WDSU is reporting that the head of Louisiana State Police says he’s sending 30 troopers from southeast Louisiana to New Orleans to help with enforcement over the Thanksgiving holiday in the central business district and French Quarter.

Edmonson says the extra troopers will help the department from Friday through Tuesday as the city expects an influx of thousands of visitors for the Bayou Classic college football matchup between Grambling State and Southern University and the Monday night Saints football game against the New York Giants.

You can read more here.

We just read an interesting story in the Palm Beach Post about a lawsuit filed in San Antonio by the Texas Civil Rights Project.

The class action lawsuit alleges the state health department “deceptively and unlawfully sold, traded, bartered, and distributed blood samples” from thousands of newborns in exchange for fees, lab equipment and other purposes.

Interesting in that this is the second lawsuit of a similar nature brought by the Texas Civil Rights Project against the state health department. The two parties settled the first suit over a year ago.

Look at the full story here:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/texas-health-department-illegally-traded-sold-newborns-blood-1109064.html

Earthjustice, a non-profit environmental law firm dedicated to protecting our environment has petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to write rules on the use of chemical dispersants in oil spills.

The article mentions Cynthia Sarthou of the Gulf Restoration Network, who says the oil industry should never again be allowed to dump hundreds of thousands of gallons of dispersant into the sea as a preferred method of response to an oil spill.

You can read the full article at the Washington Examiner:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/economy/environmentalists-ask-federal-regulators-to-take-hard-look-at-oil-dispersants-104947924.html#ixzz12Ly4gMKw

Buddy Caldwell, Louisiana’s Attorney General, announced his office will join attorney general’s from all 50 states to examine whether the three largest mortgage companies – Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and GMAC  – made false statements or prepared foreclosure documents improperly WWL is reporting.

The article quotes Attorney General Caldwell:

“This issue affects peoples’ homes as well as the economy.  This probe will be thorough, expeditious, and fair to both homeowners and lenders.”

Here is a link to the article:

http://www.wwltv.com/news/La-joins-nationwide-lawsuit-against–104873774.html

A new law banning texting while driving took effect this weekend in Louisiana. This means that a police officer can pull you over if they see you texting.

This new law makes texting while driving a primary offense.

The first violation is punishable by a fine of up to $175. Repeat offenders can be fined $500, and the amount doubles if the driver is involved in a crash.

Additionally, the law makes it illegal for minors to talk on their phone as well.

You can find out more from WDSU and WWL:

http://www.wdsu.com/r/24625253/detail.html

http://www.wwl.com/pages/7919535.php?contentType=4&contentId=6653055

In today’s Miami Herald, an article by Associated Press writer Tony Winton tells of the US Governments use of new technology to study Hurricane’s.

According to the article, the research is meant to figure out “Why do some storm systems rapidly intensify into destructive cyclones, while most remain weak?”

This will be an important step in helping areas susceptible to Hurricanes better prepare.

“Ninety percent of the time, we simply don’t catch the rapid intensification,” said Bill Read, director of NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. “You miss the fact that it goes up 40 or 50 miles-per-hour in a 24-hour time frame.”

The Irpino Law Firm is very excited Judge Carl J. Barbier of New Orleans will be handling the federal lawsuits filed over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.  This is an important step to helping rebuild the lives and communities devastated by this disaster.

The five-page opinion said, “Without discounting the spill’s effects on other states, if there is a geographic and psychological ‘center of gravity’ in this docket, then the Eastern District of Louisiana is closest to it.”

The Irpino Law Firm is actively working on behalf of the victims of the oil spill.  Please contact Anthony Irpino at 504.525.1500 with any questions.

Here is a link to the New York Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/us/11liability.html

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting story on the effects of Chinese Drywall on home values.

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

“In other states, judges and juries alike seem to agree that the homeowners who buy houses with tainted drywall are entitled to recompense for their troubles. Consumers in Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina have sought damages from homebuilders and suppliers for tainted drywall that they say corroded appliances, emitted noxious fumes and drove down the prices of their homes.”

Here is a link to the news story:

http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2010/07/12/elegant-home-price-slashedtainted-chinese-drywall-included/

Met Life recently released some tips for drivers to help them be aware and avoid distractions while on the road to prevent an auto accident. “Safe driving is about focus,” said Bill Moore, president of MetLife Auto & Home®. “Many accidents could be avoided if the basic principles of defensive driving and driver attentiveness were observed.”

Here is a link to some smart tips while driving:

http://www.napsnet.com/articles/63343.html

For the past few years we’ve occupied a potion of the 22nd floor at Canal Place in the Central Business District of New Orleans. While we’ve loved our time downtown and being across the street from the French Quarter (a lot of fun we’ve had) we’re looking forward to moving into the Lower Garden District, Uptown into a great old house currently undergoing an addition and renovation to meet our needs.

We’ll keep you posted with our exact move date and new address.

Stay tuned!