Archive for July, 2010

Newer Entries »

Kenner City Council Says No to Closing Bars at 2 a.m.

July 13th, 2010 | Posted in DUI/DWI, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

Last week the Kenner City Council voted against having Kenner bars close between 2 and 6 a.m. The argument for regulating hours of local bars originally came from Police Chief Steve Caraway, who cited public safety concerns from an increase in alcohol related incidents and crimes at bars. The Council, however, disagreed with the police chief, doubting that closing the bars for 4 hours would effectively curb crime. The Council further stated that punishing all bars and establishments for problems with a small few did not make much sense.

I applaud the Police Chief for trying to protect the citizens of his parish. However, like the Kenner City Council, I am not convinced that this measure would have been effective in stopping crime. Further, I believe this measure may had an unintended consequence of putting more alcohol-influenced drivers on the streets during a time of higher traffic. By closing at 2 a.m., many patrons (especially ones who still believe themselves to be sober) may attempt to drink up quickly at a “last call” or may get behind the wheel and travel to another area where the bars are still open rather than taking a cab or going home to bed. What the community does not need is more people who have been drinking to be encouraged to get back into a car and travel to venue. While I certainly do not condone this type of behavior, should you or someone you know get behind the wheel after a night at the bar and get arrested or charged with a DUI/DWI, Bloom Legal is here to provide assistance to you in getting all of your affairs back in order.

Mel Gibson and Adventures in Domestic Violence

July 13th, 2010 | Posted in Celebrity Justice by bloom | No Comments »

Mel Gibson has surfaced in the news again after allegedly admitting to punching his girlfriend in the face. After reports of a launched domestic violence investigation against the actor, recorded tapes surfaced which are said to be Mr. Gibson’s voice. In the tapes, the actor claims that he did in fact hit his girlfriend and that she “f***ing deserved it”. Also on tape are remarks supposedly made by Mr. Gibson where the actor drops racist and misogynistic remarks and states that if his girlfriend got raped, it would be her fault.

If true, while the remarks he made are certainly unfortunate and cannot be condoned, the case still comes down to whether he actually hit his girlfriend, and further whether the tape and its alleged admission can actually be admitted into evidence. Mr. Gibson certainly is not helping his profile (present/future and social/legal) much by continuing to alienate different population groups, but the bigger question still remains: will the LA County Sheriff’s Department have enough evidence against the actor to recommend charges being filed? We will know shortly.

BP in the Business of “Making it Right”? Doesn’t Seem So

July 13th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill by bloom | No Comments »

Throughout the Gulf oil disaster, BP has claimed numerous times that it is going to do whatever it takes to make things right. The company has stated that it will honor all legitimate claims and will pay out accordingly. However, instead of “making things right”, BP has started reducing payments to Louisianans who have filed for compensation for losses because the company has deemed their files incomplete. Rather than simply inform the approximately 40,000 people who have incomplete files of their status or make an attempt to collect alternative forms of documentation, BP is cutting payments in what seems to be a blatant attempt to save money. Further proof of BP’s policy of reducing its financial liability will be illustrated when the company soon begins adjusting claims downward based on the seasonally decreased nature of fishing.
I may not be speaking for everyone, but in my opinion it does not seem that BP is actually trying to “make it right”, as their press releases and commercials continuously claim. BP is making it clear that they are in the business of saving money, especially at the expense of the local fisherman. Before you or your loved ones accept a quick check from BP which may block you from any further claim against the company, please contact me at 504-599-9997 so that I can make sure your interests are being protected. After all, BP is not in the business of making you whole; they are in the business of making you go away quietly.

Lindsay Lohan and How Not to Rid Yourself of a DUI Charge

July 12th, 2010 | Posted in Celebrity Justice, DUI/DWI by bloom | No Comments »

DUI/DWI’s can haunt you for a long time. Take Lindsey Lohan for
example. After 2 arrests in as many months for driving under the
influence in 2007, the actress was sentenced to, among other things, 3
years probation and rehab and treatment classes. After missing
several required classes, her probation was extended for an additional
year starting in October 2009. After missing a scheduled court DUI
progress report hearing in May 2010, and after missing more required
classes, Ms. Lohan was recently sentenced to 90 days in jail and an
additional 3 months of rehab. Considering that her 3 years of
probation would be up at the end of August 2010, it is important to
note that following court orders is always the best policy.

When it comes to DUI/DWI’s, the best idea is to never get behind the
wheel while you are under the influence. However, should you be
arrested, getting an attorney to handle your case properly, along with
not repeating actions, can save you lots of time and money. Further,
having an attorney to make sure you follow any court sanctions is in
your best interests. A simple DUI/DWI can, in most cases, be
relatively quick to deal with. Yet continued disregard for the legal
system, like the actions of Ms. Lohan, can impact your life for years
to come.

Vehicular Homicide Sentence Upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court

July 12th, 2010 | Posted in Courts by bloom | No Comments »

A recent ruling by the Louisiana Supreme Court has upheld a 30-year
sentence for a Breaux Bridge woman who plead guilty to vehicular
homicide after killing 2 people in a car accident while on a cocaine
binge. Her lawyers had initially succeeded in getting the 30-year
sentence struck down as excessive by Louisiana’s 3rd Circuit Court of
Appeals, but the appeal was overturned and the sentence upheld by
Louisiana’s Supreme Court last week, with the justices stressing the
seriousness of her crime and its deathly result.

With summer in full swing, and holiday weekends on the horizon, please
be careful when attending parties or festivities. Louisiana has
steadily increased the minimum and maximum penalties for vehicular
homicide over the years, which now stand at 5 and 30 years,
respectfully. If you are planning on partying, do it safely and take
precaution. 5 to 30 years in prison is a long time to sit thinking
about an accident that could have been avoided. Should you or anyone
you know be involved in a traffic incident, whether sober or under the
influence, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 with any questions you
may have and for a free consultation.

New Oil Cap Being Put in Place

July 12th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill by bloom | No Comments »

BP is in the process of putting a new cap on the gushing well in the
Gulf of Mexico. After removing the older, temporary cap a few days
ago, oil has been flowing into the Gulf unobstructed. The new cap,
which has the potential to stop the oil flow completely, should be
completed today. If successful, the well will under go tests to see
if there is any other underground leaks of oil, and then will be shut
in until relief wells can be finished next month.

While the entire region hopes this new cap is successful, its
placement does not make the oil spill “contained” as BP and many
lawmakers will likely argue. In fact, much of the damage has yet to
even be felt by the Gulf Coast region, and the effects of this
disaster are likely to reach far beyond the point when BP finally
stops all of the oil from leaking into the water. If you or anyone
you know has or will be affected by the actions (or lack thereof) of
BP in this disaster, please contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 so
that we can fight on your behalf and help you get on the road to
recovery.

Louisiana Judge’s Investments Under Scrutiny

July 10th, 2010 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Courts, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

In the wake of U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman’s decision to lift the ban on offshore drilling established by President Obama, supporters of the moratorium have raised concern about whether the judge should have recused himself because of energy investments he made that could have led to a biased ruling.

Feldman owned stock in Exxon-Mobil, which had plans to drill in the Gulf of Mexico, but were set back by the moratorium. The judge also held stock in Allis-Chalmers Energy Inc., a Houston company that provides services and equipment to oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico, and Transocean Ltd., the company that owned the Deepwater Horizon rig that exploded on April 20.

An Associated Press investigation launched in June showed that more than half of the federal judges in districts affected by the BP oil spill have significant investments in the oil and gas industry.

Newer Entries »

Available 24/7. Call 1-877-NOLATIX for immediate help.

Switch to our mobile site