On October 27, 2026, a divided Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for BP in DuFour v. BP Exploration & Production, Inc., a case brought by a Deepwater Horizon cleanup worker who alleged that exposure to crude oil and chemical dispersants chronically worsened his preexisting asthma. The court concluded that DuFour’s alleged injury fell within the…

Alker & Rather, LLC, a Mandeville-based personal injury and civil litigation law firm, is proud to announce that Jim Rather has been selected to the 2027 Louisiana Super Lawyers list in the field of General Litigation. This marks Jim’s eighth consecutive year receiving this recognition. Jim Rather, Mike Alker, and the firm’s dedicated team of…

Act No. 63 (HB 292) amended Louisiana’s security deposit statute, affecting how landlords provide itemized statements regarding deposit deductions. The law, effective August 1, 2026, modifies timing requirements while maintaining tenant protections for deposit returns. Property owners and tenants should review lease administration practices to ensure compliance.

In Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC (U.S. May 14, 2026), the U.S. Supreme Court held that federal law does not preempt negligent‑hiring claims against transportation brokers. The ruling confirms that state law claims related to motor vehicle safety fall within the statute’s safety exception, allowing injured plaintiffs to pursue broader liability theories. This decision…

In Thomas v. BNSF Railway Company (May 1, 2026), the Louisiana Supreme Court addressed liability issues arising from a train‑vehicle collision involving roadway defects. The case highlights how infrastructure conditions and third‑party responsibilities can affect fault allocation in personal injury claims. The ruling is expected to influence litigation involving railroad crossings and roadway maintenance statewide.

A Bossier Parish jury returned a more than $1.1 billion verdict in a child sexual abuse case, marking one of the largest individual awards in Louisiana history. The case was made possible by the state’s look‑back law, allowing decades‑old claims to proceed despite prior time bars. The verdict reflects a growing willingness by juries to…

In a June 3, 2025 decision, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that a manufacturer is not liable when an injury results from using heavy equipment in direct violation of clear safety warnings. In Hardisty v. Walker, the Court granted summary judgment to Caterpillar, finding that towing a bulldozer with chains—contrary to explicit instructions—was not a…

HUD’s May 22, 2026 guidance Memo significantly narrows enforcement of emotional support animal (ESA) claims, focusing primarily on animals trained to perform disability-related tasks and reducing agency support for untrained ESAs. While this lowers enforcement risk for housing providers, the Fair Housing Act still applies, and ESA requests should continue to be evaluated on a…

During its 2026 regular session, the Louisiana Legislature passed H.B. 708, a bill by Rep. Lauren Ventrella expanding the territorial jurisdiction of Baton Rouge Justices of the Peace to hear certain eviction cases within the city limits that prior law had precluded them from hearing. Once it is signed into law, certain landlords in Baton…

On May 12, 2026, Jim Rather testified on behalf of the Baton Rouge Apartment Association before a Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee in support of H.B. 708, which will expand the jurisdiction of certain Baton Rouge Justices of the Peace to hear commercial and residential evictions. The bill passed favorably and is headed to the full…