U.S. Supreme Court Expands Liability Exposure in Trucking Negligence Claims
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…
Louisiana Supreme Court Reviews Railroad Injury Liability
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.
Louisiana Jury Awards $1.1 Billion in Landmark Civil Verdict (June 9, 2026)
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…
Development in Products Liability Law
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…
May 22, 2026 HUD Memo Re: ESAs
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…
H.B. 708 (2026)- Awaits the Governor’s Signature
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…
Jim Rather Testifies Before Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee
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…
Louisiana Supreme Court Clarifies Doctrine of Vicarious Liability
On April 21, 2026, the Louisiana Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Lacy v. Ibarra, holding that the doctrine of vicarious liability (respondeat superior) did not render the employer liable for the negligence of its employee who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on her commute into work, even if the…
Alker & Rather Supporting its Clients
The attorneys at Alker & Rather, LLC in Mandeville, Louisiana were proud to support Performance Foodservice’s April 13, 2026 golf tournament at La Tour Golf Club in Matthews, Louisiana.
Jim Rather’s Speaking Engagements in April 2026
On April, 9, 2026, attorney Jim Rather will be presenting a class to property management professionals of the Acadiana Apartment Association. And on April 14, 2026, attorney Jim Rather will be speaking to members of the Northshore Real Estate Investors Association, focusing on recent developments in fair housing and landlord-tenant laws.