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News & Announcements

Check this page, or the News and Announcements box on the homepage, for the latest official news and announcements released by the court. You can also access archived news and announcements from this page.

September 13, 2023
Pursuant to Case Management Order No. 1, In re Hurricane Ida Claims, the Court hereby appoints additional individuals as neutrals for the Court’s Streamlined Settlement Program.  View this PDF
September 12, 2023
The Court has issued a Second Amendment to its Hurricane Ida Case Management Order No. 1. This amendment:  •    extends the period for making the required disclosures to 45 days from the filing of responsive pleadings or issuance of an order denying a motion to remand; •    extends the deadline to file responsive pleadings in Hurricane Ida cases to 60 days for any pending case in which an answer has not yet been filed. (Extensions shall be granted only under exceptional circumstances.); and •    requires the parties to use the two forms attached as Exhibits B & C to the First Amendment to the CMO to set forth their respective settlement positions at the informal settlement conference and mediation. All other provisions of the CMO remain in effect. View this PDF View CMO Exhibit A View CMO Exhibit B View CMO Exhibit C  
August 28, 2023
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana presents its 2023 POWER Act Event entitled, "Stop Violence Against Women; Be a Part of the Solution," Thursday, September 21, 2:00-3:00 pm, in Courtroom 501 (Senior Judge Lemelle's courtroom) and by Zoom Webinar, no charge, 1-hour CLE credit. Please register by emailing LAED_RSVP@laed.uscourts.gov. 
August 8, 2023
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, HAS ISSUED SOLICITATION NUMBER LAEDCLERK23-0001 FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF EMPLOYEE PARKING WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF 500 POYDRAS STREET, ROOM B208, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. VENDORS INTERESTED IN SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL MAY REQUEST A COPY OF THE SOLICITATION FROM LAEDML_PROCUREMENT@LAED.USCOURTS.GOV. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING AN OFFER IS 5:00 P.M. C.S.T ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2023. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT KEVIN PAYRE AT (504) 589-7678.    View this PDF
July 10, 2023
On July 6, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana held a naturalization ceremony in which 28 individuals became United States citizens.  The Honorable Susie Morgan, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, presided over the ceremony and gave keynote remarks.  In her remarks, Judge Morgan spoke of notable American immigrants like Alexander Hamilton, John Muir, and Joseph Pulitzer, and stressed the importance of fulfilling one’s civic duty through voting and jury service.  Judge Morgan’s remarks were followed by a recorded message from President Joe Biden.  Naturalization candidates then swore an oath of allegiance to the United States and received naturalization certificates.  Click here to view photos from the ceremony.
June 27, 2023
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana seeks applicants for a potential expanded mediation panel for its streamlined settlement program for Hurricane Ida property insurance cases. Given the approaching August 29, 2023 deadline to file such cases, the Court anticipates a substantial number of new lawsuits in the coming 60 days. Accordingly, the Court is preparing to expand the panel of neutrals if the number of new filings makes such expansion necessary and is inviting qualified mediators to apply for inclusion on such an expanded panel. More information, including the minimum requirements for mediators and instructions for applying, is available here.
June 23, 2023
On Thursday, June 15, 2023, the Clerk’s Office Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee honored LGBTQ+ Pride Month by hosting an event focused on the Upstairs Lounge tragedy.  The tragedy occurred on June 24, 1973, when a fire broke out at the Upstairs Lounge, a gay bar in the French Quarter.  The arson-induced fire claimed the lives of 32 people, making it the deadliest incident of violence against the gay community in the United States prior to the Pulse Nightclub shooting.   At the Pride Month event, a documentary film entitled, “Pride and Prejudice: Fire at the Upstairs Lounge,” was shown.  After the film, French Quarter and LGBTQ+ historian, Frank Perez, gave a presentation on the tragedy and told the stories of men whose lives were claimed in the fire, as well as those who survived and later became leaders in the local LGBTQ+ movement. 
June 21, 2023
The en banc Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana has issued an addendum to its Hurricane Ida Case Management Order to address the withdrawal of McClenny, Moseley & Associates from cases and claims concerning Hurricane Ida insurance disputes. The addendum establishes a framework that (1) encourages the representation of policyholders, (2) ensures policyholders are protected by permitting the filing of lawsuits on their behalf before the prescriptive period expires, and (3) protects attorneys taking over their cases by providing counsel with post-filing “breathing room” to investigate and vet claims without fear of sanction. Subject to conditions detailed in the addendum, the order provides for an automatic stay for certain cases, an extension of time for service, and a waiver of Local Rule 83.2.11 for counsel enrolling in cases in which MMA attorneys were previously enrolled. Further details can be found in the complete addendum.
June 16, 2023
Attorney admissions will not be held on July 5, 2023, due to the Independence Day holiday. Attorney admissions will resume on July 12.
May 26, 2023
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael North will hold a general Hurricane Ida Litigation status conference on Wed., June 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. in courtroom 352. The on-the-record hearing will concern matters arising from the suspension of R. William Huye, III and the withdrawal of McClenny, Moseley & Associates from cases pending in this District. Any defense or plaintiff counsel may attend, but the discussions will be insurer-centric. More information, including lists of specific discussion topics and law firms encouraged to attend, can be found in the Court’s Order.

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