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Public Entity LIability & Coverage

Representing public entities including government agencies, school boards and others involving a variety of matters.

Our lawyers have handled numerous cases involving public entities and their insurers.  Whether the dispute involves expropriation of private land rights, intentional or criminal acts by an employee, or civil service employment disputes, our experience has made us well-prepared to protect our clients’ interests.

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We have also counseled insurers of Louisiana School Boards, Sheriff’s Offices, and Parish Governments on coverage issues ranging from employment discrimination and wrongful termination against civil servants to wrongful arrests and alleged civil rights violations arising out of excessive use of force and wrongful search and seizure claims.

Attorneys

Christopher Teske

Katherine Swartout

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Representative Matters

  • 639 Julia Street Partners v. The Downtown Development District of New Orleans, et al.  (Civil District Court for Orleans Parish, Louisiana) Chris Teske represented The Downtown Development District and its insurer at trial of this liability case.  The plaintiff alleged that trees planted by the Downtown Development District and its contractor adjacent to the plaintiff’s historic building had dewatered the soil under the building’s foundation and damaged the foundation and walls of the building.  We obtained a favorable resolution of the case after two days of trial.

  • Doe v. St. Tammany Parish School Board (22d Judicial District Court, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana).  Our attorneys successfully represented the St. Tammany Parish School Board at trial and on appeal in a suit where the plaintiff alleged that he was sexually abused by a school board employee.  We obtained an involuntary dismissal of a major component of the plaintiffs’ damages claim and limited recovery for the remaining damages.

  • Heather Jagneaux, et al. v. Lafayette Parish School Board, et al. (Lafayette Parish, Louisiana; Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals; Louisiana Supreme Court) Chris Teske successfully represented the Lafayette Parish School Board and its insurer in a suit arising out of a fatal school bus accident.  The original judgment of the trial court was reduced on appeal by more than half of its original value

  • Harris v. Town of Grand Isle, Louisiana and Schexnaydre v. Town of Grand Isle (E.D. La.).  Our attorneys successfully represented clients in a pair of reverse condemnation claims involving the Town of Grand Isle’s effort to build public parking for disabled and handicapped residents on private, beach-front property.  Chris was able to resolve the case through creative amendments to town ordinances that allowed beach permits for special use vehicles and eliminated the need for the parking lots.

  • We regularly counsel insurers of Texas Independent School Districts on the application of the Texas Tort Claims Act to suits against their insureds and aid in settlement discussions in those actions

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