies inflated drug costs Louisiana paid through the Medicaid program by hundreds of millions of dollars. Caldwell said Monday that he filed a lawsuit on Oct. 28 against the companies in state court in Baton... more »

• Western Dist. LA US Atty Announces Changes

  October 1, 2010 6:24 PM

  LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced several management changes this week for the Western District of Louisiana's U. S. Attorney's Office. Finley, a 15 year prosecutor with the office, was nominated by President Obama in January of this year and was confirmed by the U. S.... more »

• Lafayette Attorney Chair of NOLA Public Hospital

  July 30, 2010 4:47 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Lafayette attorney and funeral home director will chair the governing board for the public hospital to be built in New Orleans. LSU System President John Lombardi named Elaine Abell on Thursday to chair the University Medical Center Management Corp. Abell said its first meeting... more »

• Attorney General is getting $5 million from BP grant

  June 1, 2010 11:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is getting $5 million from the block grant aid given to Louisiana by oil giant BP for response to the massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP PLC gave Louisiana a $25 million grant for cleanup and response efforts. Gov.... more »

• LA Attorney General Asking to Boost His Budget For Lawsuits Over Oil Spill

  May 28, 2010 5:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is asking state lawmakers to boost his budget by $27 million over two years and to broaden his authority to hire outside attorneys so he can prepare for a lawsuit over the Gulf oil spill. Caldwell has yet to say who... more »

• Sentencing Set in Attorney Theft Case

  May 25, 2010 9:27 AM

  MONROE, La. (AP) - A former Monroe attorney who pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from his clients will be sentenced next month. Bernard Grenrood pleaded guilty in March to six counts of theft in excess of $500 and was supposed to have been sentenced Monday. However, state District... more »

• Attorney General: State Willing to Sue

  May 24, 2010 9:28 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's top lawyer is urging the federal government to approve construction of sand barriers to protect wetlands from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is threatening to sue over what he calls "petty jurisdictional concerns" of the U.S. Army Corps of... more »

• Attorney Seeks Consolidation of 100+ Oil Lawsuits

  May 19, 2010 10:41 AM

  MIAMI (AP) - An attorney is asking a federal judicial panel to quickly consolidate more than 100 lawsuits filed against BP and other companies responsible for the massive Gulf oil spill. Louisiana lawyer Daniel Becnel says legal chaos could break out in five Gulf Coast states if the lawsuits aren't... more »

• Louisiana Attorney Drafts Letter Opposing Health Care Reform

  March 26, 2010 3:47 PM

  As Attorney General, I am duty bound by my oath of office to pursue a request by the Governor of the state of Louisiana for legal assistance, so long as it has substantial legal merit. To save Louisiana the potential expense of filing a separate suit regarding... more »

• LA Black Lawmakers Appalled By Attorney General Decision

  March 26, 2010 12:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's black state lawmakers say they are "appalled" by Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's decision to join the lawsuit against the federal government over the newly passed health care overhaul. The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus issued a statement Friday calling the lawsuit frivolous and saying it... more »

• Attorney General No Decision On Health Care

  March 22, 2010 1:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's Democratic attorney general hasn't decided whether he'll challenge the congressional health care legislation approved this weekend. In a statement, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell said Monday that he's got his top staff researching the issue and he's conferring with other attorneys general around the country.... more »

• Former U.S. Attorney Joins Lafayette Law Firm

  January 20, 2010 7:14 PM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Former U.S. Attorney Donald Washington has joined the Jones Walker law firm and will practice from the firm's Lafayette office. Washington recently stepped down from the chief federal prosecutor's post in the Middle Judicial District of Louisiana, which includes Lafayette, Shreveport-Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria and Lake... more »

• Attorney David Chatelain appointed judge pro tempore

  January 6, 2010 11:27 AM

  Attorney David Chatelain has been appointed by order of the Louisiana Supreme Court as judge pro tempore on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal according to Justice Jeannette Theriot Knoll. Chatelain fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Michael G. Sullivan. Chatelain will serve from January 4,... more »

• Ponchatoula Man Arrested for Alleged Ponzi Scheme

  November 19, 2009 11:51 AM

  (Baton Rouge, LA)-Investigators with the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, with the assistance of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, arrested William J. Chaucer, Jr., of Ponchatoula, Louisiana today for creating a Ponzi scheme that has cost at least 200 investors over $11 million dollars. This arrest is the result of a... more »

• Lawyer: Evidence illegally gathered against Cloutier

  November 11, 2009 11:39 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The attorney for Lafayette businessman is claiming the evidence against Eric Cloutier in a racketeering and money-laundering case was gathered without a valid search warrant. Attorney Daniel Stanford filed three motions asking a judge to suppress evidence against Cloutier. A hearing is set for Thursday. The... more »

• Price gouging statute in effect during State of Emergency

  November 9, 2009 2:58 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La.-- Governor Bobby Jindal's state of emergency declaration during Tropical storm Ida also puts into effect Louisiana's price gouging law. Some residents in the southern most parts of the state may have to evacuate as the storm approaches. As residents heed the warnings to fill up their cars... more »