Archive for March, 2011

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Willie Nelson Avoids Jail Time for a Song

March 30th, 2011 | Posted in Celebrity Justice, Drugs by bloom | No Comments »

Willie Nelson was up to his old tricks when a Border Patrol agent smelled pot smoke coming from the country legend’s tour bus in November. He was charged with marijuana possession and ordered to appear in a Texas court.

Photo Courtesy of countryrokmusic.com

To hear Willie tell it, the tour bus had just recently picked him up in California, and he had completely forgotten about a small bag of marijuana which had been left on board from his last tour. Of course, if that is true, then the agent never smelled smoke and had no probable cause for a search. Then again, the fact that it was Willie Nelson’s tour bus might have been reason enough for suspicion.

It seems Willie is used to this sort of thing by now and took the proceedings in stride. His attorney jokingly suggested that Willie perform the judge’s favorite song Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain rather than perform jail time or community service. The judge seemed to like the idea and let the county legend off with a guilty plea and a minor fine.

The in-court performance was actually just a joke between the involved parties, but media outlets picked up the story as if it were true with a mixed reaction of anger and humor. The light sentence was a result of a more lenient stance on marijuana possession.

If you or anyone you know has been charged with drug possession, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Controversial Early Bar Closing Hours to Take Effect in Fat City this Thursday

March 28th, 2011 | Posted in Legislation, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

A controversial new city zoning ordinance for the Fat City section of Metairie will take effect this Thursday requiring area bars to close by midnight on weeknights and 1 am on weekends.

The ordinance is allegedly designed to reduce crime and increase the viability of Fat City as a high end shopping district. While a direct correlation to ordinance-related measures has yet to be established credibly, it is reported that crime statistics for the area are down 22% as compared to the same period last year.

Unfortunately, this news has not been welcomed by many local bar owners who anticipate severely reduced income and the possibility of having to lay off employees to make ends meet. A number of bars in the area have actually closed altogether, refusing to do business at all under the new regulations.

For more on this story, visit NOLA.com

As the situation develops, it is uncertain what the new regulations may mean for Fat City bar employees. If you or someone you know are subject to unfair termination based upon the new regulations, you may have the ability to fight for compensation. Contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free case evaluation to discuss your options.

Narcotics Officer Arrested for DUI after Wreck

March 25th, 2011 | Posted in DUI/DWI, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

Police responded to a traffic accident on Old Spanish Trail to find a fellow officer already at the scene. The driver of one vehicle was an undercover narcotics officer for St. Tammany Parish who could not pass a breathalyzer test.

Photo Courtesy of nvo.com

The officer’s name and picture are not being released as it could endanger his family and fellow undercover agents. Despite his anonymity, he has resigned from his post in order to preempt termination. Given the nature of his job, the sheriff’s office could not ignore any indication of substance abuse or dependency.

The tandem of criminal charges and resignation is necessary but unfortunate as this was a first offense DUI and no one was injured. The officer will be paying for his mistake for a very long time.

If you or anyone you know is arrested for DUI, hopefully the charge will not have long term effects on your professional and personal life. To reduce the damage as much as possible, it is important to hire an experienced, skilled defense lawyer. Contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997, to arrange a free, no obligation consultation.

Late Crawfish Season Could Mean Low Prices in April/May

March 25th, 2011 | Posted in Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

A long autumn and a colder than usual winter have contributed to a late start to crawfish season in the Gulf Coast.

Photo Courtesy of memphisflyer.com

For this reason, it is anticipated that crawfish supply levels will not reach full swing until mid to late April and extend into May – much later in the year than usual. Crawfish farmers across Louisiana anticipate a possible market glut for the crustaceans to hit in April, something which will come as great news to consumers who can expect especially low prices as supply levels outpace demand but may not be welcome news for farmers who will not receive their regular market price.

As spring kicks into gear relatively late in the Gulf Coast region, the announcement of the anticipated arrival of quality crawfish at a favorable supply level is an exciting prospect.

For more on this year’s crawfish season, visit NOLA.com

March Madness Comes to the Big Easy

March 23rd, 2011 | Posted in Local Issues, Sports by bloom | 2 Comments »

The teams have been whittled from sixty-four to sixteen, and two teams will see their journeys end tomorrow night in the New Orleans Arena. #3 BYU will face #2 Florida, and #4 Wisconson will face off against #8 Butler.

Photo Courtesy of picasaweb.google.com

Of all the teams, Butler is the most surprising contender. Aided by a pair of last second fouls, the Bulldogs defeated Pittsburgh to make them the first #1 seed to be sent home. Theirs will certainly be a game to watch tomorrow night, but not to the exclusion of the high scoring Florida on Friday. The Gators have relied on their incredibly deep bench in their road to New Orleans, and their game against BYU will be electric.

It is slightly ironic that the university voted the most sober in the nation, BYU, will be taking the trip down to the party capital of the South. Coach Dave Rose plans on letting his team see the city during their visit, but he will be careful that his team doesn’t party before the big game. Of course with all the stress of the NCAA tournament a drink might be just what the Cougars need.

If you catch the game tomorrow night, we recommend finding a sober ride home; however, mistakes are made, and if you are charged with a DUI, Bloom Legal can fight for you. Contact us at 504-599-9997, for a free, no-obligation consultation.

30-Mile Oil Spill Appears in Gulf

March 23rd, 2011 | Posted in BP Oil Spill, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

On Monday afternoon, oil mousse and tar balls from what is reported to be a 30-mile oil spill were washing up on beaches spanning territory from Grand Isle to West Timbalier Island.

Photo Courtesy of Nola.com

According to reports, scientists are actively conducting tests to determine whether or not the oil is coming from the damaged Deepwater Horizon rig which exploded almost one year ago.

Other possible sources for the oil spill are being considered, including a project to plug and abandon a well near Grand Isle.

For the full story visit NOLA.com

As this story develops, it provides a reminder that the Gulf Coast may potentially be feeling the effects from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill for a very long time. If you or someone you know have been affected by the spill, don’t make a quick settlement with BP. Contact Bloom Legal today at 504-599-9997 to discuss how we might be able to assist you.

Tulane Student Steals Car, Crashes Into 8 Vehicles Before Apprehension

March 21st, 2011 | Posted in DUI/DWI, NOPD, Traffic by bloom | No Comments »

A student from Tulane University is reported to have stolen a vehicle in the early hours of Friday morning March 18th and subsequently crashing into 8 other vehicles before finally being arrested by NOPD officers.

Photo Courtesy of Nola.com

Ian Driskill, 21, is suspected of having been under the influence of drugs at the time of the escapade and has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, illegal possession of stolen property, possession of chlorazepate, possession of marijuana, driving while intoxicated, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless operation of a vehicle, hit-and-run driving with no death or serious injury, possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle and lack of registration.

After being treated for minor injuries at a local hospital, Driskill was booked and charged at 7:40 am.

This report serves as a reminder that unsuspecting citizens can become the victims of destruction of property at the hands of intoxicated individuals. If you or someone you know have sustained damage to your vehicle or property and know the identity of the responsible party, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free consultation to discuss how we might be able to assist you.

NOPD Receives Scathing Review from Justice Department

March 21st, 2011 | Posted in Local Issues, NOPD by bloom | No Comments »

When Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Police Chief Ronal Serpas took office, they welcomed outside review of their purviews, but they may have underestimated the incompetence that would be unearthed. Even more so than the review of City Hall earlier this year, the Justice Department’s assessment of the NOPD has revealed alarming inadequacies and outright corruption.

Photo Courtesy of nola.com

It was found that officers were habitually using excessive force, as witnessed by the Krewe of Eris, and investigations into these incidents were not thorough enough to determine innocence. Many investigations of officer-involved shootings were so mishandled that the report considers them, “a deliberate attempt to make it more difficult to criminally prosecute any officer in these cases.”

The report also found that the NOPD was arresting a disproportionate amount of African-Americans through the practice of racial profiling. The Times Picayune reports that, “in other cities that collect data, the ratio of black-to-white juvenile arrests is 3:1 after adjusting for population,…the rate in New Orleans is 16:1.”

These are just some of the most egregious in a long list of problems including K9 units that attack their own handlers. Hopefully over time, the NOPD will see effective reform, but the problems persist. If you or anyone you know has been mistreated by the NOPD, Bloom Legal can fight for you. Contact us at 504-599-9997 for a free no obligation consultation.

NOPD Receives Award for Most DWI Arrests in State

March 16th, 2011 | Posted in Local Issues, NOPD, Traffic by bloom | No Comments »

Yesterday at an awards luncheon hosted by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission in Baton Rouge, the NOPD received an award for the most DWI arrests in the state of Louisiana by a municipal police department.

Additionally, Officer Chris Laine was recognized for having the most DWI arrests by an individual officer in 2010.

While this is certainly an indication of the progress being made by the NOPD as a law enforcement body in light of recent reform procedures, it is also a reminder that driving while intoxicated is not only dangerous and irresponsible but also very likely to result in arrest and legal trouble. That being said, at Bloom Legal we understand that people make mistakes and shouldn’t necessarily have their lives permanently affected as a result.

If you or someone you know are arrested for DWI, contact Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for a free case evaluation to determine if we would be able to assist you.

NOPD Requesting Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing Senior

March 14th, 2011 | Posted in Local Issues, NOPD by bloom | No Comments »

March 12/New Orleans, LA – The New Orleans Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 79-year-old James Ross Sr. of New Orleans, reported missing since shortly after 9:30 A.M.

According to investigators, James Ross was last seen by his wife, Mrs. Elnora Ross, this morning outside of Saint Luke’s Church near the intersection of Clara and Valence Streets. Mrs. Ross further stated that her husband suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and is fearful that her husband may have become confused and wandered off again.

Mr. Ross was last seen driving their 2003 white Ford Focus with a partial Louisiana plate of PYE.

Mr. Ross is described as a 79-year-old African-American male, approximately 6’0″, and 220 pounds last seen wearing a black suit, white shirt and black and brown tie.

Anyone with information that can help locate James Ross should contact the New Orleans Police Department at 821-2222.

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