Legal Updates

On February 23, 2022, the Hon. Judge Sarah S. Vance of the U.S. District Court in New Orleans denied the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad’s effort to eliminate absolute liability claims brought by our client, Richard Cordes, who was injured while carrying out his duties as a railroad carman.

Ben Saunders and Joe Miller are travelling to Hollywood, Florida January 31 to February 2, 2022 for the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys [“ARLA”] Winter Board Meeting. Ben Saunders is one of ARLA’s Past Presidents and Joe Miller currently serves on the Executive Committee as ARLA’s Treasurer.

Happy Anniversary! Davis, Saunders & Miller Law Firm celebrates Joseph Miller practicing law for fifteen years – Loyola University New Orleans College of Law 2006.

Yesterday, the U.S. Coast Guard began its hearing into the capsizing of the Seacor Power lift boat that occurred on April 18, 2021 south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana. The hearing is expected to last two weeks ending on August 13, 2021. The Coast Guard will then report its findings, which could take months. The hearing, being held at a hotel …

Congratulations to National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt on his well-earned retirement from government service. “The NTSB’s role is extremely important: by conducting thorough investigations, our work helps prevent accidents and crashes, reduces injuries, and saves lives,” said Sumwalt. “I’ve been honored to be part of this great agency and to have served with the dedicated men and women …

The National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) issued an alert adding Railroad Worker Safety to its Top -10 list of Most Wanted Improvements. The NTSB’s focus on Railroad Worker Safety follows on the heels of Union Pacific and CSXT executives’ comments that worker safety “is not a problem.” https://www.bmwe.org/secondary.aspx?id=535

Today, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its Preliminary Report on the fatal Seacor Power capsizing on April 13, 2021 near Port Fourchon, Louisiana.  According to the NTSB:  “Investigators learned that at about 3:30 p.m., as the Seacor Power transited the open waters of the Gulf, a squall passed over the liftboat.  With visibility dropping and winds increasing significantly, the crew decided to …

Practice Point: Early on, after one of our prospective clients has been injured, it is commonplace for them to ask us at the consultation meeting: “Do I really need a lawyer right now?” It’s a reasonable question, especially considering that the client may be unfamiliar with the laws that apply to the claim, if they simply have not dealt with …