Melissa Landry, executive director at Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch recently told the Louisiana Record that she was appalled at details coming to light in a levee breach lawsuit settlement.
“Twelve years after the class-action lawsuit was filed, flood victims are receiving notices of settlement payments as little as $3,” Ms. Landry observed.
She is talking about a federal class-action lawsuit filed against Orleans, East Jefferson and Lake Borgne levee districts. A relatively small pot of money, $17 million must be divided to pay 120,000 claims filed after Hurricane Katrina. It had the effect of making storm survivors confused and angry. And this is understandable.
Furthermore, the settlement might appear that the levee districts have admitted at least partial responsibility for the flooding. However, in a case like this, a settlement is not evidence of wrongdoing. And a judge does not have to believe a plaintiff’s contentions have merit to approve a settlement.
J. David Rogers is a hero in New Orleans.
