Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Katrina Relief Blog

Termination of the LACDL Immate Tracking Blog

2006-01-11T20:26:00.000-06:00

Most prisoners evacuated from facilities in the parishes affected by hurricanes Katrian and Rita have nowbeen moved from the facility where they were when they were interviewed. As a result our information had become outdated. As a result we have decided to shut down the Inmat Tracking Blog. Families of evacuated prisoners who have questions, can send an e-mail to any of the following for information:

Julie Kilborn - juliekilborn@msn.com

Phyllis Mann – phyllis@kricket.net

Rachel Jones - rachelj@thejusticecenter.org

Neal Walker - nealw@thejusticecenter.org

Meg Garvey - meggarvey@hotmail.com

Devastation and Despair, Your Help is Desperately Needed

2005-11-19T13:19:00.000-06:00

A Message from Julie Kilborn
NACDL Hurricane Disaster Relief Liaison

November 15, 2005
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

As criminal defense attorneys, we are all accustomed to lending a helping hand to the troubled and downtrodden. When our clients are arrested, we are there for them. When a colleague is facing contempt charges, we rise to assist. With the devastation and despair left behind by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, criminal defense attorneys in the Gulf Coast region are in dire need of your help. This message is a plea to every member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to step up to the plate and offer a helping hand to those in desperate need. The bottom line is that every attorney affected by the hurricanes needs money. They need a place to live, food to feed their families, and some way to clothe themselves and their children. None of this happens without money.

For seven weeks now, I have been the liaison for NACDL in assisting lawyers displaced and affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We have disbursed almost $190,000 thus far in individual grants to 150 criminal defense attorneys. There are still, however, dozens of pending requests for individual grants and that number rises every day. Daily, more affected lawyers seek help by applying for an NACDL grant. They represent more than $40,000 in grant requests.

The average individual grant size is a little over $1,300. Not much, it may seem to some. Yet each time I tell displaced attorneys that their grants have been approved, the relief in their voices is almost overwhelming. Grown men have cried when I told them their NACDL grant has been approved. Others have told me that “NACDL is faster and better than the federal government,” and “NACDL was there from day one, and I’m so proud to be a member of such an awesome organization.” Every grant recipient thanks NACDL profusely during our phone call and their appreciation is immense.

In administering these grants, I have been told several stories of destruction and despair. Many of the victims of Katrina and Rita have truly lost everything. In Mississippi, homes were reduced to mere slabs. In south Louisiana, what the wind and water did not destroy was ruined by mold. And in Texas, hurricane-force winds and water ripped buildings into pieces. Private lawyers have lost contact with their paying clients and public defenders are being laid off because there is no revenue to continue paying them. Courts systems are closed down, in some places indefinitely. Where court is open, lawyers have no business clothes to wear.

Everywhere lawyers need money for books, computers, clothes, paper, pens, paperclips, and file folders. It is as simple as that; there is simply nothing needed more than money. Without your donation, we will have to tell our colleagues that we cannot help them. With your donation, we can continue to overcome the devastation and despair brought about by these natural disasters of biblical proportions.

Make a donation of any size today, and help make a difference. Just click here to donate online. Your tax deductible gift is desperately needed.

Sincerely,

Julie Kilborn
NACDL Hurricane Disaster Relief Liaison

p.s. A provision in the tax relief package to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina is meant to encourage donations to fund-raising efforts like our Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund. It allows donors who make cash gifts to almost any charity by the end of2005 to deduct an amount equal to virtually 100 percent of their adjusted gross incomes, double the normal limit of 50 percent of income. Check with your tax advisor for more information.

p.p.s. Below are excerpts from some of the more recent grant applications we have received.

I was trapped in the New Orleans Criminal District Court building during the hurricane for 5 days. After I got out I bounced around from state to state . . . I applied too late [to FEMA] to receive the $2,000 grant for expedited assistance and made the mistake of applying for temporary housing grant when I returned home to New Orleans, so I did not get the $2,300 check for housing assistance. I have received nothing from the government to help me survive. . . . I lost my car during the storm. My house did not get much damage, but it is infested with mold.

The funds are needed to purchase clothing (suits), a computer, a printer, filing cabinets, and other office supplies.

My home had two feet of salt water which surged from the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. The inside walls of my home have been torn off or cut. I am currently living with friends. I am a single mother . . . I am a sole practitioner. . . . Please help me.

Lost reporters and other law books as well as 19 years of research files and 15 years of documents on the hard drive of my computer. Also lost hard copies of 20 years of briefs. Both home and office were rendered unusable by Katrina. . . .

Click here to read more excerpts from grant applications.

Help Needed for Habeas Actions!

2005-10-25T19:49:00.000-05:00

I know many of you have heard my song and dance before, but the need is still great.

Over 8500 detainees were evacuated from the jails and prisons in Orleans, Jefferson, St Bernard, St Charles, St Tammany, and Plaquemines parishes. They were sent to jails and prisons throughout Louisiana (and some to Florida) where they remain. These detainees are: people who have finished serving their sentences and should have been released days and weeks ago; people who are charged with municipal or misdemeanor offenses (failure to pay traffic tickets, begging, obstructing the sidewalk, public intox, etc) who have been in jail for more time than they can get if convicted; people who are charged with minor felonies; people who have probation holds because they missed a payment or pissed dirty or stayed out past curfew. If they are from New Orleans, 30 out of 39 public defenders have been laid off, so most of them do not currently have an attorney – no one will be filing a motion for any of them any time soon. If they are from Jefferson, 2 public defenders have resigned and the remainder are working for ½ pay with lay offs expected by the end of the year; the minutes from Jefferson say things like: “location of defendant unknown – continued without date until defendant returned to JPSO jail.” If they are from St Bernard, the courts there have no phones and no fax and no internet and nothing is happening for their defendants.

I am attaching a table that shows how many possible habeas plaintiffs there are in each judicial district. We have prepared a form habeas, which we will send to you. We have prepared a draft Schedule A (inmates past due for release) and Schedule B (misdemeanor and non-violent felony pretrial detainees) for each judicial district, which we will send to you. Here is what you have to do:
1. Run docket master on each person on the schedules to verify that the information shown is correct and the person fits the criteria for habeas. (We have already eliminated anyone that we know to have: parole hold; crime of violence; sex offense; charged drug amount e.g. 28-200 grams etc; felon with firearm; serving sentence not yet expires.)
2. Revise the form habeas petition for your petitioners and defendants.
3. Drive to the jurisdiction, file the habeas, get it signed by a judge, serve it on the defendants.
4. Go back to the jurisdiction to have the hearing.
All together, you would be donating about 4 days of your time to handle a single habeas.

Everyone copied on this e-mail is already here and working on habeas petitions.

I understand that many of you have lost your homes, lost your offices, and are still in mourning. If you cannot do it, I understand. But if you can do it, or if you can find someone else who can do it, please let us know.

Phyllis E. Mann
Post Office Box 705
Alexandria, LA 71309
(318) 448-0000
FAX (318) 448-2250
e-mail: phyllis@kricket.net

JDC/
Location Facilities # of plaintiffs Attorney Filing Status Hearing Status
6th
Tallulah Hoyle
JBEvans
Madison
Riverbend 230 possible

26th
Plain Dealing Bossier 205 possible

18th
Plaquemine LCIW 172 possible

8th
Winnfield Winn 142 possible

1st
Shreveport Caddo
Forcht Wade 124 possible

15th
Lafayette Lafayette 122 possible
no info 93

2nd
Homer Wade
Claiborne 120 possible

36th
DeRidder Phelps 101 possible

7th
Vidalia Concordia
River 98 possible

4th
Monroe Morehouse
Ouachita
Richwood 89 possible

19th
EBR EBR 86 possible
no info 23

13th
Ville Platte Pine Prairie
So La Basile 84 possible

37th
Columbia Caldwell Corr
Caldwell Det 37 possible

5th
Oak Grove W Carroll 29 possible

10th
Natchitoches Natchitoches 17 possible

3rd
Farmerville Union 11 possible

11th
Many Sabine 6 possible
7th Catahoula No info

18th Hunt No info
BOP Coleman

28th Jena
LaSalle Attorney- Jones

20th Camp C
Camp D
Camp F, L-Z
Hospice
Rodeo
Dixon Attorneys-KilborneGarvey

33rd Allen 162 Attorneys-Mann, Jones

9th Rapides 37 Attorneys-Cohen, Widder Filed 9/13 Hrg 9/20

48 Attorneys-Walker, Jones Filed 10/14 Hrg 10/19
12th Avoy Corr
Avoy Prison
Avoy Simmes
Avoy Women’s 137 Attorneys- Walker, Jones Filed 10/18 Hrg 10/24

20th Camp F, A-L
New Chapel
New Educ
Old Bible
W. Fel 183 Kilborne Trenticosta Filed 10/24

Status of Inmate Interviews and Tracking

2005-10-18T22:26:00.000-05:00

Phylliss Mann reports the following status of inmate interviews and tracking:

thefollowing is a list of the resources compiled and available through Oct 15, 2005 relating to Katrina evacuated detainees and post-Katrina arrests.

Resources Compiled by LACDL Thru 10-15-05 Regarding Katrina and Detainees

Who was in jail on August 29, 2005?

1. Orleans Parish Prison booking print-out, dated Sept. 8, 2005, which purports to be the complete roster of all persons in Orleans Parish Prison facilities as of Aug. 29, 2005
2. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office booking print-out, dated Sept. 13, 2005, which purports to be the complete roster of all persons in the Jefferson Parish jail[s] as of Aug. 29, 2005

Who came into DOC custody from the effected parishes?

3. DOC print-out, dated Sept. 28, 2005, entitled: “All Offenders Evacuated - Katrina” showing a total of 8316 names
4. Earlier version of #3: DOC print-out, dated Sept. 22, 2205, showing a total of 8080 names
5. Earlier version of #3: DOC print-out, dated Sept. 18, 2005, showing a total of 7730 names
6. Earliest version of #3: DOC print-out, dated Sept. 13, 2005, showing a total of 7299 names

Who are these people being held by the DOC?

For each person named in the tables below (with a relatively small number of exceptions), we have an Inmate Intake Sheet completed for that person showing names and contact information for family members, any special needs or problems the person was having, procedural status of their case, name of attorney if known, and occasionally notes relating to their experiences during and following the hurricane

7. Allen Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Oct 4, 2005
8. Avoyelles Correctional Center (male & female), table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 21-22, 2005
9. Avoyelles Parish Prison, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 23, 2005
10. Avoyelles Simmesport Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 23, 2005
11. Avoyelles Women’s Cottonport Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 23, 2005; all female
12. BOP Coleman, Florida, table of people held
13. Bossier Parish Penal Farm, table of people held (and case status for some) as of Sept 23, 2005
14. Caddo Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 16-18, 2005.
15. Caldwell Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 15, 2005
16. Caldwell Detention Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 28, 2005
17. Claiborne Parish Detention Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 21, 2005
18. Concordia Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 16-17, 2005
19. Dixon Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 26, 2005
20. East Baton Rouge Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 9, 2005; all from Plaquemines except 1
21. Forcht Wade Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 20, 2005
22. Hoyle Rehabilitation Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 28, 2005
23. Hunt Correctional Center, table of people held as of Sept 5, 2005
24. J.B. Evans Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 28, 2005
25. Jena (formerly Wackenhut: Jena Juvenile Justice Center), table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 27 & 29, 2005; all from Jefferson Parish; NOTE: Jena facility closed Sunday, October 8, 2005 and all detainees relocated to other facilities
26. Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, table of people held as of Sept 15, 2005
27. LaSalle Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 28, 2005
28. LCIW (St Gabriel), table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 13, 2005; all female
29. LSP Angola, Camp C, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 13, 2005
30. LSP Angola, Camp D, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 14, 2005
31. LSP Angola, Camp F, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 11-13, 2005; all female
32. LSP Angola, Hospice Chapel, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 15, 2005
33. LSP Angola, New Chapel, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 12, 2005
34. LSP Angola, New Education Building, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 12, 2005
35. LSP Angola, Old Bible College, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 12, 2005
36. LSP Angola, Rodeo, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 11-12, 2005
37. Madison Parish Detention Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 15, 2005; all from St Tammany
38. Morehouse Detention Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 27, 2005; all from St Tammany and all DOC
39. Natchitoches Parish Correctional Center, table of people held as of Sept 14, 2005
40. Ouachita Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 20, 2005
41. Phelps Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 13, 2005
42. Pine Prairie Detention Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 22, 2005; all from St. Tammany Parish
43. Rapides Parish Detention Center III, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 7, 2005
44. Richwood Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 29, 2005
45. River Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 27, 2005
46. Riverbend Detention Center (male & female), table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 27, 2005
47. Sabine Parish Detention Center, table of people held as of Sep 12, 2005; all from Orleans
48. South Louisiana Correctional Center (Basile), table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 21 and 30, 2005
49. Union Parish Detention Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 29, 2005
50. Wade Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept. 25, 2005
51. West Carroll Detention Center, table of people held
52. West Feliciana Parish Detention Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 9, 2005
53. Winn Correctional Center, table of people held (and case status) as of Sept 20, 2005
54. Miscellaneous, table of people whose names show up on a list somewhere, but for whom we do not have an interview sheet
55. Compiled list of all tables prepared from all facilities

Who has been released from jail?

56. DOC print-out produced to us on October 12, but showing releases and transfers to other law enforcement agencies through October 6 (with one name showing released on October 7)

Who is not accounted for?

57. Working list of the missing: names shown on the OPP booking log printed Sept 8, 2005, but not showing up on either the DOC most recent list of received evacuated detainees or on our compiled list of all evacuated detainees
58. Working list of names shown on our compiled list of evacuated detainees, but not shown on the DOC most recent list of evacuated detainees

Post-Katrina arrests:

59. DOC list dated Sept 28, 2005 showing 353 people arrested post-Katrina and whether released or detained

Litigation

60. Rapides Parish habeas, filed Sept 13, 2005 on behalf of 30 detainees being held past their release dates in Rapides Parish Detention Center III; 7 names were supplemented; of the total of 37 included in the habeas, 19 were ordered released at the hearing held Sept 20, 2005
61. Federal 1983 action, filed Sept 20, 2005 on behalf of 94 female detainees being held past their release dates in LSP Angola, Camp F; of the 94 women included in the suit, 81 were ordered released between Sept 22 and Oct 14, 2005
62. Federal habeas, filed Sept 28, 2005 on behalf of 33 male detainees being held past their release dates in 5 different facilities; of the 33 men, 11 were ordered released on Sept 28 and 29, 2005
63. Oral motion for ROR bond, made between Oct 3 and 10, 2005, on behalf of 48 male misdemeanor pretrial detainees: Schedule A (14 of 16 released ROR); Schedule B (15 names, outcome pending) Schedule C (17 names, outcome pending)
64. La. Supreme Court emergency motion to allow habeas to be heard in Baton Rouge on behalf of all detainees, filed Oct 6, 2005 on behalf of 40 male detainees being held past their release dates in 6 different facilities. On Oct 13, 2005, the Supreme Court denied the motion 4 to 3 (Calogero, Johnson, and Wiemer would have granted)
65. Orleans motion to modify bail, filed Oct 11, 2005, on behalf of 29 male felony pretrial detainees whose cases have not been allotted; case is pending with no hearing date set
66. Orleans habeas, filed Oct 13, 2005, on behalf of 14 male pretrial detainees held in various facilities. Hearing set Tues, Oct 18, 2005.
67. Rapides habeas, filed Oct 14, 2005, on behalf of 48 male detainees both past due release dates and misd and fel pretrial. Hearing set Wed, Oct 15, 2005 at 9:30 a.m.

Louisiana launches hurricane bridge loan program

2005-10-18T22:13:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2005 www.gov.state.la.us
CONTACT: DENISE BOTTCHER or RODERICK HAWKINS 225-342-9037

LANA SONNIER Louisiana Economic Development 225.342.5406 sonnier@la.gov

Louisiana launches hurricane bridge loan program

Governor Blanco announces $10 million to fund interest-free business loans

October 17, 2005 - Baton Rouge, LA - Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and officials from Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority (LPFA) today launched the Louisiana Bridge Loan Program. The program will provide "gap funding" for businesses waiting for government assistance, insurance funds or other programs that are expected to provide a source for repayment of these loans.

The program will be administered by LED through a number of Louisiana-based financial institutions. Under Governor Blanco's direction, the state's $10 million Rapid Response Fund has been reallocated to act as seed funding for the initial round of loans. The state has also requested an additional $200 million from Congress to continue the bridge loan program.

"We are moving quickly to help businesses in critical need of capital. This will help businesses that are already approved for funds, but are desperately waiting for the red tape to clear and the funds to be transferred into their accounts," said Governor Blanco. "By working with the private sector we have crafted a plan that will put cash into the hands of business owners who need it. This program is a valuable first step and a joint public-private sector model for future aid programs."

"It is important that we provide leadership and direction at a state level by immediately making assistance available to business owners trying to meet payroll, repair equipment or find other ways to restart their operations," said LED Secretary Michael J. Olivier. "By partnering with the private sector we can more quickly and efficiently put Louisiana dollars to work for Louisiana business owners."

Louisiana Bridge Loans are interest-free for up to 180 days. Through private sector financial institutions, funds will be available within three to five days of application by eligible businesses. Eligible businesses are those located in the regions directly affected by hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita, have been in business for at least one year and maintain an acceptable credit rating.

"Every day, every hour that we do not have the funds to reach out and give employees a reason to return they are making new lives somewhere else," said New Orleans-based Hubig's Pies owner Drew Ramsey. "We need the funds now to get them and us back to work."

"Everyone is talking about the federal assistance coming. But I cannot pay bills with that and haven't had revenue since Katrina," said Lawrence Morrow, owner of Gumbeaux Magazine of Lake Charles. "This bridge loan is the life line we need to get back up-and-running now."

The two page application and program information is available at www.LEDforward.louisiana.gov www.lpfa.com and at participating financial institutions. Applications should be completed and submitted in-person at one of the 15 participating financial institutions.

"Our partner financial institutions are providing a critical service to businesses within their own communities," said James W. Parks, Louisiana Public Facilities Authority President and CEO. "Every bank has made the commitment to review and approve eligible businesses within five days so these funds can immediately put Louisiana businesses back to work. It is vital that we make these loans available."

For more information, visit www.LEDforward.louisiana.gov www.lpfa.com

###

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), Louisiana's fund for Louisiana's people, has been established by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco in order to support long-term family restoration and recovery and help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of Louisiana charities and non-profit agencies.

1-877-HELPLA1 (877-435-7521) www.louisianahelp.org www.lpfa.com

Orleans Court's plans to re-open on Tuesday October 25th.

2005-10-18T21:43:00.000-05:00

On 10-18-05 Julie Kilborn reports:

I have just been on the phone with Laurie White, Tilden Greenbaum, and Dwight Doskey about Orleans Court's plans to re-open on Tuesday October 25th. Tilden and Dwight are preparing to file motions to reduce bond and/or ROR for cases set in Orleans as well as motions ruling the state into court to state whether they do or do not have evidence in each case.

If anyone is interested and able to assist Tilden and Dwight, please contact me.

Julie Kilborn
225.338.0235
225.338.1948 (fax)
julie@brcco.org

Release plan for prisoners called unfair, By Penny Brown Roberts

2005-10-09T17:58:00.000-05:00

From the Baton Rouge Advocate Release plan for prisoners called unfair

By PENNY BROWN ROBERTS

Advocate staff writer

The Louisiana Department of Corrections has been freeing evacuated prisoners in alphabetical order 35 at a time -- even though hundreds more have already served their sentences and should be out.
DOC spokeswoman Pam Laborde said Thursday the agency has released more than 675 inmates -- most of them facing misdemeanor charges in Orleans Parish. She did not have statistics on how many others are eligible for freedom.

Julie Kilborn, one of a dozen volunteer attorneys and investigators working on the cases for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, called the process "really slow" and "arbitrary."

"It's absolutely true more people are eligible for release," Kilborn said. "The problem with releasing them in alphabetical order is that if you were scheduled to be released in September and your name starts with a 'W,' you're going to sit there until DOC gets to your name. Their process is completely unfair and arbitrary. There's no reason for it."

However, Laborde said DOC releases a few dozen at a time so as not to "overwhelm any particular geographical area" with waves of ex-prisoners.

"We don't want to just en masse release hundreds of them all over the state of Louisiana and not have anywhere for them to go," Laborde said. "We're not just putting them out on the street; we're actively trying to find a family member or a shelter we can bring them to because a lot of these people are from Orleans Parish and they don't have any place to go. Thirty-five a day is a manageable number for us to find a place for them to go."

Hurricane Katrina forced the evacuation of 8,200 inmates from Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes to state prisons and other parish jails.

At issue are an untold number held on misdemeanor offenses such as public drunkenness, trespassing, disturbing the peace, prostitution, lewd conduct or even traffic violations. Some are being imprisoned beyond their release dates; others have never made an appearance in court.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey of New Orleans ordered the release of 16 such inmates who had served more than their time. They were among 94 who filed a class-action lawsuit demanding their freedom.

Since then, other inmates have filed at least a half-dozen similar lawsuits in Baton Rouge federal court.

Laborde said authorities are identifying prisoners eligible for release "in waves." DOC frees each one with $10 and bus tickets to destinations in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas or Tennessee, or transportation to a shelter.

Still in limbo are pre-hurricane arrestees who have never had a bond hearing. Orleans Parish judges tentatively scheduled a news conference at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel today to lay out their plans.

The destruction of criminal records in hurricane-ravaged parishes -- as well as the scattering of court workers -- caused some of the delay.

Kris Wartelle, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, which is getting judges to order releases, said the agency is "trying to help reconstruct the entire criminal-justice system as well as civil-court system for almost one-third of the state."

Authorities now have Orleans Parish Prison booking records listing the names, offenses and release dates for all those inmates. However, records in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes were damaged by flooding, said Julie Cullen, director of the Louisiana Attorney General's Office Criminal Division.

Once they are reviewed, more prisoners could be freed.

Said Laborde: "It's a big challenge all around."

Click here to return to story:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/100705/new_release001.shtml

Governor Announces Special Session

2005-10-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

On October 7, 2005 Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco announced that a special session of the Louisiana Legislature to consider hurricane recovery measures is scheduled to begin on November 6th, 2005. The 12-day session will be narrowly focused, allowing legislators to concentrate on urgent matters. The special session will be convened by a proclamation of the Governor to begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 6th and end by 6 p.m. on Friday, November 18th.

In addition to the November special session, Governor Blanco anticipates the need for possibly calling a special session in January 2006. It is expected that the revenue estimating conference, which meets later this year, will identify revenue problems which will need to be addressed before the 2006 Regular Session.

D.C. Court of Appeals to Assist Attorneys Affected by Hurricane Katrina

2005-10-04T21:32:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Leah Gurowitz 879-1700 September 20, 2005

D.C. Court of Appeals to Assist Attorneys Affected by Hurricane Katrina
-- Lawyers from affected states allowed to temporarily locate practice in DC --.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Judge Eric T. Washington of the D.C. Court of Appeals announced today that the Court has issued an Order making it clear that attorneys displaced by Hurricane Katrina may temporarily operate their practice in D.C. without running afoul of the Unauthorized Practice of Law rules. “We realize that there are lawyers from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who may want to conduct their practice from the District, temporarily. In an effort to lighten the burden of their evacuation and relocation process, and to assist the justice systems in the affected states, the Court has made it clear that attorneys displaced by Hurricane Katrina can temporarily practice from the District of Columbia without running afoul of Rule 49 of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals which governs the unauthorized practice of law,” said Chief Judge Washington. “This Court wants to do everything it can to assist the courts, the parties, the judges and the lawyers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

The order issued today by the full D.C. Court of Appeals allows attorneys displaced by the hurricane to “practice law until February 28, 2006, from a location in the District of Columbia as if the attorney were located in the attorney’s home jurisdiction.” Attorneys practicing under this rule are responsible for making clear to clients that they are not admitted to practice in the District of Columbia. A memorandum and copy of the order were sent to the BarAssociations and Supreme Courts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as the American Bar Association.

Chief Judge Washington closed his memorandum to his colleagues in the affected region by expressing the Court’s sympathy over the tragedy: “We share the nation’s sorrow over the tragedy that has befallen your states, and hope that this accommodation to your states’ attorneys will aid in the restoration of a fully functioning system of justice…”

September 20, 2005

TO: Supreme Courts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
State Bar Associations of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
American Bar Association

FROM: Eric T. Washington
Chief Judge

SUBJECT: Temporary Admission to Practice Law from the District of Columbia

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the District of Columbia Bar offer our best wishes in your efforts to recover from the disaster wrought by Hurricane Katrina and to re-establish a functioning system of justice in your states. At the request of the Presidents of the District of Columbia Bar and the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals has approved an order clarifying the court’s rules regarding the unauthorized practice of law to permit lawyers from your states who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina to continue to practice while temporarily residing in the District of Columbia. The rule permits lawyers from your states, who are in good standing, to practice law until February 28, 2006, from a location in the District of Columbia as if they were located in the attorney’s home jurisdiction. Enclosed is a copy of the subject order, which was filed this date.

We share the nation’s sorrow over the tragedy that has befallen your states, and hope that this accommodation to your states’ attorneys will aid in the restoration of a fully functioning system of justice in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Please feel free to call upon me or my colleagues if we can be of further assistance during these difficult times.

1 Enclosure

District of Columbia
Court of Appeals

No. M-224-05

BEFORE: Washington, Chief Judge; Terry, Schwelb, Farrell, Wagner, Ruiz, Reid, Glickman, and Kramer, Associate Judges

ORDER AUTHORIZING PRACTICE OF LAW BY ATTORNEYS DISPLACED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.

WHEREAS Hurricane Katrina has caused widespread devastation that made it impossible to live or practice law in substantial portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and forced thousands of residents to relocate to other jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia;

WHEREAS the evacuees include attorneys licensed in those states with professional obligations to their clients;

WHEREAS the District of Columbia Bar and the American Bar Association have asked that courts accommodate the practice needs of lawyers displaced by Hurricane Katrina; and

WHEREAS it is in the interests of justice to avoid uncertainty about whether Rule 49 of the Rules of this Court permits displaced lawyers to continue to practice while temporarily residing in the District of Columbia;

Now, therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that:

Notwithstanding anything in Rule 49, an attorney who is an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama, and who has been displaced from the attorney’s home jurisdiction due to Hurricane Katrina, is permitted to practice law until February 28, 2006, from a location in the District of Columbia as if the attorney were located in the attorney’s home jurisdiction.

Any attorney practicing law from a location in the District of Columbia pursuant to this Order shall inform clients and other persons to whom the attorney holds out as an attorney that the attorney is not admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.

ENTERED BY DIRECTION OF THE COURT

GARLAND PINKSTON, JR., Clerk

September 20, 2005

Traffic court back in session in Jefferson Parish

2005-10-04T21:18:00.000-05:00

from the Times-Picayune

Attention, bad drivers: Traffic court back in session in Jefferson Parish
5:17 p.m.

By Matt Scallan
East Jefferson bureau

In what surely is an unwelcome sign of normalcy for some, traffic court in Jefferson Parish is back in business.

First and Second Parish courts opened Monday for the first time in five weeks, and court officials urged drivers who missed court dates because of Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuations to stop by to resolve pending cases.

"We're asking people to just come in, or if they can't come in to call us," Judge Rebecca Olivier of First Parish Court said.

Even people with outstanding warrants won't be arrested if they try to resolve their issues, said Judge Stephen Gefer of Second Parish Court.

"We've instructed our staff to work with people," he said. "We want to help anyone who is trying to do the right thing."

The district attorney's office has assigned assistants to stay in court all day to handle traffic matters, unlike the normal routine in which traffic is limited to the evening schedule.

Parish courts handle traffic and misdemeanor cases, which include first- and second-offense drunken driving, shoplifting and battery cases, as well as small civil matters.

The buildings that house First Parish Court in Metairie and Second Parish Court in Gretna suffered some storm damage. But no information in the computer systems has been lost, court administrators said.

More than 30 people waited in line at Second Parish Court on Monday. Gilbert Higgerson of Bridge City, who hoped to deal with a citation for running a stop sign, leaned against a column in the building's lobby near a sign that said "Contempt Department." He wore an expression that said he wished he were somewhere else.

"It looks like everybody went to lunch at the same time," he grumbled. "They should let them go in shifts."

Still, traffic was light in both courts. Grefer said no more of the 10 of the 120 people scheduled for Monday's docket showed up.

"That's not really surprising, given the number of people who have evacuated," he said.

Under normal circumstances, arrest warrants would be issued for the no-shows. But considering the havoc wreaked by two hurricanes, Grefer said the court is being more flexible. First Parish Court Administrator Bea Parisi said her staff re-programmed the court's computers to eliminate its normal commands to sic law enforcement agencies on no-shows.

"There are procedures in place, but we're overriding some of that because of the circumstances," she said.

That doesn't mean that the court will be so understanding forever, Olivier said.

"Anyone has a case before us really needs to come in as soon as they can," she said.

Louisiana Supreme Court Suspends CLE Requirement for 2005

2005-10-04T20:56:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana Supreme Court has suspended the continuing legal education (CLE) requirement effective for calendar year 2005 only. The court’s action is in response to the hardships imposed by the two recent hurricanes on Louisiana-licensed attorneys. The annual minimum legal education requirement of 12.5 CLE hours will be back in force for calendar year 2006, unless amended or changed through future orders of the court. For the full order, go to: http://www.lsba.org/home1/SCO09292005.pdf

Dues, Assessment Must Be Paid by Oct. 31 to Avoid Penalties, Ineligibility

2005-10-04T20:51:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana Supreme Court and Louisiana State Bar Association have extended the date for noncompliance provisions to be imposed on Louisiana-licensed lawyers who fail to timely file an Attorney Registration Statement and/or fail to pay the 2005/2006 Louisiana State Bar Association dues and the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board assessment. Both were due and payable on July 1. Members whose payments and registration statements are not received at the LSBA’s temporary Lafayette offices by Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, shall be assessed penalties and will be certified ineligible to practice law. Fees for 2005/2006 are as follows:
• Dues for members admitted three years or less - $40
• Dues for members admitted more than three years - $100
• Disciplinary assessment for members admitted three years or less - $100
• Disciplinary assessment for members admitted more than three years - $165
Payments and registration statements should be mailed to: Attorney Registration, P.O. Drawer 52828, Lafayette, LA 70505. Additional notices regarding dues and assessments will not be mailed. Those members not in compliance were mailed notices on August 5 and advised that they would be certified ineligible if they did not comply by September 6. This deadline was extended due to the August 29 Hurricane Katrina strike. Questions should be directed to membership@lsba.org . Go to: http://www.lasc.org/katrina_orders/RuleXIX_8d_8e.pdf for a full copy of the Court Order.

Free CLE on Rebuilding Practice After Disaster

2005-10-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana State Bar Association will sponsor a free CLE program entitled “Rebuilding Your Practice After Disaster Strikes” on Friday, Oct. 7 at the Best Western Hotel Acadiana in Lafayette. The full-day CLE with ethics credits will begin at 8 a.m. with registration. For details, including a list of speakers and topics, go to: http://www.lsba.org/CLE-1/cle-rebuilding_your_practice_a.html

Update on Attorney Disciplinary Board and Committee on Bar Admissions

2005-10-04T19:01:00.000-05:00

Effective Monday, October 3, 2005, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board http://www.ladb.org and the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions http://www.lascba.org resumed operations at their Metairie location. Until the curfew is lifted in Jefferson and surrounding parishes the agencies' office hours will be from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Interested parties may submit documents to the Disciplinary Board or Bar Admissions by mail at 2800 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 310, Metairie, LA 70002, or by fax at (504) 834-1449.

For additional information, visit the agencies' websites or contact the Disciplinary Board at (504) 834-1488 or (800) 489-8411, or Bar Admissions at (504) 836-2420 or (800) 314-1530.

Committee on Bar Admissions Trying to Locate Missing Assistant Bar Examiners

2005-09-27T22:02:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions is trying to locate the following Assistant Examiners. If you know the current whereabouts of any of these Louisiana lawyers, please contact Scott T. Whittaker, Bar Admissions Committee Chairman, at swhittaker@stonepigman.com or (225) 490-8900, or Denise Leeper, Bar Admissions Administrator, at denisel@lascba.org or (225) 298-8057.

Nancy Eleanor Graham
Paul Brannon
Gary Geipert
Ron Wilson
Scott Wolfe
Troy Nathan Bell
Kenny M. Charbonnet
James R. Hashek
Brad Adams
Lionel Burns
James Nugent
Chester Flemming
Steven Medo
Edward Rapier Jr
Cynthia Wallace
Michael C. Piccione Sr.
David A. Kerstein
Brad A. Adams
Marie D. Tufts

30th JDC and 36th JDC closed "until further notice"

2005-09-27T22:00:00.000-05:00

On 0-96-05 Phylliss Mann reported that :

30th JDC and 36th JDC closed "until further notice" which probably means
until next week

Engulfed evidence puts New Orleans court cases in doubt By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

2005-09-27T21:58:00.000-05:00

Engulfed evidence puts New Orleans court cases in doubt
By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

Evidence from an estimated 3,000 criminal cases in New Orleans has been submerged in the toxic floodwaters that swamped police headquarters and the courthouse. It's unknown whether the evidence will be usable in prosecutions.
Thousands of witnesses and victims involved in the cases are scattered across the nation, and New Orleans authorities face an enormous task in locating them.

More than three weeks after the flooding from Hurricane Katrina began to devastate New Orleans, the crippling impact to the city's justice system is becoming more clear. A problem that began with the breakdown of the city's police force during the chaos and looting that accompanied the flooding has ballooned into a crisis local and federal officials say could make it difficult for New Orleans to maintain order on its own for years….

Calvin Johnson, chief judge of the Orleans Parish Criminal Courts, said recovering evidence that was in storage on the lower floors of New Orleans' police headquarters and the Orleans Parish Criminal District Courts will require "a gargantuan" effort involving experts from outside Louisiana….

If the evidence storage vaults in New Orleans were compromised, defense lawyers in cases that manage to go forward are likely to raise questions about using such evidence in prosecutions, said Keith Nordyke, a Baton Rouge lawyer.

Nordyke leads a task force to help displaced lawyers on behalf of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

"A huge part of the justice system is in crisis," Nordyke said. "Is the evidence available, and is it in usable condition? Is DNA evidence so tainted that it is now meaningless? Is the rock of crack cocaine still there?"

Even if evidence in New Orleans' vaults can be recovered and preserved, Nordyke said, witnesses in hundreds of criminal cases "have been scattered to the wind."

"If you locate all those people, the next challenge is arranging to bring those people back," he said. "The level of need is pretty overwhelming."…

Full story at:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-21-katrina-court-cases_x.htm

Important Info. on Bail Release Orders.

2005-09-27T07:10:00.000-05:00

On 9-26 -05 George Steimel reports:

St. Bernard bail office may be open today in Baton Rouge. I will survey this today and let you all know the details.

In every case where the inmate is considering release by reason of bail, cash or surety. The DOC is running these people and will not release them if they have a hold by probation or an outstanding warrant. DOC is running them only after they have posted the bond. These bonds fees and premiums are not returnable so the inmate or family members need to be sure there is no problem with these issues before considering posting bonds.

Also, if John Doe was arrested and he gave an alias of John Smith there is little hope that this person can be bailed out. If someone attempts to bond this person out under the alias it's considered fraud and will result in a serious dilemma for the inmate and the person posting the bond.

George Steimel gsteimel@bellsouth.net

Calcasieu Parish Public Defenders

2005-09-27T07:06:00.000-05:00

Sylvia Welborn called this afternoon. Sylvia is asking all Calcasieu Parish Indigent Defender Office employees (attorneys, investigators, staff) to please contact her. Her numbers are:

337-474-2905

Cell 337-884-2113

If you get a busy signal, keep trying.
If you can’t get through to Sylvia, you are welcome to contact me at the numbers below, and I will get word through to Sylvia.

Sylvia reports the following regarding the IDO offices and building:

No power

No water

One of the main entrances is imploded

The State Farm office on the 1st floor was blown out.

She believes there may be structural damage to the building.

Word is that the earliest people will be able to (legally) return to Lake Charles is October 3, but while they were saying that earlier, they now seem to be saying “to be announced.”

For payroll, if you will call Sylvia, she will get your paycheck mailed to you wherever you are.

Sylvia is making arrangements to retrieve the server, computers, and payroll information from the offices. We are looking for temporary office space as near as possible to Lake Charles for your office to operate out of temporarily.

Phyllis E. Mann
Post Office Box 705
Alexandria, LA 71309
(318) 448-0000
FAX (318) 448-2250
e-mail: phyllis@kricket.net
cell (318) 729-3868

Hurricane Rita - displaced attorneys

2005-09-27T06:58:00.001-05:00

If you are or know the whereabouts of any criminal defense attorney/investigator/paralegal displaced by Rita, or currently not at their home, please send that information immediately to Phyllis E. Mann. phyllis@kricket.net In particular, we are looking for all criminal defense attorney (both private and public defense) from the following parishes:

Calcasieu

Cameron

Jefferson Davis

Vermilion

Iberia

St. Mary

St. Martin

Terrebonne

We need: cell phone number, e-mail address, current landline, current location, for all of these attorneys. If there are other parishes that were affected, please let me know. We will compile a list and distribute it daily, so that you can all get in touch with each other.

As information becomes available we will also be sending/posting information about:

Where clients have been moved to

72-hour hearings for current arrests

Status of your offices
Etc.

Phyllis E. Mann
Post Office Box 705
Alexandria, LA 71309
(318) 448-0000
FAX (318) 448-2250
e-mail: phyllis@kricket.net
cell: (318) 729-3868

Hurricane Rita - displaced attorneys

2005-09-27T06:58:00.000-05:00

Calcasieu

Cameron

Jefferson Davis

Vermilion

Iberia

St. Mary

St. Martin

Terrebonne

Where clients have been moved to

72-hour hearings for current arrests

Status of your offices
Etc.

Phyllis E. Mann
Post Office Box 705
Alexandria, LA 71309
(318) 448-0000
FAX (318) 448-2250
e-mail: phyllis@kricket.net
cell: (318) 729-3868

Current Safe list as of 9-25-05

2005-09-26T22:15:00.000-05:00

Phyllis Mann provides the current "Safe List" as of 9-25-05
Hurricane phone and location list

Name: Current phone: Current location: Agency: Permanent Home/Office:

Chris Aberle Safe LAP Mandeville
John Adcock 225-284-6327 Baton Rouge LCAC (lawschool) Baton Rouge - LSU
Larry Aisola Chalmette
Meg Alverson 212-249-3129 Relocating to NYC Private office NO
Alvrson1@bellsouth.net
Anthony Angelette Gretna
Eleni Antonopoulos 512-968-9998 cell Houston LCAC NO
Gerard Archer Metairie
Arcenious Arnond Gretna
Ellen Badeaux ecbadeaux@aol.com Safe NO
Ann Baehr
Ruben Bailey Marrero
Michael F. Barry NO
Walter Becker NO
Jane Beebe Safe LAP NO
Clarke Beljean NO
Albert Bensabat Hammond
John Benz Gretna
Numa Bertel Public Defender NO
Scott Bickford NO
Gary Bizal NO
Kevin Boshea NO
Richard Bourke 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE LCAC NO
832-260-6313 cell
Charles Branton Slidell
Melissa Brink Covington
Troy Broussard broussardlawoffices@yahoo.com Safe Metairie
Looking for space in Lafayette
Derwyn Bunton California JJPL NO
Raymond Burkart Law Student Gretna
Zach Butterworth Bay St. Louis, MS
Bill Campbell Atlanta w/ family Public Defender NO
Erica Campbell 716-200-7879 Mobile, AL NO
littlelosthippie@hotmail.com
Ralph Capitelli NO
David Carollo Slidell
Melanie Carr 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE Fighting Chance NO
Eddie Castaing Private office NO
Aneel Chablani 312-804-3287 Chicago CAP NO
George Chaney Public Defender NO
Christine Changho Bruneau NO
Catherine Chavarri NO
Susan Ciaravella Shreveport w/ family Jefferson Pub Def NO
Dane Ciolino 888-364-3812 Shreveport w/ family Law Professor NO
Dciolino@gmail.com
Shaun Clarke NO
Gary Clements gclements@cpcpl.org Shreveport, LA CPCPL NO
W. 318-222-3778; H. 318-757-2256 (cell 504-812-3428, for future)
Ben Cohen 216-932-3804 Ohio CAP Ohio
Archie Creech Safe Jefferson Public Def Gretna
William Crull NO
Kerry Cuccia 504-616-8608 Safe CDPSL NO
Mark Cunningham NO
Sal Cusimano
Sam Dalton 504-737-2249 Safe NO
June Darensburg Gretna
Richard Davis 713-426-0490/0390 Houston/GRACE IPNO NO
rmad1982@yahoo.co.uk
Linda Davis-Short Gretna
Ava deMontagne 323-770-4488 cell Los Angeles til 9/20 IPNO NO
Frank DeSalvo 504-258-1829 Safe NO
832-863-3869
Gerald DeSalvo Gretna
Letty DiGiulio 225-343-1407 Baton Rouge, w/dad CAP NO
or 225-383-7241
Dennis Dolbear NO
William Doyle Gretna
Jeff Edwards 281-775-5692 cell Houston Fighting Chance NO
Gary Eldredge Private Investigator NO
Kevin Ellis Law Student NO
Michael H. Ellis Metairie
Lawrence Fabacher 318-335-2271 Oakdale Priv off - immigration NO
Patrick Fanning Safe NO
Marion Farmer Safe Private office Covington
Office fine but home destroyed
Lee Faulkner Monroe Jefferson Pub Def Gretna
Mike Fawer Covington
Calvin Fleming Gretna
Paul Fleming paul.fleming@mindspring.com Atlanta Gretna
Robert Fleming Covington
S.D. Fleming NO
Tim Fondren 985-902-8900 Safe/home, but no electricity Natalbany
Katherine Franks LAP Slidell
Pat Franz Metairie
Robert Fuhrer Morgan City
Meg Garvey 504-343-7175 cell CAP intern/law grad NO
Meggarvey@hotmail.com
Barry Gerharz 504-994-6193 IPNO NO
Charlotte Glass NO
Robert Glass 302-475-7749 Wilmington, Del w/ fam Glass & Reed NO
Glasreed@bellsouth.net R_glass@bellsouth.net
504-259-2966 cell
Tracy Glorioso Gretna
Matthew Goetz Baton Rouge w/ family Jefferson Pub Def Gretna
Rudy Gorrell NO
Tilden Greenbaum 225-753-7384 Baton Rouge Orleans Public Def NO
Ed Greenlee 318-869-3777 Shreveport LIDAB NO
Egreenlee@lidab.com At Richard Goorley=s
Katherine Guste Gretna
Robert Habans Slidell
Heather Hall NY w/ mom LJP NO
Douglas Hammel Metairie
Patrick Hand NO
Mary “Constance” Hanes Safe LAP
Phil Hantel Safe NO
Pauline Hardin En route to BR from SCar NO
Arthur Harris NO
Maurice Hattier NO
Susan Herrero NO
Holli Herrle-Castille Safe LAP Marrero
Joe Hingston 504-231-4585 Houston LCAC NO
Joeh@mail.thejusticecenter.org
Jancy Hoeffel 847-498-5043 Chicago w/ family Law Professor NO
Mary Howell (573) 448-3336 Safe in Missouri NO
meh316@aol.com
Michael Idoyaga Gretna
Rachel Jones 713-869-1335/1329 Houston/GRACE LCAC NO
347-528-5396 cell
Frederick Kelly NO
Kathy Kelly Natchez, MS w/ parents CPCPL NO
Duncan Kemp Hammond
Frederick King NO
Arthur Kingsmill Gretna
Carol Kolinchak 215-862-3709 Baton Rouge w/ Boren CPCPL NO
Ckolinchak@cpcpl.org
Alex Lambert Gretna
Charles Lane NO
Frank Larre
Denise Larson Gretna
Herb Larson Austin, TX NO
James Lawrence NO
Michael LeBlanc 512-608-9890 Austin, TX NO
Kidzmom17@hotmail.com
Denny LeBoeuf Atlanta W/ family CPCPL NO
John Lee, Jr. Gretna
Christine Lehmann 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE LCAC NO
or 832-260-6454 cell
Buddy Lemann 225-473-8312 Donaldsonville, LA Private office NO
James Lemmon Gretna
Steve Lemoine NO
David Levitt 404-252-1711 Atlanta w/ family NO
Steve London NO
Jim Looney Lafayette, LAP Covington
but hoping for home soon - no power
Robert Magaletta Covington
Joe Marino Jr. Dallas
Joseph Marino III Jamarino3@aol.com back home in Gretna private office Gretna
504-975-0505 cell
504-362-0666 work
Chip Marionneaux Okay per Audrey McCain Plaquemine
Robert Marrero Gretna
Jack Martzell jrm@mbfirm.com Houston, to BR in 1 wk Private office NO
Emily Maw 601-969-5165 767 N. Congress St. IPNO NO
504-339-3105 cell Jackson, MS 39202
Richard McBride NO
Audrey McCain home and office safe in Plaquemine, Plaquemine
Todd McCormick Covington
Patrick McGinity Metairie
Daniel McKearan Gretna
Richard McWilliams NO
Tim Meche Timeche@bellsouth.net Relocating to NYC Private office NO
212-249-3129
Louis Merhige
Clyde Merritt Public Defender NO
Pamela Metzger 404-252-1711 Atlanta w/ family Law Professor NO
Janice Montague-Myles Okay and office okay per Audrey McCain
Joseph Montgomery Gretna
Warren Montgomery Covington
Pam Moran Safe LAP NO
Mark Morgan Gretna
Provino Mosca NO
Julian Murray Metairie
Shelia Myers NO
Marquita Naquin Gretna
Mark Nolting Gretna
James O’Connor NO
Raleigh Ohlmeyer 225-927-3015 8815 Pecan Tree Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 NO
Rohlmeyer@aol.com
504-343-7563
Marcia Oliver Memphis LIDAB NO
Bobbie Osterman Legalpsych@aol.com Florida panhandle Law student NO
David Park 713-869-1335/1329 Houston GRACE IPNO NO
Laura Pavy Safe LAP NO
Joseph Perez Gretna
Keely Perrin 206-851-3021 Jackson,MS w/ RobMcDuff IPNO NO
keelsmp@yahoo.com
Jelpi Picou 321-779-3606 Houma CAP NO
Melissa Pleasant IPNO NO
Ursula Price 281-381-5819 cell Houston/GRACE Fighting Chance NO
Bill Quigley duprestars@yahoo.com Safe w/ wife Law Professor NO
Ronald Rakosky Safe - per Herb Larson NO
John Wilson Reed Glass & Reed NO
Bonnie Renou 504-274-8702 cell Houston/GRACE Fighting Chance NO
713-426-0490/0390
Michael Riehlmann Gretna
Bill Rittenberg 210-226-1463 til 9/15 then to Tucson Private office NO
Rittenberg@rittenbergsamuel.com
504-220-1960 cell
Harry Rosenberg NO
Michael Rubenstein Private office NO
Linda Russo NO
Donald Sauviac Safe/ w fam as of 9/2 Public Defender NO
Thomas Schexnayder Gretna
Virginia Schlueter Lafayette Fed Pub Def - ED La NO
can reach through Rebecca Hudsmith
Evans Schmidt
Kyle Schonekas Public Defender NO
Rick Schroeder Baton Rouge Private Office NO
Robin Schulberg Covington/Baton Rouge Public Defender NO
Samuel Scillitani Safe Jefferson Public Def Gretna
Steve Shapiro 225-205-8226 W Baton Rouge Private office Baton Rouge
225-383-2229 H
Jonathan Shushan NO
John Simmons Public Defender Covington
Steve Singer 847-498-5043 Chicago w/ family Law Professor/LCAC NO
stephensingerchicago@hotmail.com
Frank Sloan Safe LAP Mandeville
Jeff Smith Safe - per Herb Larson Public Defender NO
Majeeda Snead Law Professor NO
Donald Soignet Metairie
Michael Somoza Public Defender Gretna
Billy Sothern 662-715-9485 cell Oxford, MS CAP NO
Buddy Spell 985-264-0255 cell Franklinton Private office Franklinton
Philip Stein NO
Robert Stern NO
Andrew Taormina Metairie
Hilary Taylor Dallas Jefferson Public Def Gretna
Rick Teissier 949-499-1944 Laguna Beach, Calif Private Office NO
504-616-6915 for text messages
Richardcteissier@yahoo.com
Michael Thiel Hammond
Robert Toale 770-416-1301 Norcross, GA w/ sister Gretna
770-876-2859 cell
Richard Tompson Public Defender Gretna
Jacque Touzet Public Defender NO
Nick Trenticosta 504-274-8974 Baton Rouge, at Boren=s capital post-conviction NO
then on to Houston
Lane Trippe NO
Georgia Turgeau Slidell
Alan Tusa Covington
Maurice Tyler NO
Lance Unglesby
Dylan Utley 504-812-8490 cell Baton Rouge Orleans Public Def NO
225-343-1407 dylan@johndigiulio.com
David Utter Shreveport JJPL NO
w/ Henry Walker
Cesar Vazquez Gretna
George Vedros Gretna
Mark Vicknair NO
Gary Wainwright 504-913-9252 cell Private office NO
CgaryWainwright@aol.com messages: 985-345-8470
Neal Walker 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE LCAC NO
504-427-5549 cell
Caroline Wallace 337-583-7024 Sulphur, LA w/ family CPCPL NO
Sherry Watters Safe NO
Kim Watts 504-255-9830 Mobile w/ family LCAC/CAP NO
Timon Webre Gretna
Rich Westling 504-495-4119 Tennessee w/ family Private office NO
Ralph Whalen NO
Bruce Whittaker Safe in Opelousas LAP NO
Laurie White Law@lauriewhite.com Baton Rouge Private office NO
Marcy Widder 318-443-8931 Alexandria w/ Phyllis CAP NO
504-231-5651 cell
Frazilia Wiggins Gretna
Shannon Wight 504-296-5368 IPNO? NO
abolishprisons@aol.com
Bernard Williams Covington
Jason Williams NO
Lauren Williams NO
Lindsey Williams Gretna
Phillip Wittmann NO
Eric Wright NO
James Wright NO

Governor Extends Order for Emergency Suspension of Prescription, Preemption and Other Legal Deadlines

2005-09-26T20:10:00.000-05:00

On September 23, 2005, Governor Blanco issued Executive Order NO. KBB 2005-48- which grants an extension of Executive Order NO. KBB 2005-32 for the emergency suspension of prescription, preemption and other legal deadlines. The text of the order is as follows:

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. KBB 2005 - 48

___________________________________________________________________________________________

EXTENSION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. KBB 2005 - 32

EMERGENCY SUSPENSION OF PRESCRIPTION, PEREMPTION AND OTHER LEGAL DEADLINES

___________________________________________________________________________________________

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. KBB 2005-32, issued on September 6, 2005, suspended all deadlines applicable to legal proceedings, including prescription and peremption, in all Louisiana state courts, administrative agencies and boards;

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. KBB 2005-32 is in effect until September 25, 2005; and

WHEREAS, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel jointly requested that Executive Order No. 2005 - 32 be extended for an additional thirty (30) days;

NOW THEREFORE I, KATHLEEN BABINEAUX BLANCO, Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: Section 1 of Executive Order No. KBB 2005-32, issued on September 6, 2005, is amended as follows:

A. All deadlines in legal proceedings, including liberative prescriptive and peremptive periods in all courts, administrative agencies, and boards are hereby suspended until at least October 25, 2005, including, but not limited to, non-constitutionally mandated deadlines in criminal proceedings and any such deadlines set for in the following:
1. Louisiana Civil Code;

2. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure;

3. R.S. Title 9, Civil Code Ancillaries;

4. La. R.S. Title 13, Courts and Judicial Procedure;

5. La. R.S. Title 23, Chapter 10, Worker=s Compensation;

6. La. R.S. Title 40, Chapter 5 Part XXI-A, Malpractice Liability for State Services; and

7. La. R.S. Title 40, Chapter 5, Part XXIII, Medical Malpractice.

B. The suspension of laws as provided in Subsection 1(A) of this Executive Order shall apply statewide and in all matters, except to the extent that the suspension of deadlines in legal proceedings may hereafter be shortened or lifted, in whole or in part, by an order issued by the Louisiana Supreme Court acting in accordance with the power vested pursuant to Article V of the Constitution.

SECTION 2: This Order is effective upon signature and shall remain in effect until Tuesday, October 25, 2005, unless amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law prior to such time.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 23rd day of September, 2005.

/S/ Kathleen Babineaux Blanco

GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA

ATTEST BY

THE GOVERNOR

/S/ Al Ater

SECRETARY OF STATE

Displaced Lawyers Apply for NACDL Grants Here

2005-09-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

Any lawyer displaced or suffering loss from Katrina needs to look at the grant application at www.nacdl.org/relief

The application can be submitted on line and are reviewed daily. If you need the paper version, call Keith Nordyke at (225) 383-1601 or email at knordyke@nordykelaw.com and we'll get one to you. Funds are limited to a maximum of $1,500.00.

Update on New Orleans Bail office

2005-09-22T21:52:00.000-05:00

On 9/22/05 Julie Kilborn reports:

Here's the bonding process for Orleans Parish as agreed to this morning by DOJ and DOC:

If bail has already been set, a family member or friend can bond an inmate out by going to the AG's office at 1885 N. 3rd Street, Baton Rouge. In the lobby of the AG's office is the temporary Orleans bonding office with bail bondsmen standing by. At that location, they can post a commercial surety or cash bond. Upon posting bond, the bail order will be faxed to DOC who will locate the inmate and fax the bail order to the facility where the inmate is being held. The inmate must then sign the bail order. The family member or friend must then physically go to the facility where the inmate is being held to pick up the inmate. The facility will release the inmate only to the person designated in the bail order. DOC will not transport the inmate anywhere.

If anyone has any questions about this process, they should contact George Steimel at gsteimel@bellsouth.net who gave me all of this information and who no doubt knows more about the process.

Louisiana State Bar Practice Aid Guide Available Online

2005-09-21T22:24:00.000-05:00

From the Louisiana Bar Today - Wednesday, September 21, 2005

LSBA members who may no longer have access to their Practice Aid Guides (printed publication or CD) because of office relocation or hurricane evacuation can access the publication on the LSBA Web site at www.lsba.org/publications/practice_aid_guide.asp . You may download the whole publication, various sections or individual forms.

Federal Courts Establish Communications Center

2005-09-21T22:21:00.000-05:00

From the Louisiana Bar Today - Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Judge Richard to Haik of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana has issued a court order establishing a Communications Center for attorneys displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane has affected almost 6,000 cases pending before the Eastern District (virtually all of which involve New Orleans attorneys); more than 9,000 cases in the Middle District (of which 50 – 75 percent involve New Orleans attorneys); and more than 600 Western District cases involving New Orleans attorneys. Special Master Gary Zwain, himself a displaced New Orleans attorney, was appointed by court order to oversee the operation of the Center. A cooperative effort between the LSBA, the federal courts and the Federal Bar Association, the Communications Center is housed at 810 South Buchanan Street in Lafayette in office space donated by the law firm of Davidson, Meaux, Sonnier & McElligot. The main priority is to locate attorneys and then keep them updated on the status of their cases in the federal court system. Attorneys should contact the Center at (337)235-2444; toll-free at (866)456-8297; or by email at: gary_zwain@laspecialmaster.com. For more information, go to: www.laspecialmaster.com .

Louisiana State Bar Publications to be Distributed Online Only

2005-09-21T22:19:00.000-05:00

From the Louisiana Bar Today - Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Because displaced lawyers may be moving frequently in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the LSBA Board of Governors has approved the distribution of Bar publications (Louisiana Bar Journal and “Bar Briefs”) via the Web site only for the next few months. There will be no print versions produced or mailed. Bar members will be notified when the publications are uploaded to the Web site. Note to the arbitrators and mediators who have paid to be in the print and Web versions of the “Who’s Who in ADR 2005” Directory: The online version will be uploaded in October as usual; the print version will be produced and included in the next available printed Journal.

LSBA Expanding Hotline, Hiring Law Students to Handle Intake

2005-09-21T22:17:00.000-05:00

From the Louisiana Bar Today - Wednesday, September 21, 2005

The LSBA, local bar associations and countless volunteers are working to expand the Disaster Legal Assistance Hotline established to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina with legal needs related to the disaster. To volunteer to provide legal assistance to storm victims, go to: http://www.lsba.org/home1/pdfvolunteer.pdf The hotline (800-310-7029) was activated in the aftermath of the storm and since that time has been housed at the offices of the Baton Rouge Bar Association. Anticipating the increased need for legal services, the LSBA is expanding and moving the Call Center to the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU. The Center will continue to be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. The LSBA is hiring law students to handle telephone intake: a training session for intake operators will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept.22 at the Law Center. For more information on intake training, contact ljohnson@lsba.org.

LSBA Establishes Messaging Center for Attorney/Client Communication

2005-09-21T22:13:00.000-05:00

From the Louisiana Bar Today - Wednesday, September 21, 2005

The LSBA has established an online Attorney/Client Messaging Center to allow clients to locate and communicate with their attorneys who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Since the storm, the LSBA has received numerous phone calls from clients, the courts and other attorneys searching for Bar members. Clients are able to use this feature by accessing http://www.LSBA.org/home1/attorneyclientssearch.asp and following the instructions. Attorneys should log in periodically to check whether they have messages.

Posting Bond in Jefferson Parish

2005-09-21T21:55:00.000-05:00

In an email last night, LACDL Legislative Director George Steimel gsteimel@bellsouth.net reports that

A Bail agent can go to the Jefferson parish jail and bail someone out at this time. If the inmate was originally held at the Jefferson parish jail. The Jefferson parish sheriff will have that inmate transferred to and then released from Jefferson parish jail.

We are doing our best to work something out for New Orleans at this time.

Federal Court Looking For Attorneys With Pending Cases In New Orleans

2005-09-21T20:33:00.000-05:00

The following article appeared in the Baton Rouge Advocate today

Court seeks attorneys with N.O. cases pending.

By RICHARD BURGESS

Acadiana bureau

LAFAYETTE -- Court officials are putting out an urgent call for the thousands of displaced New Orleans attorneys who have federal cases pending across the state.
Among the many lesser-known problems wrought by Hurricane Katrina is a major disruption to the legal system, as cases statewide for some 8,000 New Orleans-area attorneys are in limbo.

Federal court officials this week opened a "Communications Center" in Lafayette in an effort to track down those displaced attorneys and get cases moving again.

"It's a center for vagabond lawyers," said Gary Zwain, who has appointed by the court to oversee operations at the center.

Zwain, himself a displaced New Orleans attorney, said "thousands of cases" are unable to move forward because of difficulty in contacting attorneys.

Staff for the New Orleans-based U.S. Eastern District Court have set up makeshift offices in Lafayette, Houma and Baton Rouge. The district is accepting court filings, but all legal deadlines have been suspended.

The hurricane has affected 5,934 civil and criminal cases pending in the Eastern District in New Orleans, according to information from court officials.

In addition to those numbers, an estimated 600-700 cases in the Lafayette-based U.S. Western District Court and 4,700-7,000 cases in the Baton Rouge-based U.S. Middle District Court involve New Orleans-area attorneys.

There are no firm numbers on how many displaced attorneys have made contact with the court or how many are grappling with such problems as lost witnesses, lost evidence and lost clients.

"The system has suffered a serious setback," Zwain said.

He said the court system will be in recovery mode "for months."

New Orleans-area lawyers with cases pending in federal court are urged to call the communications center at (337) 235-2444 or at (866) 456-8297, or visit the Web site: http://www.laspecialmaster.com .

The center can provide updated information on pending cases, temporary e-mail addresses and aid in finding or replacing damaged files or documents.

NACDL Offers Grants To Criminal Defense Lawyers and Organizations

2005-09-20T21:39:00.000-05:00

NACDL Offers Grants To Criminal Defense Lawyers and Organizations

NACDL Executive Director Ralph Grunewald has asked that we give this information widest dissemination possible.

NACDL's Katrina Disaster Relief Fund.

Lawyers from the three states are now able to submit applications online for individual Grants to assist them in rebuilding their practices by visiting www.nacdl.org/relief . Criminal justice organizations in the Gulf states are also encouraged to apply for grants to help rebuild their institutions.

NACDL established the Katrina Disaster Relief Fund within a day following the disaster. By mid-September, NACDL had received gifts and pledges exceeding $80,000. This includes the Foundation for Criminal Justice (NACDL's charitable supporting organization) whose Trustees have established a challenge grant of up to $50,000 to match individual member contributions dollar-for-dollar. The Foundation is administering the Katrina Disaster Relief Fund, and grants are now being made to needy defense lawyers and criminal justice institutions to help them rebuild their practices and organizations; most have few options, and NACDL is there to ensure they will not stand alone.

Included in the $80,000 total raised to-date, is $5,000 in "seed money" donated by the NACDL, $4,500 raised at a September fundraising event by NACDL members in Seattle, and a $1,000 contribution from the Tarrant County (TX) Criminal Defense Lawyer Association. The Texas Lawyers Educational Institute of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association has pledged $5,000, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has pledged an additional $5,000, as well as the Miami Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers which has pledged $1,000. NACDL is encouraging all its Affiliates to contribute in whatever way they can.

Likewise, NACDL is encouraging members of our Affiliates to make tax-deductible contributions to the Katrina Disaster Relief Fund. Either fill-in the attached Giving Form or give a gift online at www.nacdl.org/foundation .Please donate today.

Immediately after the hurricane, NACDL also established the Katrina Disaster Bulletin Board. This is the place where NACDL members can offer assistance, where those in need can learn about the assistance being offered, and where we can match-up those in need with those who are able to assist. The Bulletin Board appears on our Web site at www.nacdl.org/relief .

Offers of assistance on the new Bulletin Board have already included

(1) providing housing and shelter for any members and their families in need;

(2) assisting affected members with temporary office space;
(3) providing short-term employment for affected lawyers;
(4) providing short-term case oversight; and
(5) donating office equipment and supplies, telephones and cellphones, calling cards, etc. once conditions improve and these supplies can be delivered to them.

Further, NACDL hired Keith Nordyke, a criminal defense lawyer in Baton Rouge, to serve as our Katrina Disaster Relief Liaison. Keith is coordinating efforts on-the-ground to assist lawyers in the affected areas to rebuild their practices and to provide resources and information to them. He interacts with federal, state, and local agencies in the three affected states, developing databases of prisoners and their lawyers in order to bring a semblance of order to the chaos brought on by Katrina.

NACDL looks forward to working in partnership with our Affiliates to ensure that every defense lawyer from the affected areas knows he or she does not stand alone during these difficult days of rebuilding their lives and practices.

www.nacdl.org/relief

HelpKatrinaLawyers.org Now Available Online

2005-09-15T00:38:00.000-05:00

Do you need guidance restoring backed-up data or recovering data from physically damaged computer systems? Do you need answers to other technology questions to get your practice up and running? A group of volunteers, composed of legal technology consultants, practice management advisors and vendors of legal products and services, have joined forces to help. For more information on the resources available, access www.HelpKatrinaLawyers.org or visit www.lsba.org/home1/NewsDetails.asp?NewsID=21

.

Progress Report On Inmate Tracking/Release Efforts

2005-09-15T00:29:00.000-05:00

In an email tonight, Keith Nordyke, Coordinator for the NACDL/LACDL Katrina Relief Task force reports the following progress:

Significant progress was made today regarding release of the prisoners
transferred from N.O. post Katrina. LACDL and NACDL have been working
virtually around the clock trying to negotiate a solution to the inmates
held for municipal offenses, inmates due and over due for release and
others. I'll send a full report in the morning when I have all of my
notes from the office and can digest into a synthesized form the many
email messages and calls today. I think we now have a better grip on
the delays and the reasons which I will try to outline tomorrow morning.
A brief summary follows:

1. A number of parole revocation inmates have either been released or
will be soon. Number is estimated to be 220 or so.
2. Of the "municipal" prisoners, about 250 total should be out in
24-36 hours. Although we are upset with the 24 hour delay, it is
occasioned by problems in checking for active warrants and
probation/parole holds. Many of these searches are frustrated by lack
of automation in local facilities.
3. Parole hearings were held today and I believe 18 were paroled.
4. I am informed that Jefferson Parish has started rounds to where
their prisoners are held and are getting them cut loose. I have heard
that a number are already out. Reports from lawyers in those areas
would be appreciated. Please put Jefferson parish in the subject line.

5. Others should follow as systems come back up.

It's my guess that we should see a fairly orderly out migration
starting Friday which is the timetable that was given to those of us at
the meeting with the AG and Supreme Court on Monday.

The process is being organized by DOC and should be ready tomorrow with
the actual releases to follow soon. I understand that the lists
compiled by Orleans will go out tomorrow morning to the facilities
ordering release for Friday.

Not withstanding rumor on the internet, the process has been tedious
and moreover, been done manually from a 1300 page small font list. It
is just taking time to confirm status and then confirm identity and then
confirm no detainers/warrants. In our field interviews, we have come to
believe that many are overdue for release. It appears that some of
those we thought should be released have active holds.

I'll try to cover what we know about the bonding process that is being
developed in tomorrow's email.

I know that we are all frustrated and upset over the delay. I
certainly am. However, at least for this first group and for a couple
of categories that should follow soon, this process seems to have
worked.

When I get in tomorrow and get the notes I made today, I will update
this post.

Keith

Louisiana Supreme Court closed through October 1, 2005

2005-09-15T00:13:00.000-05:00

The Supreme Court of Louisiana shall be closed through October 1, 2005, unless extended by order of this Court. All filings due during the period of closure shall be deemed timely filed if filed within 5 days of the resumption of normal Court operations. This closure shall serve as an exception to Part One, Chapter 6, Article II, Section 2 of the Human Resource Management Manual for the Supreme Court of Louisiana.

LIDAB Posts Inmate Tracking Database with Info on Evacuated Inmates

2005-09-15T00:12:00.000-05:00

This afternoon LIDAB posted the inmate tracking database on its website. This is a database that is being created through the dedicated efforts of volunteer attorneys from LACDL, LIDAB, and LAPDA. This database is based on forms filled out by inmates and interviews at the facilities and includes information about the inmate's location, case status, heath status, defense lawyer and location of person who can be contacted on inmate's behalf to inform of their whereabouts.

This database is being updated as we receive new forms and the data entry workers update the database. This list is in html and alphabetical. An MS Excel version is HERE for viewing, and HERE for download. You can download the MS Access version HERE . If your client is not listed in the database, check the DOC list HERE .

A couple of words about the database. The first link is in html and the second is in Excel. But, we are still working on the search capabilities. Both are in alphabetical order. The database information will take longer to update as the forms arrive and data entry people input the data. The DOC and other lists have the majority of inmates listed. The database is an attempt to provide contact information, (attorney name, charges, etc.) in an attempt to help the clients.

Volunteers are getting the information as quickly as they can. Last database update was 09/14/2005 06:00 PM

Information Available On Ouachita Parish Inmates

2005-09-14T21:01:00.000-05:00

The LIDAB Inmate Page has been updated with a list of inmates from Ouachita Parish. The list is of all inmates, not just transferred. But, this is how it was received. It is in searchable excel form.

Attorney General Confers With Key Criminal Justice System Players

2005-09-14T20:58:00.000-05:00

On Monday afternoon September 12, 2005, Attorney General Charles Foti lead a meeting of key players in the Louisiana Criminal justice System to discuss the evacuated prisoner situation and coordinate efforts to rebuild. Among the many stakeholders present were Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Kitty Kimball, LACDL President David Price, LIDAB Director Ed Greenlee, LAPDA Director Paul Marx, LACDL Liaison Jim Boren. Also present were representative of the Department of Corrections, and the Louisiana District AttorneyÂs Association. Significant progress was made on several fronts.

The meeting was very productive. The Attorney General acknowledged the need to get municipal detainees and misdemeanants (both pretrial and convicted) out of jail. Procedures to get all held on misdemeanors before cross-deputized judges, to release on recognizance or for time served were discussed.

The Attorney General has given temporary office space to the prosecution and defense, including computer access, and Tilden Greenbaum has about 6 Public Defenders that he expects to reconstitute the Orleans Indigent Defense Program. This arrangement will facilitate the disposition of the easy cases.

The State will be combing the records of the Clerk and Sheriff in Orleans that have been recovered. They plan to "Release on Recognizance" the people who are charged with or have status of ÂMunicipal Misdemeanors pending.Â They will release misdemeanants whose time served is equal to their sentence. The D.A.'s staff will review State Misdemeanors and hopefully will agree to release some of those on recognizance.

Tilden wants to avoid felony plea bargains unless it is clear the evidence has not been lost. Nonetheless, whatever can be done to release is going to be done.

We are going to rush to complete our inmate tracking efforts as much as possible as insurance that what was promised at the meeting will happen. We expect that by the end of next week we will see some release. We will need to support the Public Defenders as they start to dig out and follow up on inmates that are transferred to see that they are fairly treated.

We expect that Jefferson Parish will be back in operation in 14 days. It remains unclear when St. Bernard and Plaquemine will be back up

LIDAB, will also have office facilities at the Livingston Building, but Greenlee is currently operating out of Shreveport where Richard Goorley has provided him space in the CAPOLA offices. Currently Orleans Parish is operating at Hunt.

A working group will consult the LDAA on an Executive Order to issue late September and to include criminal law issues in the Governor's Emergency Decree to lift certain deadlines.

Importantly there was acknowledgement of the impending funding crisis. FEMA Funds may be available for both DAÂs and Defenders as well as members of the Private bar. We will need to help Ed Greenlee come up with a special budget proposal for the special legislative session. LDAA says they will support a joint emergency budget request based on the storm damage.

Notice to Louisiana Lawyers Having Business with Federal Courts

2005-09-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

On September 13, 2005 the fololowing was sent by emailto LSBA Members:

Notice to Louisiana Lawyers Having Business with Federal Courts
Due to Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association and the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana have established a Communications Center in Lafayette to facilitate communication between the federal courts and displaced lawyers who have business before the courts. The Center will be staffed by a Special Master and staff attorney who will offer assistance to lawyers and the public on matters such as: reestablishing contact with the federal courts; file reconstruction; keeping current with court orders and notices; contacting other displaced counsel; and contacting displaced court personnel. The Center may be contacted via e-mail at gary_zwain@laspecialmaster.com or sylvia_lowe@laspecialmaster.com. Phone service is expected to be operational later this week. Phone and fax numbers will be posted at www.lsba.org/home1/news_and_developments.asp as soon as they are available.

Message from Frank X. Neuner, Jr., President Louisiana State Bar Association

2005-09-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

The following message from Frank X. Neuner, Jr., President Louisiana State Bar Association was sent out by email on September 13, 2005

resident''s Message
For those lawyers and their families who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina, we hope that you have found adequate shelter and office space to continue your practices. We are attempting to anticipate the needs of displaced lawyers and develop programs to assist them with reestablishing their practices. In that regard, we are working with other Bar Associations to schedule seminars for lawyers who have lost their offices and/or access to their files.

The Louisiana State Bar Association website www.LSBA.org continues to be our primary and most effective means of communication. We know that many of you are having trouble with telephone service, and if you need to reach me the most effective way is to email me at fneuner@LN-LAW.com.

I have been working closely with the Louisiana Supreme Court and Attorney General Charles Foti''s office to coordinate our efforts in meeting the needs of the public and the lawyers of Louisiana with regard to the justice system. The LSBA will continue to post on our website orders from the Louisiana Supreme Court and other Louisiana Courts. I urge you to visit www.LSBA.org on a daily basis for new information and services.

The LSBA owes a special debt of gratitude to the State Bar of Texas for sending five key staff members to Lafayette for several days in the week following the hurricane. These individuals were instrumental in establishing our temporary offices and organizing the Bar’s disaster legal assistance seminars.

Finally, while the Bar Center is operating from its temporary offices in Lafayette, I ask for your patience and consideration. Like many of you, members of the staff have had their personal lives turned upside down and are displaced. Despite this, may of them have been working long hours since the week Katrina hit to update the website and otherwise assist members of our Association and the public. Your patience and understanding when dealing with the LSBA staff will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Frank X. Neuner, Jr., President
Louisiana State Bar Association

Louisiana Lawyer Displacement Database

2005-09-14T07:34:00.000-05:00

Attorneys displaced by Hurricane Katrina can now enter contact information by visiting the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's website http://www.ladb.org . All updated contact information will be available to be viewed by the public. Clients or other members of the public will only be able to view the updated contact information entered by the attorney. Previous bar registration information will not be made available to the public.

The Displacement Database will also allow clients to enter their updated contact information. This updated contact information will be sent to the designated attorney via e-mail at either the attorney's bar registration address or, if updated contact information has been received from the attorney, at the attorney's newly-submitted e-mail address. Additionally, upon logging in, attorneys will be able to view a list of their clients who have entered updated contact information by scrolling to the bottom of the attorney data page.

Once an attorney enters updated information, clients who have registered at the site and included an e-mail address in their updated information will receive e-mails notifying them of their attorney's new contact information.

You can enter your contact information by visiting the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's website http://www.ladb.org and selecting the appropriate log-in link on the websiteÃ?s home page or by clicking on the link below:

Attorneys click here to enter updated contact information and to access the displaced client database.

Clients click here to enter updated contact information and to access the displaced attorney database.

Help For Rebuilding Your Practice From TimeLedger.com

2005-09-09T21:55:00.000-05:00

Discounted Internet Based Time and Expense Tracking for Law firms in Katrina Affected Areas!!!

I just spoke with Jeff Dracup at Equative, Inc. which operates www.TimeLedger.com – an internet based time and expense tracking and invoicing system. Jeff who is also an attorney, is wanting to help out the attorneys and firms displaced by Hurricane Katrina and he forwarded the following information.

Since law firms in the area have had to suddenly relocate – they have been left without a method to invoice their clients and generate crucial monthly income. Possibly we can help a bit by offering TimeLedger at a 50% discount.
We will provide full use of our time and expense tracking and invoicing system – www.TimeLedger.com – (with no limit on the number of users) to any company or organization in Louisiana, for the next 12 months at a 50% discount, or $6.45 per user per month – with the first 30 days of use at no charge. There is no commitment to continue use – and charges will be calculated solely on a month-to-month basis from the number of users each month. Just click here to start your 30-day free trial.

TimeLedger has an easy setup wizard that allows timekeepers to be entering time and expenses within five minutes of setup. The product can be used from any computer with the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser connected to the Internet – and requires no downloading or installation of any kind. Much of the key vocabulary in TimeLedger can be set by the system Administrator – which makes the product even easier to use.

Yours truly,

Jeff Dracup
Equative, Inc.
4210 City Lights Dr.
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
jdracup@hotmail.com
Office: (949) 305-9600
Fax: (949) 305-7529

Updated!! --Inmate Tracking Form September 9, 2005

2005-09-09T21:51:00.000-05:00

Name: _________________________________________ DOC #: _________________

Date of Birth: ____________ SS#: ________________ Race: ______ Gender: _____

Current location: _________________________________ Date of interview: _________

Location prior to evacuation: ______________________________________________________

Permanent address: ____________________________________________________________

Emergency contact: ____________________________________________________________
Name

____________________________________________________________
Last known address

____________________________________________________________
Last known phone

Name, address, phone of any missing family members: ______________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Who can we notify to let them know where you are: ______________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Case Information: Are you: Convicted _____ Pre-trial ________

Date of Arrest: _______________ Arresting Agency: ________________________

Parish: ____________________________________________________________

Docket number: ____________________________________________________________

Charges/Sentenced: ____________________________________________________________

Judge: ____________________________________________________________

District attorney: ____________________________________________________________

Defense Attorney: ____________________________________________________________
Name:

____________________________________________________________
Last known address

____________________________________________________________
Last known phone

Special Needs: (ex. Diabetes, mental health, medical conditions, etc.)

______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Current List of Facilities Holding Evacuated Inmates as of Spetember 9, 2005

2005-09-09T21:36:00.000-05:00

LACDL has obtained a list of List of Facilities Holding Evacuated Inmates. We are working with the DOC and the Local sheriffs to confirm prisoner locations and to obtain relevant information about each prisoner. The facilities are listed below. If you are an attonrey, paralegal or legal assistant and are able to help with this effort contact

Phyllis Mann at phyllis@kricket.net W. (318) 448-0000, cell (318) 729-3868.
Keith Nordyke at Keith.Nordyke@nordykelaw.com (225) 383-1601

1. Concordia Parish Correctional Facility
2. Sabine Parish Detention Center
3. Louisiana State Penitentiary
4. Dixon Correctional Center
5. Avoyelles Correction Center
6. Bossier Parish Penal Farm
7. Lafayette Parish Correctional Center
8. Winn Correctional Center
9. West Carroll Detention Center
10. River Correctional Center
11. Allen Correctional
12. South Louisiana Correctional Center Â Basile
13. EACC
14. David Wade Correctional Center
15. C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center
16. Union Parish Detention Center
17. Elayn Hunt Correctional Center
18. Natchitoches Parish SheriffÂs Office, Corrections Division
19. Riverbend Detention Center
20. Pine Prairie Correctional Center
21. Madison Parish Corrections Division
22. Caldwell Detention Center
23. Rapides Parish Detention Center III
24. Steve Hoyle Rehabilitation Center (SHRC)
25. Ouachita Correctional Center
26. Richwood Correctional Center
27. J. B. Evans Correctional Center
28. West Feliciana Parish Detention Center
29. LaSalle Correctional
30. J Levy Dabadie Correctional Center
31. Concordia Parish Correctional Facility
32. Avoyelles Simmesport Correctional Center
33. Avoyelles Parish SheriffÂs Office
34. Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
35. Catahoula Correctional Center

Evacuated Juvenile Detainees

2005-09-09T21:29:00.000-05:00

Lisa Kung at the Southern Center for Human Rights reports today that:
All youths held in Bridge City Center for Youth (BCCY) are accounted for and are now held at Jetson Correctional Center. You can call Jetson at (225) 778-9000 and ask for John Anderson, Michael Gaines, Ricky Wright, or Linda London. Family members should demand that their child be brought to the phone immediately and be allowed to talk to their family.

Youths held at the Youth Study Center, Plaquemine Detention Center, St. Bernard Center, Terrebonne Detention Center, and Riverde Detention Center have been routed to placements in other parts of the state. Family members should call Perla at (225) 287-7988 or (225) 328-3607 (cell) or Stacey at (225) 287-7955 to find out where their child is located. Ask Perla for a phone number, call, and demand that they be permitted to speak to their child immediately on the phone.

FFLIC has not confirmed that all youths have been accounted for.

Katrina and Me, by Sherry Watters

2005-09-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Posted on the LACDL List service today

In advance of Hurricane Katrina, I was one of forty three Louisiana Department
of Social Services staff members, who was assigned to work at the Superdome in
New Orleans on the joint Emergency Preparedness Task Force for citizens with
special needs with the City of New Orleans' Office of Public Health. What a
misnomer! DSS employees were identified by red vests with the DSS insignia. OPH
and other caregivers had red-orange bands on their wrists and some wore lab
coats. Other than latex gloves, at the outset, this was the only equipment
provided to us. Some of us began on Saturday night by manning the phone banks
and setting up the staging area at the loading docks in the rear of the
Superdome, under Gate E, facing the New Orleans Arena. But most of us arrived
early Sunday morning, shortly before the "Special Needs" population was allowed
entry. Our vehicles were parked, and remain parked, under Gate G, near what was
to become the heliport and military base. Our original assignment was to
register the Special Needs or Medical Needs evacuees while OPH did triage and
determined whether they would stay at the Dome or be sent to another location.

There were 2 doctors and 2 nurses for hundreds of patients per hour. From the
outset, there were not enough forms available for the number of people that
showed up. Someone ran to make more. OPH ran out of triage tags as well. The
residents of entire nursing home facilities were being dropped at the door
without paid staff to support them. Families and neighbors were dropping off the
sick and elderly and either intentionally leaving them alone or leaving them
briefly thinking that they would make their way back later, not knowing that
some of the people would be shipped to other locations in the meantime. Hospice
patients on the verge of death were brought in. One laid on a table, barely
alive, for hours. It was so crowded, hot and chaotic, there were not enough cots
or space. Because the loading dock doors were open, it did not smell too badly.
There were psychiatric patients who claimed no special need at all, but were
clearly in the right place. There were rows and rows of wheelchair patients and
we crawled over and amongst everyone to get the registration information so that
no one would be lost.

After only an hour, the concept of "registration" blew away with the on-coming
storm. (One doctor gamely tried to keep a list or at least a head count, but
abandoned that attempt around 2:00 am.) All of us became nurses aides, go-fers,
and whatever else was needed for the duration. At that point, we had nothing but
latex gloves and a limited supply of bottled water to comfort the patients. We
helped ambulatory patients to the bathrooms. There was no food and no medicine
in the loading dock area to give patients while they waited to be sorted and
possibly relocated in the pre-storm hours. Unexplainedly, expensive medical
equipment, such as respirators and electric wheelchairs, was being left behind
when their owners were shipped off to hospitals. It was useless to us, except
for the extra tanks of oxygen which we "borrowed" when the triage of other
oxygen dependent patients began taking too long.

The thing that everyone wanted most - information about what was happening and
where they were going- was unknown to us, too. There was no one in charge with
good information. Trying to find even the simplest answer required asking at
least five or six people and the answer would still be unclear. For instance,
the policy for people accompanying the special needs patients who were being
sent elsewhere depended on who was asked. NOPD would bring in entire families
and promise them that they could stay together, only to be told by the OPH or
military that the rules were different. If the patient was going to a hospital,
no one could accompany them. But if the patient was going to another shelter or
make-shift medical facility such as the Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, one
person could go. (When the military finally arrived and asked someone "who's in
charge?", they pointed to us! Like we had taken over by then!)

Intact families were separated. We had the horrible task of helping families
leave a sick or disabled patient on his own and say good bye so that he could
go to a hospital - or help them decide which relative would go with a patient
being sent to another shelter and which would stay in the general population of
the Dome with the children or other family members. Families had to choose
between parents, spouses and children in only minutes, possibly to become
separated indefinitely and in to uncertainty since no one knew where anyone
would be sent. With the registration system broken down, we took to assisting
family members by writing phone numbers of relatives in other states, who could
act as a liaison once final destinations were reached, on the arms of both the
patient and the separating family members.

One dialysis patient, Ms Matherne, gave us all a problem. She came in with her
son and his 18 month old son. The son had wandered off and she was pretty sure
he wasn't returning. That didn't seem to bother her. What bothered her was that
her son had helped her carry 3 small suitcases, a box and 2 garbage bags of
bedding. Now there was no one to help her, there was a space limit on the last
bus out for dialysis patients and she was NOT leaving without her stuff. Angela
tried to reason with her first, but got exasperated. Then Dr. Jim, the
priest/doctor, tried. Finally, I grabbed all of her stuff and sat it in front of
her. I told her that I was going to go through her bags with her, get rid of
what wasn't needed and consolidate it into 2 bags, which they would allow on the
bus. We got rid of diapers and food but kept the Bible and a television. She
seemed satisfied, but kept eyeing the bedding. I told her I would tag it with
her son's name, in case he came back. She knew that wasn't likely. I said, "It
comes down to the comforters or you and the baby's health. What's it going to
be?" She relented. Dr. Jim said a prayer. We put the diapers and food to good
use with the remaining patients. It was like that a lot. We tag teamed on
patients until someone could say or do the right thing that registered. It
exhausted us.

We were bombarded with relatives that had become separated before arriving at
the Dome and who were now trying to find sick or feeble patients. Because the
registration system had broken down, there was no way to assist them. Sometimes
we would take them to tour the second floor and there were a few success
stories. But mostly we had to guess, based on the patient's health problems,
that they had been sent to another hospital or shelter. It was heart-wrenching
each time of the hundreds of times we had to do this.

We each developed special people we watched over. One of my first was a tiny,
blind lady, Ms Ruby. She couldn't have weighed more than 80 pounds. When we met,
she was sitting in a chair, sure that her daughter was coming to get her. I
feared that she had been left. After telling him Ms Ruby was blind, I asked a
guardsman to help us find her daughter. He asked what she looked like. I said,
"you're kidding, right?" We didn't start a search. I asked Ms Ruby if she'd
like some water and she said, "diet coke". I said that I was sorry that all we
had was water, but she said she wanted diet coke. "Me, too," I said, "but all we
have is water." It was then that I figured that I better explain to her what was
happening. In great detail, I told her that she was in a huge cement and steel
loading dock area with trucks and ambulances at the door, rows of cots with sick
people and lots of workers running around. It had started to rain and I told her
that as much as her daughter may be trying to get to her, she may not be able
because of the storm. She said, "That's okay, honey. Just call me a cab." I told
her that I thought she should stay with us til the storm was over and she should
make herself comfortable on a cot. She insisted in sitting in a chair so that
her daughter would be able to see her. Twenty four hours later, she was still in
that chair despite all of our attempts to get her to lie down. Finally, I begged
her and promised her that I would stay while she slept and if her daughter
showed up, I would make sure she saw her. She said, "I believe I'll take that
nap now."

We escorted, wheeled, and pushed the patients who were designated to stay at the
Dome to the second floor conference room. At that time, electricity and
elevators were still working. One of the favorite people I escorted was John
Jordan. He too was blind. He sang gospel hymns and quoted the Bible all the way
upstairs, but you could tell that Mr. Jordan had not always been so religious. I
asked him if he was on any medication and he handed me four prescriptions.....still
written on the paper and unfilled. I asked him if he brought any pills with him
and he said, "No time. There was a storm coming." He must have thought I was the
idiot. I saw him 2 days later as he shipped out on an ambulance and I called to
him, but he was singing and didn't hear me.

There were two women, one deaf and the other deaf and blind. We wrote notes to
communicate. On the way to the second floor, a guardsman in a cart kept yelling
"clear a hole", meaning "get out of the way" and I kept yelling back "they're
hearing impaired", until finally the guy next to him slugged him and told him to
shut up and wait a second. When I got them settled upstairs, I found someone
near them who promised to let them know if there were any announcements. I saw
them 2 days later as they were evacuating and, in rudimentary sign, I asked if
they were OK. She signaled that they were "so-so". That's what we all were
trying to be.

The National Guard tried to establish registration using a lap top computer
coupled with a nursing station check-in at the location on the second floor, but
that too was soon abandoned. Initially, there was no bottled water on the second
floor, but there was a drinking fountain and we still had running water. There
were no cups to bring water to the non-ambulatory patients. We begged for a few
from the nursing station so that patients who had brought medication could take
it. Everyone was asking for food and water. With the electricity on, so was the
air conditioner. Patients complained of the cold, but we had no blankets or
sheets.

The first ballroom/conference room filled and we were forced from our own
quarters into a hallway to make more room for the patients. While trying to care
for the people, we also had to move our belongings. Meanwhile, the stadium area
of the Dome was half filled with "general population" evacuees. The sewerage
system was overloading.

Eventually, in the early morning hours of Monday, all of the pre-storm evacuees
were settled. Some food and water arrived for the special needs patients,
supplied by Second Harvesters Food Bank. We assisted in getting it to the
non-ambulatory patients. We had electricity and water. We do not know whether
the general population was fed. We heard they were not. Everyone hunkered down
to wait out the storm. It would be our last chance to rest.

The hurricane itself was awesome, as the word was meant to be used. From our
sleeping area in the hall on the outer rim of the Dome, we could hear things
pinging and banging on the metal framework. Some were so loud and the objects
hitting the Dome so large, that everyone awakened. From the safety of the
recessed doors, we watched as roofs of the high rise buildings blew off and the
palm trees on Poydras Street bent farther and farther. The wind passed in fast,
huge, white gusts, so powerful that the wind itself could be seen. Glass broke
on surrounding buildings. A flag was tattered to shreds. The light covers on the
top of the street lights were blown off. The Dome's flag poles and clock towers
shook and swayed. The rain came horizontally. Inside the stadium, two vents in
the roof banged and crashed in the wind until they were blown off, tearing the
roof's cover and eventually causing two more vents to give way and the whole
cover to be blown off the roof. It was raining through the porous cover of the
Superdome into the stadium! The electricity went out and stayed out.
Surprisingly, no one panicked or complained. Everyone still felt safe in the
Dome. The general population was moved into the concourses, ramps and hallways.
We had to move our sleeping space and belongings once again. During the storm,
we spent some time sitting with lost children, whose parents eventually came and
claimed them. Most of the lost children you see on TV now came from the
Convention Center.

During the height of the storm, miraculously, a call came through from Damond,
one of the teenagers that I mentor. He was hysterical. His mom and sister had
decided to stay in their 2 story house in the Ninth Ward while he and his
grandparents had evacuated to LaPlace. His mom had just called to say that they
had spent the night on the roof, that they couldn't hang on anymore, that they
loved him and good-bye. There was nothing I could do but reassure him that they
were strong women who would find a way to survive. The phone cut off. I was sure
they had drown, but I would spend the next 12 hours searching every truck and
ambulance that came in, to no avail.

The storm was over. Unlike the patients and general population, we could go
outside, breathe fresh air and see the damage. We walked on Poydras Street.
There was a car, put on its roof by the wind, between the high rises across the
street. The windows on cars and buildings were blown out. There was broken glass
everywhere. Part of the cover of the Dome hung from its edge like a wet towel
while other parts were strewn in the street. Metal sheeting was wedged in the
outer frame. It all looked fixable. There was no flooding at that time. There
was talk that we might be leaving soon. We breathed a sigh of relief ---- too
quickly.

Inside, peoples' patience and calm were starting to deteriorate. The military
would not let them out of the stadium area. The people were treated more as
prisoners than evacuees, and some of them responded accordingly. The air was
stifling. The smokers could not smoke and were especially testy. The bathrooms
started to back up as there was no longer running water. The generators supplied
limited electricity for safety lighting only. Again, there was no information as
to when we all would be leaving. Eventually, the military was convinced to let
small groups of thirty to venture outside for ten minute breaks, to get air and
to see the damage. It helped ease some tension for a while.

We returned to assist with getting the special needs patients on the second
floor to bathrooms and bringing them the food that was left. When we went
outside again, the second disaster had happened, but we did not know what it
was. Monday night outside the Dome was beautiful. Without any electricity and
with no lights in the CBD, all of the stars could be seen. But there was waist
high water on Poydras Street where we had been walking only a few hours earlier.
It kept rising. We heard the Industrial Canal levee broke. We did not know about
the 17th Street Canal yet.

Monday evening, ambulances and trucks began streaming in filled with people who
had been pulled from roofs and rescued from attics. Then the water got too high
for ambulances. We all returned to the loading docks to help and never really
returned to the patients on the second floor much after that. There was not time
and there were too many new crises to address. My first post-storm people were
Mr. George and his wife. He reminded me of my grandfather, with a tilted
baseball cap and crooked grin. When Mr. George got too tired to walk up the
ramp, I had to take them upstairs separately in a wheelchair I commandeered. On
the way, his wife said, "They say were having a hurricane." I replied, "Yes,
maam. I heard that too." A few minutes later: "I heard we're having a
hurricane." I said, "Did you sleep during the hurricane, maam, because it's
already passed." "Well, they said it was coming," she said. I asked Mr. George.
Indeed, they had slept through it all and been pulled from 4 feet of rising
water in their house by a neighbor.

Many of the post-storm people did not have any belongings except the few clothes
on their back, and some did not even have that. Many had no shoes and the water
around the Dome and in the docks was contaminated with the trucks, urine, vomit
and human misery. All were suffering from exposure and dehydration. They were
exhausted. One woman laid on a mat on the muddy floor, repeatedly screaming for
help for hours, while waiting to be transferred. Some cried or screamed. Most
were just in quiet shock. The noise of the generators was loud and constant in
the background.

The Louisiana National Guard was with us at this stage with a few more doctors
and a few more supplies. We had bottled water, but other supplies were still
limited. Even though it was extremely hot and we were all drenched with sweat,
the new patients' prolonged exposure to the elements made them think it was
cold. We became some of the first looters. We ran through the Dome, removing
curtains, bunting and any fabric we could find to use for sheets and blankets.
We used the latex gloves on peoples' feet to protect them from the muck. We
scrounged all over for food. There were a few MREs (military meals ready to eat)
on the docks, but at that point, we were told that they had to be saved for the
rescue personnel since it was unsure as to when more would come. We snuck a few
away anyway, divided up the contents and discreetly passed out what we could.
The bathrooms near the loading docks were flooded. We made make-shift "bathroom"
with a bucket and curtains in the corner. Mostly, we tried to provided
reassurance and comfort. One of the DSS staff found a pack of baby wipes left by
some family the night before and went from patient to patient, wiping their
faces and telling them it would be okay. I kept having movie flashbacks and this
was like 'Gone with the Wind.'

Ms Wright, a paraplegic woman, and her 83 year old aunt, Ms Clayton, had been
pulled from their flooding house. Ms Wright did not have any clothes on, but she
was more concerned about Ms Clayton, who kept getting separated from her. Ms
Clayton liked wearing the latex gloves on her shoeless feet. I told them to
insist that Ms Clayton was Ms Wright's caretaker so the triage people would stop
separating them. In reality, it was the other way around. We scavenged though
boxes of promotional items that were probably to be given away at a Saints game.
We found backpacks with t-shirts in them. I gave one to Ms Wright.

And I gave two more to some little boys who came in with one's mother, dressed
only in their underwear. They were ecstatic when we placed them on the Saints
playing field. While I was doing that, I had my first successful reunion. On the
field, a woman approached me. I looked at her face and, before she said a word,
I said, "I know where your mother is." She was the spitting image of Ms Ruby!
"Red shirt, blue sweat pants?" "Yes, and tiny", she answered. We went running to
the docks. Her nap was long over and she was sitting up on the cot. Everyone
cried. Because she now had a caretaker and her daughter had a husband (and the
rule would have allowed only 2 of them to go in special needs population), they
all went off into the general population. As conditions deteriorated later in
the Dome, I worried about what happened to Ms Ruby and it still bothers me that
I'll never know.

At some point after the storm, more military medical staff arrived and they had
some supplies with them: bedpans, urinals, tape, changing pads, bandages. It
made meeting the patients needs much easier. They also brought more MREs and
cots. Hundreds of cots. It was then that we realized the probable extent of the
disaster. We set to work helping them set up cots and put them in rows. There
was a big paneled truck that was parked in the far corner and kept a motor
running at all times for refrigeration. We understood that it held bodies. No
one said anything.

In the midst of the chaos, the National Guard brought a man to me. "He says you
know where his family is." I had never seen him before. Apparently the man went
out to smoke and couldn't find his way back to the right hallway that his family
claimed as their own. What was he smoking? He told me that I had picked up a
mental patient from his area the night before. The guardsman wanted to go with
me to find them, not believing the guy's story, but how could anyone make up a
story with me and a crazy woman? I knew where he meant and took him there.

Many of the group that came after the storm were elderly people who usually
lived alone and survived, but who had special needs, too. (People without
obvious medical needs were being trucked to the other side of the Dome where
they would be searched for weapons, given a bottle of water and one MRE before
being placed in the already overcrowded, filthy and tense general population.)
We changed adult diapers and assisted them with their daily care. We got them on
and off of bedpans, which we then emptied into the nearest garbage cans. There
was no means for proper disposal of bio-hazard waste and there were no red bags
at that stage. The floor became slippery and dangerous with tracked in flood
water and with human waste. One of our staff fell in muck and injured her arm,
yet she kept working. Even with the dock's doors open, the smell was bad, but
not as gut-wrenching as what we encountered inside the Dome as we pushed some
patients up ramps, through throngs of people to the second floor area. We
searched for cots and food to settle them in the hot, smelly, dark conference
room, before returning to the docks to assist others.

We bandaged small wounds that the doctors and nurses did not have time to
treat.We bargained with patients to borrow their walkers and wheelchairs to
assist other patients. Those who were oxygen dependent or on dialysis were
shipped off on the next available 2.5 truck (sometimes not for hours and hours)
to get to a facility that had electricity. When they left, we took anything they
had left behind and used it for other patients. We ran out of adult Depends and
improvised with baby diapers. One man had some brain injury that distorted his
body and prevented him from speaking. He made noises and kept trying to get off
the cot. We cried when we had to use a bandage to tie his ankle to the cot to
prevent him from hurting himself. We did not know what he could understand about
what was happening to him.

We began placing more patients on the playing field of the Dome. It was more
comfortable for some of them, especially those with children, but it gave us
even more territory to cover and we were already tired. Doing the simplest task
that would take five minutes normally, took hours, because along the way other
people would ask for help or information. There were three dementia patients who
required a lot of watching for their safety and for the safety of the other
patients. "Joe" had to be told every five minutes to sit down, which he
dutifully did. It turned out that he felt most secure if he was surrounded by
walls, so we let him sit inside an unused metal detector frame. A man from
Honduras kept asking us for a mop. We should have let him clean up a little
because it need it. But he kept telling us, "I go where I want" and we were
afraid he would hurt himself, wander outside or get in the way. The tiny female
was all dressed up in a suit, hat, pumps and wig. She became combative and when
we asked for assistance (because there was more military to watch them than
there were of us), instead, the military personnel came and taped all three into
their chairs and cots with blue duct tape. They could not eat or drink for
themselves for the duration, so we tried to feed them and give them water. They
were so confused. The lady kept trying to bust them loose.

A diabetic man came in with his little dog. He kept feeding the dog crackers
from his MRE. I told him not to get caught because they wouldn't give him
anymore MREs. I asked him what he would do with the dog. I explained the one bag
and no pets rules. He said the dog was his family, emptied the contents from his
one bag and put the dog in it. I didn't blow his cover and I hope both he and
the dog are OK and together. One woman came in with a shower curtain wrapped
around her. She was clutching her four year old son so tightly, he couldn't
breathe. We tried to get her to let go so that we could give her and him some
food and water. She cried and told us that she could not let him go because her
husband and other two children had washed away in the flood. She rocked him and
herself in her misery.

Monday night I was walking across the football field when I heard someone in the
stands, screaming my name. It was Trina and Kia, Damond's mom and sister. I have
never been so relieved to see anyone. Trina has a host of medical problems and I
asked her why she didn't come through the special needs area. She said they
didn't ask her. She had none of her numerous medications with her. She told me
that on Sunday afternoon when it started to rain, they realized they made a bad
decision and quickly packed a bag to leave. When they opened the door to go, the
car was floating down the street. The Industrial Canal levee had just broke and
the water was rising that fast. They got on their second story roof. The water
continued to come up to them. They made that fateful call to Damond.
Just then, the house next door floated off its foundation and bumped into
theirs. It was higher, so they jumped on to that roof. The house floated down
the street to an even higher roof, occupied by two other people. The four of
them held on to each other and the roof all night and for the entire hurricane.
She said that God sent them the house.

We did our best to solve every problem that confronted us, all the time
searching for information as to our own families, friends and neighborhoods. We
tried not to think of our own situations while dealing with the catastrophe and
suffering of others. Our clothes and feet were never dry, soaked with our own
sweat and whatever else got on us. We washed with the pre-moistened bath wipes.
We tried to avoid using the vile bathrooms, a task that was aided by our natural
dehydration from the heat and the stress. Our "breaks" consisted of running back
to our cars, re-charging our phones in the only electrical source available and
trying desperately to make contact with the real world. The only thing that
worked with any reliability was text messaging. I didn't even know how to do it
last week. Now I can do it in the dark. We tried to relax and sleep, but the
stress, noise and smells made it impossible. We slept very little after the
storm until we were off the hell's island that the Superdome had become.

Conditions in the whole Superdome were deteriorating. We heard the same horror
stories that you heard in the news. The frustrations of the people confined in
that awful place made them call out to us, sometimes in a harassing and
threatening way. We were accused of not helping them, and that part was true,
but explaining that we were only assigned to special needs people would not have
been wise. We tried to ignore them. The threats got more serious. The military
became worried about the safety of the special needs patients on the second
floor and moved all of them and us to the Arena, adjoining the Superdome.

I went back in the Dome on Tuesday morning to get Trina and have her seen by the
doctors. I ran into some friends of Damond's from the Ninth Ward and we had a
quick reunion. When I found Trina and Kia, they were reluctant to leave the two
people who helped them survive on the roof, but after many tears and exchanging
of contact numbers, I got them outside. On the way to the Arena, I told her not
to minimize any of her medical conditions and to tell them that she needed Kia
to stay with her, in case she had a seizure. When we got to the Arena, Trina
promptly had a seizure so that she didn't have to explain anything. They were
airlifted out of there in the afternoon.

I was last in the Dome on Tuesday afternoon. It was the most inhumane place I
have ever been. It was the worst disaster movie magnified. The stench was worse
than any I ever smelled, and I grew up surrounded by livestock farms. It was
hot, dark and dangerous. I still regret and worry about the man in Section 145,
Row 32 who was without his insulin, but couldn't walk as far as the Arena and I
had no way to transport him. Same for the lady with the walker, whose neighbor
had rescued her but could no longer assist her because she had to see to her own
children. I need to know what happened to them.

The general population was given water. They were not given any respect or
information. They were given MREs without training on how to use them. They were
not told how long they would have to endure that hell. A public information
director to give them training about emergency sanitation methods, how to use
the MREs and what was happening would have relieved much of the tension and
misery. These people, OUR PEOPLE, did nothing wrong. They were evacuees, not
prisoners. No human should have to live like that for even a minute. Their
despair turned to frustration and to anger. One young man told us that he had
'escaped' twice and they bought him back at gunpoint. He wanted to use our phone
to escape again. We told him that we were worried that they'd bring him back
dead the next time. He said it would be worth it to get out of there.

When we moved to the Arena, things did not get much better. The most significant
difference was that the New Mexico Disaster team, sponsored by FEMA, ran the
triage at the Arena. They were remarkable, but they only stayed 2 days. They set
up a complete MASH unit right below the balcony where we were assigned to sleep.
The first night in the Arena, there was running water, but no electricity.
Instead of total darkness, we were now illuminated with giant klieg lights for
surgery in the MASH.

Our job in the Arena, along with OPH, was to continue to provide care to the
patients who had been transferred from the second floor of the Dome. We were on
our last ounce of energy. While the original plan was to leave when the last
patient left, it became obvious that there was never going to be a "last
patient". There was a steady flow of new patients coming into the Arena from the
street and from the Dome at about the same rate as they were shipping current
patients out. The evacuation of the Dome by bus had started, but it was taking a
long time and the impatience was growing. People were being allowed to come over
to the Arena from the Dome with both real and imagined illnesses, to try to get
out of there earlier than they would have on the buses provided for the general
population in the Dome.

Once the military arrived in full force, security got better. We were respected
by them and treated as an essential part of the operation. We were allowed to
move about freely. They, along with the EMTs and police who wandered in, gave us
news of what was happening on the streets. Every time the shifts or commands
changed, so did the rules and operations. Mostly we could adjust. They were
tired and overworked as well. Some of the pilots were on leave from Iraq. They
gave advice as to what follow-up medical screenings we would need as a result of
the conditions where we were working. Their "street skills" were not refined,
and they tended to believe every story that anyone trying to enter the Arena
told them, adding to the overcrowding and inappropriate use of the special needs
evacuation.

Very quickly, the Arena became as bad as the Dome with sweat, urine and other
waste on the floor. They had us start lining up the wheelchair patients first
for evacuation from the Arena to shelters and hospitals around the country. It
was very slow going and disorganized. They set up a 'color coding' system
consisting of tying red or yellow plastic around the wrists of patients and
caretakers. It was confusing. OPH's armbands were also red. The red plastic was
supposed to designate a person as a caretaker for an individual patient as well.
The problem was that the people with 'street smarts' would get a red bio-hazard
garbage bag, create their own wrist band and pair themselves with unescorted
patients. The yellow bands signified the patients. No one was supposed to get on
the Arena's trucks and ambulances without a band, but some savvy people would
wait at the corners of the trucks and jump on while the military personnel were
not looking because they were trying to figure out how to get a problematic
patient on the vehicle. When the military was informed of these situations, they
did not really understand the problem or did not know how to remedy it. We
watched as a steady trickle of patients continued to arrive at the Arena, even
as they were shipping others out and our anxiety mounted.

Wednesday morning there was no running water. We handed out food and bottled
water to the non-ambulatory patients while those that were able to walk lined up
at a Domino's concession to get theirs. We helped change diapers and, if they
had fresh clothes, we changed their wet smelly clothes that wheel chair patients
had stayed in for days. There were a few babies and children in the shelter and
some were sickly. One of our staff found a man dead in the bathroom. Later, a
two month old baby died.

The disaster effected everyone. Fats Domino was in the Arena in a diabetic
crisis. He had no insulin and neither did the medical personnel at the Arena. It
had ran out very quickly. He was beginning to hallucinate that he was there for
a concert, so he was refusing to eat. One of our staff convinced him to take a
few bites. Eventually, he was flown out, not because of his celebrity but
because of his condition. Later, on the radio, I heard that he had been reported
missing. They should have checked the Arena. We knew where he was.

The wait in the Arena was so long and so disgusting that caretakers, even paid
caretakers, began to abandon the sick and disabled to try to get on one of the
regular population buses. There was a cerebal palsy, paraplegic patient who had
been abandoned. One of our staff paired him with another patient who suffered
from prostate cancer, but who was mobile and helpful. They were inseparable for
24 hours. At the last minute, just as the paraplegic patient was to get on the
ambulance because of the preferred status, his paid caretaker returned and
forced his way on, too. Since he had the documentation, the military would not
listen to the unpaid, volunteer caretaker and he was left to wait until his
patient group was called another twelve hours later.

Just when we thought we could not keep going, a group of sixty international
students and tourists appeared and volunteered to take over our duties in
exchange for safe lodging until they could be evacuated. One of the airlines had
flown some of the tourists into New Orleans on Saturday afternoon without
telling them about the hurricane. The airport closed and they couldn't get out.
Talk about the vacation from hell. Those tourists and students fanned the
patients with cardboard box lids all night to try to ease the heat. They moved
some outside in their wheel chairs and stayed with them all night. We got our
cots and moved outside to sleep on the walkway to the Dome, away from the
stifling stench of the Arena.

When our duties were lessened and relieved on Wednesday, we suffered the first
wave of personal grief, as we finally had time to contemplate what happened to
our own homes, friends and families. As we waited outside the Arena, a woman
approached a group of us threatening 'manslaughter' if there were not better
progress on her evacuation. We knew how she felt. Nonetheless, our tensions
increased. Just then, the OPH employees exited the building en masse and it
became clear that they were leaving. We rushed to get our things and follow.
Security became a concern as our obvious absence and departure would only
increase the tension in the population. We went to the bottom floor of the Arena
as quickly and quietly as possible.

An army 2.5 truck arrived to take the first group out to the nearby Hyatt, where
we were supposed to catch a bus. The army truck was commandeered for another
mission and did not return. A scouting group went to explore wading and walking
to the Hyatt, to no avail. Eventually, a Second Harvesters panel truck came and
the remainder of the OPH, DSS and international student group smashed into it.
They were constantly afraid of hijacking. All movement was done as quickly and
stealthily as possible. We got out of the truck and waded into the Hyatt, that
was without power for a short while. Then we waited some more, needing to be
very quiet for security reasons, as the general population was being put on
buses through another area and the Hyatt and NOPD did not want to alert them
that we were in the building to be evacuated. So as not to overload the sewerage
system at the Hyatt, we taught everyone the backpacking method of urinating in
cups or bottles and defecate in bags, all to be sealed and placed in the
garbage. (We continued to use this method of 'sanitation' until we were
eventually evacuated.)

Our buses did not come. Instead, only the DSS employees were sent by the Guard's
2.5 truck back to the Dome. A DSS employee just left; fed up and frustrated with
the inability to get us out. Later, we heard she had safely made it out of the
city while we were still on the helipad. We left OPH and the international
student group at the Hyatt. I kept thinking of that word from Saving Private
Ryan, "fubar", fucked up beyond all reason.

For the most part, we were holding up pretty well emotionally to this point. We
had not had time to dwell on our personal situations. The most difficult times
were when they were moving us. We saw the destruction from a truck guarded by
men with AK47s. We saw the desperation and fear, true fear, in the faces of the
people on neutral grounds and sidewalks, who still were trying to decide whether
it was better to go in to the chaos of the Superdome for evacuation on take
their chances on the horror of the streets. While we appreciated and needed the
military, we also felt invaded by people who did not understand us, the "us"
that is uniquely New Orleans. Inside we were screaming, "What is happening to
our city, our heart, our soul?" and we wept.

It was getting to be dusk on Wednesday when we arrived at the same loading dock
where it all started. This time, we were the evacuees. We were told to take off
the red vests that identified our group for security reasons. We were led by
armed guard, in single file, through the bowels of the Superdome, with
instructions to be very quiet. We arrived at the Dome's Section G parking lot,
right where our cars were parked at nightfall. It had taken all day just to
cross the street from the Arena to the helipad at the Dome, though there was a
ramp that we had been freely using, without security, in all of the preceding
days. We were told to put the red vests back on and to stay away from the
overhangs and balconies where the general population congregated.

Then we were given the worse news: We would be spending the night on the
helicopter pad, without any accommodations whatsoever. We slept on the cement or
on cardboard boxes on the cement. We were promised "top priority" and that we
would leave on the first chopper in the morning. All night, smaller helicopters
came and went all around us. Troops marched past our heads, startling the staff
who tried to sleep. Someone remarked, "Now I know how the homeless men in
Lafayette Square feel" and someone responded "We are the homeless men in
Lafayette Square." It was so sad, it was funny. We could have withstood the
night if the promise had been kept in the morning, but like all other plans and
promises in this venture, it was not.

That night, I learned that my friend, Val, who lives two blocks from me, had
survived the storm with little damage, but then the water started to rise. When
the water got to her roof (which means it also got to mine), she and her family
got the inflatables from the pool and swam to St. Leo the Great school on St.
Bernard Avenue, around the corner. They broke a window and got on the third
floor and then the roof. Once the kids were stable, Val and her boyfriend got
back in the water to try to make it to her parents house. Her kids made it out
to Baton Rouge, but they had not been heard from. So who cared about my house?
I just wanted Val to be safe.

Thursday morning there was another excuse and new priority. All of the troops
that everyone had been waiting for were finally arriving. Our departure would be
delayed until they were all delivered to the Dome and again we were promised
the next chopper after that was accomplished. The emotional exhaustion was
causing the staff to crack. The employee with the injured arm was insisting on
leaving by foot with a plan to walk to Metairie. We were led off the heli-pad
and shoved in a corner of the parking lot to wait. We had no food or water, but
we were near our cars and could take refuge in them. Some of us tried to sleep,
only to be awakened by dreams that we were never getting out. One of staff woke
yelling, "don't leave me".

All of the troops were transported before noon. Now we were presented with a new
excuse. There were four van loads of special needs patients brought in from the
Convention Center and they were being given priority. We were told again that we
would go next. Two more employees left the group, deciding to take their chances
of walking out of the Dome into the unknown rather than stay around for more
excuses and delays.

Our destination was Baton Rouge. We were finally called to go to the heliport.
As we lined up, the pilot approached and asked us where we wanted to go. He said
he could take us to Baton Rouge. We all said we wanted to go to "Baton Rouge"
except for our so-called leader, who said it would be okay if they just took us
to Kenner and we could catch a bus. We nearly rioted. We demanded to go to Baton
Rouge. As we flew over the city, our hearts broke. Most of us wept all of the
way to Baton Rouge. But when we got there, we found out that Val had been
rescued and she and Mike were in Houston. All was good again. Screw the house.

When we got to Baton Rouge, I took off to rent a car. I got the last one at the
airport. Before picking up Angela and Diane to catch quick showers at LSU, I was
supposed to get us some stuff. Walking into Wal-Mart was overwhelming. I stunk
and looked really bad. I couldn't focus and didn't know where to start. I
settled on underwear. But the entire supply of Wal-Mart underwear was gone. The
evacuees bought all of it. They bought all of the razors, too. I wandered around
and left. At the LSU rec center, there were donated items and we made do. We
were getting good at it. We had showers. Nothing else mattered. I had fungus
all over my water logged feet and my shoes had to be tossed. I was bruised,
scraped and swollen. We went to Walgreens just as it closed to buy flip flops. I
took Diane to Vacherie and Angela to Gramercy, south of Baton Rouge, and then I
headed North, toward Marksville to see Roger.

It was the first time that I had been alone in 5 days. I was overwhelmed. So
much so, that as I entered Livonia, Louisiana at 2:00 a.m., I didn't see that
the speed limit had decreased. It was not so bad that I was stopped for
speeding, because I was, but the jerk officer decided to seize my driver's
license! I explained to him that the address on the license was under water,
that I had been working in the Dome and that, without my license, I could not
get airline tickets or hotel rooms. I told him I was a state employee and an
attorney and that there was no way I would skip out on his ticket. I offered to
pay the ticket or post a bond if I could just have my license back. I begged. It
was the last straw. After losing everything else, I couldn't believe he was
taking one of my keys to survival. I cried. I asked him if there was any
discretion. He said it was "his policy" and that the only persons that could
overrule him were the chief and the mayor, both of whom would be out until
Tuesday since it was Labor Day weekend. I took the ticket and got back in the
car.

When I got to Marksville at 3:00 a.m., I remembered that I didn't have Roger's
new address since he had just moved up there. I found a Marksville police
officer and gave her a shor t version of the story. She led me to the station
and I slept in the car in the lot. I sort of slept. I wrote notes for this. I
wrote lists of things I needed to remember to do. I dozed. At 7:00 a.m., I
called Joy and found Roger, who came and met me.

After talking with them for a while and making sure Roger was stable, I left for
my friend, Linda's, house in Hineston, Louisiana, about 40 more miles away. It
had become a private evacuation center for seven women fleeing New Orleans. They
took very good care of me. A few friends and co-workers were still missing.
Linda had me talk to the Sheriff of Rapides Parish about my license. He was
outraged and is tying to get my license back. Eventually, I calmed down and got
my first eight hours of sleep in days.

The next morning, I took back roads through central Louisiana and Arkansas into
Little Rock to avoid any gas supply problems. There were none, as long as I had
money. I couldn't believe how normal it seemed everywhere else. I remembered
waking up on the walkway between the Dome and Arena, with the moldy Plaza Tower
in the background, and thinking that I had arrived on another planet. Now it
seemed like it was just a bad dream. I headed to Iowa. I spent the night with my
aunt and uncle's family near St. Louis. I got up early and kept going.

All along the way, I was touched by relief efforts large and small. I stopped to
talk to some kids in Illinois who were selling lemonade to raise money for the
Katrina victims. Outside the town where
my cousin lives, there is a sign that says, "We did not feel the wind, we did
not feel the rain, but we feel your pain." I was not surprised to find that my
friends had started a massive e-mail campaign to keep up with the attempts to
escape the Dome. They called themselves "FOS", friends of sherry, and it finally
explained how I was getting text messages from one friend about another friend
that I didn't even know she knew. I thought I had hallucinated from the Arena
fumes.

When I got to my hometown, they had started a fund drive in my name. It's a
strange feeling to see my own picture on the side of a collection can. And I'm
on the front page of the newspaper. I talked to the health class at the high
school today and will do the same tomorrow. They had lots of questions. I got my
tuberculosis and hepatitis tests. I got a tetanus shot. I got money from the Red
Cross to buy new non-fungus filled shoes.

Next Tuesday, I'm on the local radio station. Then, despite all of the love,
attention and support, I'm leaving here next Tuesday or Wednesday, tentatively
for Columbus, Atlanta, maybe Florida if it's hurricane free. I'm reacting to
being cooped up at the Dome, so you may find me on your doorstep, still a bit
dazed, but otherwise fine. I'm passing time to the end of the month when I can
really see my house. I saw a picture on the internet today and it looked better
than Thursday's fly over. At least I can see the whole roof and the roof of my
next door neighbor's SUV now. That's a good sign.

By Sherry Watters

Phyllis E. Mann
Post Office Box 705
Alexandria, LA 71309
(318) 448-0000
FAX (318) 448-2250
e-mail: phyllis@kricket.net

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Hotline for Displaced DOC Probationers and Parolees!!

2005-09-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

Probationers and Parolees are to call in their new locations and whereabouts to 225-342-0921 or 225-342-0923. The toll-free number is 800-869-2909.

LA Dept of Corrections Inmate Locater Hotline!!

2005-09-09T14:51:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana Department of Corrections has set up a phone bank for prisoner evacuee families to call to:
1. Determine the whereabouts of the prisoner.
2. Be able to communicate the whereabouts of the family to the inmate. Family members can call 225 342-5935 or 225 342-3998

Don't call the institutions. Call the above numbers. DOC will also take a message of the family whereabouts and try to get it to the inmate. This will be very useful for bond purposes, releases, etc.The hotline should be taking calls from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm, but it is not yet fully staffed.

Update on Inmate Relocation to Parishes surrounding East Baton Rouge

2005-09-09T01:11:00.000-05:00

julie Kilborn report the following on September 8, 2005

Livingston, Ascension, Pt. Coupee and Iberville Parishes have no evacuated inmates.

West Feliciana has "a dozen or so."

Email Julie!

Updated!! Safe List for Louisiana Lawyers as of 9:00PM Spetember 9, 2005

2005-09-09T00:06:00.000-05:00

Chris Aberle Safe LAP Mandeville
John Adcock 225-284-6327 Baton Rouge LCAC (lawschool) Baton Rouge - LSU
Larry Aisola Chalmette
Meg Alverson 212-249-3129 Relocating to NYC Private office NO
Alvrson1@bellsouth.net
Anthony Angelette Gretna
Eleni Antonopoulos 512-968-9998 cell Houston LCAC NO
Gerard Archer Metairie
Arcenious Arnond Gretna
Ellen Badeaux ecbadeaux@aol.com Safe NO
Ann Baehr
Ruben Bailey Marrero
Michael F. Barry NO
Walter Becker NO
Jane Beebe Safe LAP NO
Clarke Beljean NO
Albert Bensabat Hammond
John Benz Gretna
Numa Bertel Public Defender NO
Scott Bickford NO
Gary Bizal NO
Kevin Boshea NO
Richard Bourke 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE LCAC NO
or 832-260-6313 cell
Charles Branton Slidell
Melissa Brink Covington
Troy Broussard broussardlawoffices@yahoo.com Safe Metairie
Looking for space in Lafayette
Derwyn Bunton JJPL NO
Raymond Burkart Law Student Gretna
Zach Butterworth Bay St. Louis, MS
Bill Campbell Atlanta w/ family Public Defender NO
Erica Campbell 716-200-7879 Mobile, AL NO
littlelosthippie@hotmail.com
Ralph Capitelli NO
David Carollo Slidell
Melanie Carr 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE Fighting Chance NO
Eddie Castaing Private office NO
Aneel Chablani 312-804-3287 Chicago CAP NO
George Chaney Public Defender NO
Christine Changho Bruneau NO
Catherine Chavarri NO
Susan Ciaravella Shreveport w/ family Jefferson Pub Def NO
Dane Ciolino 888-364-3812 Shreveport w/ family Law Professor NO
Dciolino@gmail.com
Shaun Clarke NO
Gary Clements gclements@cpcpl.org Shreveport, LA CPCPL NO
W. 318-222-3778; H. 318-757-2256 (cell 504-812-3428, for future)
Ben Cohen 216-932-3804 Ohio CAP Ohio
Archie Creech Safe Jefferson Public Def Gretna
William Crull NO
Kerry Cuccia 504-616-8608 CDPSL NO
Safe - per Judge Minaldi; maybe at hunting lodge in Franklin or St. Martinville
Mark Cunningham NO
Sam Dalton NO
June Darensburg Gretna
Richard Davis 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE IPNO NO
rmad1982@yahoo.co.uk
Linda Davis-Short Gretna
Ava deMontagne 323-770-4488 cell Los Angeles til 9/20 IPNO NO
Frank DeSalvo NO
Gerald DeSalvo Gretna
Letty DiGiulio 225-343-1407 Baton Rouge, w/dad CAP NO
or 225-383-7241
Dennis Dolbear NO
William Doyle Gretna
Jeff Edwards 281-775-5692 cell Houston Fighting Chance NO
Gary Eldredge Private Investigator NO
Kevin Ellis Law Student NO
Michael H. Ellis Metairie
Lawrence Fabacher NO
Patrick Fanning Safe NO
Marion Farmer Safe Private office Covington
Office fine but home destroyed
Lee Faulkner Monroe Jefferson Pub Def Gretna
Mike Fawer Covington
Calvin Fleming Gretna
Paul Fleming Atlanta Gretna
Robert Fleming Covington
S.D. Fleming NO
Tim Fondren 985-902-8900 Safe/home, but no electricity Natalbany
Katherine Franks LAP Slidell
Pat Franz Metairie
Robert Fuhrer Morgan City
Barry Gerharz 504-994-6193 IPNO NO
Charlotte Glass NO
Robert Glass 302-475-7749 Wilmington, Del w/ fam Glass & Reed NO
Glasreed@bellsouth.net R_glass@bellsouth.net
504-259-2966 cell
Tracy Glorioso Gretna
Matthew Goetz Baton Rouge w/ family Jefferson Pub Def Gretna
Rudy Gorrell NO
Tilden Greenbaum 225-753-7384 Baton Rouge Orleans Public Def NO
Ed Greenlee 318-869-3777 Shreveport LIDAB NO
Egreenlee@lidab.com At Richard Goorley=s
Katherine Guste Gretna
Robert Habans Slidell
Heather Hall En route to NY w/ mom LJP NO
Douglas Hammel Metairie
Patrick Hand NO
Mary AConstance@ Hanes Safe LAP
Phil Hantel Safe NO
Pauline Hardin En route to BR from SCar NO
Arthur Harris NO
Maurice Hattier NO
Susan Herrero NO
Holli Herrle-Castille Safe LAP Marrero
Joe Hingston 504-231-4585 Austin LCAC NO
Jancy Hoeffel 847-498-5043 Chicago w/ family Law Professor NO
Mary Howell NO
Michael Idoyaga Gretna
Rachel Jones 347-528-5396 Colorado LCAC NO
Frederick Kelly NO
Kathy Kelly Natchez, MS w/ parents CPCPL NO
Duncan Kemp Hammond
Frederick King NO
Arthur Kingsmill Gretna
Carol Kolinchak 215-862-3709 Baton Rouge w/ Boren CPCPL NO
Ckolinchak@cpcpl.org
Alex Lambert Gretna
Charles Lane NO
Frank Larre
Denise Larson Gretna
Herb Larson Austin, TX NO
James Lawrence NO
Denny LeBoeuf Atlanta W/ family CPCPL NO
John Lee, Jr. Gretna
Christine Lehmann 713-869-4722 Houston/GRACE LCAC NO
or 832-260-6454 cell
Buddy Lemann 225-473-8312 Donaldsonville, LA Private office NO
James Lemmon Gretna
Steve Lemoine NO
David Levitt 404-252-1711 Atlanta w/ family NO
Steve London NO
Jim Looney Lafayette, LAP Covington
but hoping for home soon B no power
Robert Magaletta Covington
Joe Marino Jr. Dallas
Joseph Marino III jamarino3@aol.com Detroit w/fiance Gretna
504-975-0505 cell moving to Beaumont, TX
Chip Marionneaux Okay per Audrey McCain Plaquemine
Robert Marrero Gretna
Jack Martzell Houston, to BR in 1 wk Private office NO
Emily Maw 601-969-5165 IPNO NO
or 206-851-3021 Keely cell
Audrey McCain home and office safe in Plaquemine, have power Plaquemine
Todd McCormick Covington
Patrick McGinity Metairie
Daniel McKearan Gretna
Richard McWilliams NO
Tim Meche Timeche@bellsouth.net Relocating to NYC Private office NO
212-249-3129
Louis Merhige
Clyde Merritt Public Defender NO
Pamela Metzger 404-252-1711 Atlanta w/ family Law Professor NO
Janice Montague-Myles Okay and office okay per Audrey McCain
Joseph Montgomery Gretna
Warren Montgomery Covington
Pam Moran Safe LAP NO
Mark Morgan Gretna
Provino Mosca NO
Julian Murray Metairie
Shelia Myers NO
Marquita Naquin Gretna
Mark Nolting Gretna
James O=Connor NO
Raleigh Ohlmeyer 225-927-3015 Baton Rouge, at Aunt=s NO
Rohlmeyer@aol.com
Marcia Oliver Memphis LIDAB NO
Bobbie Osterman Florida panhandle Law student NO
David Park 818-790-9565 California w/ parents IPNO NO
Laura Pavy Safe LAP NO
Joseph Perez Gretna
Keely Perrin 206-851-3021 Jackson,MS w/ RobMcDuff IPNO NO
keelsmp@yahoo.com
Jelpi Picou 321-779-3606 Florida w/ Ilona's fam CAP NO
Melissa Pleasant IPNO NO
Ursula Price 601-924-4306 Clinton, MS w/ family Fighting Chance NO
Bill Quigley duprestars@yahoo.com Safe w/ wife Law Professor NO
Ronald Rakosky Safe - per Herb Larson NO
John Wilson Reed Glass & Reed NO
Bonnie Renou 504-274-8702 cell Houston/GRACE Fighting Chance NO
Michael Riehlmann Gretna
Bill Rittenberg 713-880-0333 for 9/6-9/8 then to Tucson Private office NO
Rittenberg@rittenbergsamuel.com
504-220-1960 cell
Harry Rosenberg NO
Michael Rubenstein Private office NO
Linda Russo NO
Donald Sauviac Safe/ w fam as of 9/2 Public Defender NO
Thomas Schexnayder Gretna
Virginia Schlueter Lafayette Fed Pub Def - ED La NO
can reach through Rebecca Hudsmith
Evans Schmidt
Kyle Schonekas Public Defender NO
Rick Schroeder Baton Rouge Private Office NO
Robin Schulberg Public Defender NO
Samuel Scillitani Safe Jefferson Public Def Gretna
Steve Shapiro 225-205-8226 W Baton Rouge Private office Baton Rouge
225-383-2229 H
Jonathan Shushan NO
John Simmons Public Defender Covington
Steve Singer 847-498-5043 Chicago w/ family Law Professor/LCAC NO
stephensingerchicago@hotmail.com
Frank Sloan Safe LAP Mandeville
Jeff Smith Safe - per Herb Larson Public Defender NO
Majeeda Snead Law Professor NO
Donald Soignet Metairie
Michael Somoza Public Defender Gretna
Billy Sothern 662-715-9485 cell Oxford, MS CAP NO
Buddy Spell Franklinton
Philip Stein NO
Robert Stern NO
Andrew Taormina Metairie
Hilary Taylor Dallas Jefferson Public Def Gretna
Rick Teissier 949-499-1944 Laguna Beach, Calif Private Office NO
504-616-6915 for text messages
Richardcteissier@yahoo.com
Michael Thiel Hammond
Robert Toale 770-416-1301 Norcross, GA w/ sister Gretna
770-876-2859 cell
Richard Tompson Public Defender Gretna
Jacque Touzet Public Defender NO
Nick Trenticosta Baton Rouge, at Boren=s capital post-conviction NO
then on to Houston
Lane Trippe NO
Georgia Turgeau Slidell
Alan Tusa Covington
Maurice Tyler NO
Lance Unglesby
Dylan Utley 504-812-8490 cell Baton Rouge Orleans Public Def NO
225-343-1407 dylan@johndigiulio.com
********** Dylan is assisting in coordinating attorneys to provide services to newly arrested folks out of affected parishes. If you are interested in helping, please contact Dylan directly about this.
David Utter Shreveport JJPL NO
w/ Henry Walker
Cesar Vazquez Gretna
George Vedros Gretna
Mark Vicknair NO
Gary Wainwright 601-362-7401 Jackson MS w/ friends Private office NO
Neal Walker 504-427-5549 Kentucky/Ohio LCAC NO
sister Jenny at 513-791-4502
Caroline Wallace 337-583-7024 Sulphur, LA w/ family CPCPL NO
Sherry Watters NO
Kim Watts 504-255-9830 Mobile w/ family LCAC/CAP NO
Timon Webre Gretna
Rich Westling 504-495-4119 Tennessee w/ family Private office NO
Ralph Whalen NO
Bruce Whittaker Safe LAP NO
Laurie White Baton Rouge, Private office NO
w/ her brother
Marcy Widder 318-443-8931 Alexandria w/ Phyllis CAP NO
Frazilia Wiggins Gretna
Shannon Wight 504-296-5368 IPNO? NO
abolishprisons@aol.com
Bernard Williams Covington
Jason Williams NO
Lauren Williams NO
Lindsey Williams Gretna
Phillip Wittmann NO
Eric Wright NO
James Wright NO

LIDAB Posts Inmate Evacuee List

2005-09-08T22:04:00.000-05:00

About 9:30 pm this evening Ed Greenlee, Director of the Louisiana Indigent Defense Assistance Board was able to post a 27 compilation of the names of inmates who have been transferred to the following facilities:
Bossier Parish correction Center
Caddo Parish correctness Center
Clairbore Parish
Richwood correctional Center
Ouchita Parish

You can download the lists in .pdf format at:

http://www.lidab.com/Acrobat%20files/Capola.pdf

Texas passes order allowing La., Ms, Al Katrina affected lawyers to practice in Texas

2005-09-07T21:33:00.000-05:00

Under emergency provisions to assist clients in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged regions, the Texas Supreme Court ordered Friday that Texas will permit lawyers from Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama to practice law from Texas locations.

To view the court order go to www.texasbar.com
The order can be found, in pdf format, at this address:
http://www.supreme.courts.state.tx.us/MiscDocket/05/05915300.pdf

Location of Evacuated juvenile Detainees

2005-09-07T00:38:00.000-05:00

Keith Nordyke reports that he is now in contact with the OYD (turns out they were looking for him as well) he provides the following report:

1. ALL Jefferson Parish juvenile detainees were evacuated pre storm to
Jetson (JCCY) and from there, some or all went to Calcasieu. There is a
good track on these folks through OYD and they are trying to get it for
me.
2. Orleans juvenile detainees were not evacuated until after the storm
and when the water began to rise. These juveniles ALL went to JCCY.
Some of these have probably been sent on but that isn't clear at this
time.
3. AT least two of the Juvenile Judges from down there (Gray and
Dougherty) have been in contact with OYD.
4. OYD is trying to compile lists now and will get back with me when
they have more.
5. If someone has a SPECIFIC juvenile that they need, let me know and
I can try to locate them.
6. From the sound of things when I called, they are very much working
the problem and are running hard.

You can reach Keith at Keith.Nordyke@nordykelaw.com

Disaster Training Manual Published

2005-09-07T00:26:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana State Bar Association, under the leadership of Lafayette lawyer Susan Simon with the assistance of countless volunteers, has published a disaster training manual for attorneys to use to provide legal services to those in need. To access the manual go to: http://www.lsba.org/home/manual.asp

LSBA Establishes Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund

2005-09-07T00:23:00.000-05:00

In an email this evening the Louisiana State Bar Association announced that it has, through the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation, established the Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund to help rebuild South Louisiana''s legal infrastructure so that lawyers can provide needed legal services to their clients and restore their damaged offices and records in the wake of this disaster. Michael H. Rubin of Baton Rouge is chairing this effort. LSBA is developing forms and criteria to apply for relief from the fund and this information will be posted on www.lsba.org as soon as it is available. All members of the legal profession are invited to contribute to the fund. Donations should be sent to:

Hurricane Katrina Legal Community Relief Fund
c/o Baton Rouge Bar Foundation
544 Main Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Any questions on the fund should be directed to Baton Rouge Bar Executive Director Ann Scarle at (225)344-4803.

Update -- Louisiana Supreme Court Information

2005-09-07T00:20:00.000-05:00

The Louisiana Supreme Court and other state courts are utilizing www.lsba.org to publish Orders and other important information. In addition, we are posting links to Federal courts located in Louisiana. To access this information, click on the links below:

Louisiana Supreme Court
http://www.lsba.org/home/louisiana_supreme_court_inform.asp

Other Louisiana State Court Information
http://www.lsba.org/home/information_for_other_louisian.asp

Information on Federal Courts Located in Louisiana
http://www.lsba.org/home/info_from_federal_courts.asp

Certification of Eligibility Delayed

2005-09-07T00:15:00.000-05:00

In an emial to members this evening the Louisiana State bar Association announced that the certification of ineligibility for those lawyers who have not paid their 2005/2006 dues or assessment and/or filed their Attorney Registration Statements by Tuesday, September 6 has been extended. LSBA will not penalize those members who have not made the necessary payments and/or filings by the September 6 deadline. Members who have not yet paid do not need to contact LSBA but should visit www.lsba.org for the most recent information. As soon LSBA is able to accept and process payments and registration statements, it will post an announcement on its website .

Locate a Louisiana Lawyer or Update Your LSBA Contact Information

2005-09-07T00:11:00.000-05:00

To enable lawyers to locate one another, the LSBA has added a password protected feature on its website. The posting includes contact information for all active members as it existed prior to Hurricane Katrina. There is an additional field for displaced lawyers to provide their temporary contact information. LSBA has asked members to spread the word about this feature so that it can assemble current contact information and share this with other members of the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Log in at: http://www.lsba.org/home/memberslogin.asp

Louisiana State Bar Association Establishes Temporary Offices in Lafayette

2005-09-07T00:07:00.000-05:00

In an email message to members this evening the Louisiana State Bar Association announced that it has established temporary offices in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Contact information is:
Louisiana State Bar Association
P.O. Drawer 52828
Lafayette, LA 70505
phone: (337)272-0356
fax: (337)237-9450
email: LouisianaBar@yahoo.com

Message from LSBA President Frank Neuner

2005-09-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

The LSBA Wesite is back up!. The following message from LSBA President Frank Neuner was sent out by email to Bar members today:

On behalf of the Louisiana State Bar Association, we extend our sincerest condolences to those individuals that have been affected by the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina.

The Louisiana Bar Association website www.lsba.org will be our primary means of communicating for the foreseeable future. We are updating the site on an ongoing basis and it includes information ranging from message boards to Supreme Court Orders. Please check www.lsba.org frequently for up-to-the-minute information on the Louisiana legal community. Also, please encourage your colleagues in the profession to use this invaluable resource during this most difficult time.

The Louisiana State Bar Association extends its thanks to the countless lawyers who have contacted us with offers of assistance, housing and office space. Members of the legal community from around the state and around the country have come together in their desire to assist victims of this tragedy. Please accept my personal assurances that your bar association will continue to do everything it can to assist its members and the public and to facilitate communication.

Regards,
Frank X. Neuner, Jr.

Shreveport Bar Announces Training Seminar for Attorney Volunteers

2005-09-06T23:45:00.000-05:00

Shreveport Bar AssociationExecutive Director Patti Guin has announced that the Shreveport Bar Association is scheduling a seminar next week for local volunteer attorneys to attend to receive training on how to help the Katrina victims who are currently residing in shelters in Shreveport to fill out FEMA and Red Cross disaster assistance forms.

The seminar will take place some time next week (tentative dates are either Tuesday, September 13 or Thursday, September 15) from 10:00 to 12:00 noon in the Third Floor Conference Room of the LSU-S Library.

Ruth Moore, Executive Director of the Northwest Louisiana Pro Bono Project, is in charge of soliciting and coordinating the training for the volunteers. All SBA members are encouraged to participate. Right now, Patti is trying to determine how many attorneys are interested in attending the seminar and volunteering their services to help Katrina victims fill out disaster relief forms. Paralegals and other staff members are welcome to participate.

Please email Ruth Moore at RuthMoore@shreveportprobono.org if you are interested in attending the seminar.

Locating Evacuated Inmates

2005-09-06T23:36:00.000-05:00

Keith Nordyke has agreed to be the central repository for all of the inmate tracking information that we are gathering. It should be sent to Keith in the most expeditious way possible. Keith will compile it into a searchable and sortable database and make it available to everyone who needs it. Keith’s contact info is:

Keith Nordyke
427 Mayflower St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
W. (225) 383-1601
Fax: (225) 383-2725
Keith.Nordyke@nordykelaw.com

In the next few days, we will be looking for lawyers to go see evacuated inmates at:

Hunt
LCIW
Basile
DeQuincy
Possibly Jetson

If you can volunteer, please e-mail or call me or Keith.

Also, if you know that inmates have been evacuated to your area, please let me know. We are aware that there are evacuated inmates at all of the following, in addition to the facilities listed above:

Caddo Correctional Center – Vicki Cranford is coordinating

Bossier Parish Correctional Center – Vicki Cranford is coordinating

Rapides Parish – Phyllis Mann is coordinating

Calcasieu Correctional Center (juveniles only) – Ron Ware is coordinating

East Baton Rouge Correctional Center – Rodney Baum is coordinating.

Phyllis E. Mann
phyllis@kricket.net

Shreveport Bar association Response to Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-05T07:35:00.000-05:00

The Shreveport Bar association has set up a Hurricane Katrina information page on its website . You can access it directly hereYou can keep up to date on court schedules, disaster relief fund information, items currently needed in local shelters, volunteer attorney training to help displaced citizens currently residing in our local shelters If you have information that you think should be included on the page, please email that information to Patti Guin
Executive Director
Shreveport Bar Association
Phone: (318) 222-3643
Fax: (318) 222-9272
Email: pguin@shreveportbar.com

Help Reconnect Evacuated Prisoners With Their Lawyers

2005-09-05T07:05:00.000-05:00

Thousands of prisoners, both DOC and pre-trial, have been evacuated from the New Orleans are to various facilities throughout the State. The bureaucracies are at work to set this all straight, but in the meantime there are many of our clients who are afraid, don’t know if their families are safe, don’t know if anyone knows where they are, and don’t have a clue how or when they will be able to contact their attorneys.

LACDL Board Member Phyllis Mann is spearheading our efforts to reconnect the prisoners and their lawyers. She needs our help.
Phyllis is asking that those of us who have a sufficient relationship with our local sheriff and/or wardens to go to them and try to get access with evacuees in their custody. Explain that we are creating a clearing house for lawyers to locate their clients and for inmates to locate their lawyers and families. Explain that allowing us to meet with the inmates will keep down unrest because the inmates will know that their lawyers are aware of their situation – that they are not lost.

Download an “inmate tracking form” Here. Complete a form for each inmate, using additional sheets if necessary for multiple charges/parishes. Until such time as a more permanent clearing house is established forward the information to Phyllis via email in .pdf, e-mail, or any form at:

Phyllis E. Mann
Post Office Box 705
Alexandria, LA 71309
(318) 448-0000
FAX (318) 448-2250
Cell (318) 729-3868
e-mail: phyllis@kricket.net

We will put it into a searchable database of some sort.

LACDL Board member Jim Boren is working with Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Kimball to try to get a formal order to the DOC, directing that we be granted access to the prisoners. In the meantime, we will just have to rely on our diplomatic skills to get this done.

Nonetheless, we need to coordinate our effort so that the sheriffs and wardens, and jailers don’t get confused by multiple requests.

Phyllis intends to begin meeting with inmates displaced to Rapides Parish on Tuesday.
Jim Boren is working to begin with inmates in EBR

Please check in and notify us via email either the list serve at lacdl@yahoogroups.com or e- or directly to me at ebrlaw@bellsouth.ne of the particular facility where you intend to try to contact inmates before you go. I will keep track of who has visited what facility and with what result.

If you know of inmates evacuated to your area and are wiling/able to assist in this effort please me us know via email at ebrlaw@bellsouth.net,

A Criminal Defense Lawyer's Story From New Orleans

2005-09-03T23:48:00.000-05:00

The following report of Criminal Defense Attonrey Donald A. Sauviac, Jr holed up in his flooded house appears at the Citizen Journallist website here

By Donald A. "Donny" Sauviac, Jr.
Updated: 5:08 p.m. ET Sept. 1, 2005

I am Donald A. Sauviac, Jr. a criminal defense attorney. As of Thursday Sept 1, 2005 at 7:49 a.m., I am holed up in a third generation family home located at Weiblen and Vicksburg Streets in the Lakeview area of New Orleans. My wife and four daughters left just before the storm and managed to make it to Memphis, Tenn. where they have three rooms with friends who left Metairie. I have two collie dogs and a bird here with me. The dogs are holding up on the second story flat roof with the generator. I am on the second story of the house a converted double. I have a 22 ft. pontoon boat tied up on the side street. I have plenty of food and water. I keep using the generator to charge up my phone and listen to the radio to figure out what is going on around me. I just moved into this house from a house in Metairie, which is known for flooding. As fate would have it the Metairie house that was up for sale is high and dry with no apparent damage.

The house I'm in had calf high water up to the second step of the inside stairwell. The water has subsided in the last day it only covers the first step. (the house is up on piers and from the sidewalk it comes up to my chest standing -- I guess the total depth was about 5 ft. Until yesterday I had clear running water in the upstairs sink, toilet and tub -- probably
ok for washing off but not to drink. In a two block are there seems to be about a dozen people who are staying at this time. We check in on each other and talk by wading down and/or from windows or rooftops.

For the past few days I was charging on neighbors cell phone with the generator and used that phone occasionally to get a call out. At this time I have cell service in the very early a.m. and late p.m. I even have wireless Internet service which just started working. My wife and children are frantic they want me to leave but I won't. This was my maternal grandparents' house that I as a child evacuated to during hurricane Betsy when my parents home in Gentily went underwater and we were evacuated by boat.

This is a very strong house, I laid on a mattress on the second floor during this hurricane with a rosary in one hand and the other hand uplifted praying the Hail Mary over and over probably 10,000 plus times. I am Catholic but no ultra religious -- until now. I promised never to not evacuate in the future when told to do so if I just made it through this one. I kept hearing the 140 mph, wind hitting the house a nearly 100-year-old wood framed shot gun. I kept waiting for something to give.
It never did. A tree fell on the back added on portion but seems to have done little damage and quite a bit of the seal tab roofing has blown off in certain places from what I can see.

As I stand now, I have 5 gallons of gas for the generator (So far I have used 5 gals since the storm) I have I have 16 gals of water (I have used 3 on me and 5 for my dogs) have two 101 qt ice chests that still have some ice (the 5 day story is probably true) and I have food for about a week I have been trying to eat the things that will probably spoil and my dogs
have been eating better than normal -- they won't touch the dog food since they are getting the extra table food so to say.

My fan and radio batteries have held out very well. I call in a list of things to my brother in Baton Rouge and he is gonna try and get them to me if he can find a friend with a flat boat. I have a lot of furniture and clothing on the second, floor, which is fine. I have a lot of things downstairs, which are either ruined, or about to be ruined in the dark cold water that came inside. Everything in my two garages is probably ruined. My N.O. law office is a few blocks away on Canal Blvd.

Historically I never got water at Weiblen or at Canal Blvd. I went there by boat two days ago and have about 5 feet of water in the office, which is on a hill with a deep underpass. I parked a 1983 El Camino that I was restoring there and it is either completely under water or gone. I had a second small boat there, which has sunk. My daughter's car was in the shop
and I would bet money it is under water. Also my car sunk when I tried to get in from my house two blocks down when I noticed the storm was over and the water was surprisingly starting to rise.

The water is from a breech in the 17th Street Canal levee which separates Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. I believe the extra water in N.O. is from the pumping efforts in Jefferson. Jefferson pumped into Lake Pontchartrain, which went into the 17th street canal which went into Lakeview.

I did assist in one rescue while surveying my office from a distance I was summoned to help get an old lady off the roof of her house. My boat a party (fishing) barge was too large to go in the back way and a small flat boat got to her first.

Again, my wife and kids want me to leave but I really can't risk that for the past few days I have had numerous offers from police, fire and volunteers in here in boats but there are too many things I am attempting to save by carrying out when the chaos settles for now I'm fine. My boat does not allow me to get over railroad tracks or under the flooded underpasses. If I left now I would have to abandon the boat and contents. I am searching for an alternate route, probably going to mid city,
Gentilly or further then getting into Lake Pontchartrain and then going to the Bonnable Boat launch in Metairie.

Unfortunately I would be on ground level without all of the items I have here and would still be without car, electric, running water and probably few neighbors to assist. I might also be precluded from returning to my N.O. home. Right now I don't have the looting etc., which has made the news, I am sitting here with a 5 ft moat and armed to the hilt. If I get out I will be at the mercy of maybe being picked up after days of waiting without necessities and without any say so where I may be relocated -- probably in the opposite direction of my wife and kids and certainly away from the multiple properties I am trying to protect.

Therefore I am waiting and planning to survey, pack and remove what I can, so my family will have some clothes and items other than what they left town a few days ago with. I have to survey my new satellite office in Houma as a possible temporary office relocation site. I think the damage there is also bad but my wife thinks otherwise I have had no contact there
to make that determination at this time.

I have no idea of how long I can hold out but know it won't be more than 1 1/2 - 2 weeks more. My family will be in desperate need of assistance, which I am trying to coordinate from here by passing on info through my wife and brother. I love this house and neighborhood. ... I would like to get some info out to my friends nationwide that I am alive and holding up well.

Where are our Clients?

2005-09-02T18:39:00.000-05:00

Many of our members are concerned about their incarcerated clients who have been displaced by Katrina, including pre-trial detainees who may not even have counsel appointed or bond set. So far, our efforts to get a handle on what prisoners have been moved where have not born much fruit. I contacted the Office of Emergency preparedness but was no current information is available. So far the only information we have has come through the media.

The Shreveport Times reports here that "About 200 prisoners were brought to Caddo Correctional Center; 311 inmates to Bossier Parish's maximum-security jail, the newest lockup of the parish jail complex off Old Plain Dealing Road. The prisoners came by school buses and state Corrections Department buses and vans from Hunt Correctional Center in St. Gabriel, where they were transported earlier in the week from flooded facilities in the New Orleans area."

Tha AP is reporting here that "More than 7,600 prisoners were transported out of the New Orleans area," but does nto say where they are being sent. the article quotes Pam Laborde, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. I have not bee succesful in gettign through to anyone with DOC.

If you know of any information about relocation of prisoners please place a post here.

Help from Thomson-West

2005-09-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

I received word late this evening from NACDL President Barbara Bergman, that Thomson-West is coming to the aid of lawyers needing to rebuild practices disrupted by Katrin.
Specifically Thomson-West customers who have been displaced by the disaster should contact the Customer Service at 1-800-328-4880, ext. 67281, to let Thomson-West know that they're safe. When they're ready to get back on their feetThomsonon-West is ready to help.
-Affected Westlaw customers can contact their Sales representative or call Customer Service to access a complimentary Westlaw password.
-Thomson West Reference Attorneys are standing by to help support customers' research needs.
Thomson West's Technology organization can help establish new high-speed connections to support customer's practices. -And, when it's time to re-open offices, Thomson West will work with customers to help them rebuild their West print library.

Find details at West's web site Here

Katrina's effect on Louisiana's legal system

2005-09-02T18:13:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, Southern Law School Professor Michelle Ghetti's posted an email to the LACDL List-serve relating Katrina's impact on the legal system and legal profession in stark simple terms. I can't improve on her description:

I know your hearts, in particular, are for lawyers. Think of this...

5,000 - 6,000 lawyers (1/3 of the lawyers in Louisiana) have lost their offices, their libraries, their computers with all information thereon, their client files - possibly their clients, as one attorney who e-mailed me noted. As I mentioned before, they are scattered from Florida to Arizona and have nothing to return to. Their children's schools are gone and, optimistically, the school systems in 8 parishes/counties won't be re-opened until after December. They must re-locate their lives.

Our state supreme court is under some water - with all appellate files and evidence folders/boxes along with it. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals building is under some water - with the same effect. Right now there may only be 3-4 feet of standing water but, if you think about it, most files are kept in the basements or lower floors of courthouses. What effect will that have on the lives of citizens and lawyers throughout this state and this area of the country? And on the law?

The city and district courts in as many as 8 parishes/counties are under water, as well as 3 of our circuit courts - with evidence/files at each of them ruined. The law enforcement offices in those areas are under water - again, with evidence ruined. 6,000 prisoners in 2 prisons and one juvenile facility are having to be securely relocated. We already have over-crowding at most Louisiana prisons and juvenile facilities. What effect will this have? And what happens when the evidence in their cases has been destroyed? Will the guilty be released upon the communities? Will the innocent not be able to prove their innocence?

Our state bar offices are under water. Our state disciplinary offices are under water - again with evidence ruined. Our state disciplinary offices are located on Veteran's Blvd. In Metairie. Those of you who have been watching the news, they continue to show Veteran's Blvd. It's the shot with the destroyed Target store and shopping center under water and that looks like a long canal. Our Committee on Bar Admissions is located there and would have been housing the bar exams which have been turned in from the recent July bar exam (this is one time I'll pray the examiners were late in turning them in - we were set to meet in 2 weeks to go over the results). Will all of those new graduates have to retake the bar exam?

Two of the 4 law schools in Louisiana are located in New Orleans (Loyola and Tulane - the 2 private ones that students have already paid about $8,000+ for this semester to attend). Another 1,000+ lawyers-to-be whose lives have been detoured. I've contacted professors at both schools but they can't reach anyone at those schools and don't know the amount of damage they've taken. Certainly, at least, this semester is over. I'm trying to reach the Chancellor's at Southern and LSU here in Baton Rouge to see if there's anything we can do to take in the students and/or the professors. I think I mentioned before, students from out of state have been stranded at at least 2 of the other universities in New Orleans - they're moving up floor after floor as the water rises. Our local news station received a call from some medical students at Tulane Medical Center who were now on the 5th floor of the dormitories as the water had risen.&nbs p; One of them had had a heart attack and they had no medical supplies and couldn't reach anyone - 911 was busy, local law enforcement couldn't be reached, they were going through the phone book and reached a news station 90 miles away!! It took the station almost 45 minutes to finally find someone with FEMA to try to get in to them!!

And, then, there are the clients whose files are lost, whose cases are stymied. Their lives, too, are derailed. Of course, the vast majority live in the area and that's the least of their worries. But, the New Orleans firms also have a large national and international client base. For example, I received an e-mail from one attorney friend who I work with on some crucial domestic violence (spousal and child) cases around the nation - those clients could be seriously impacted by the loss, even temporarily, of their attorney - and he can't get to them and is having difficulty contacting the many courts around the nation where his cases are pending. Large corporate clients may have their files blowing in the wind where the high rise buildings had windows blown out.

I woke up this morning to the picture of Veteran's Blvd which made me think of my students who just took the bar. My thoughts wandered from there to the effect on the Disciplinary Offices. Then my thoughts continued on. I'm sure I'm still missing a big part of the future picture. It's just devastating. Can you imagine something of this dimension in your state?

Michelle

Professor Michelle Ghetti
Southern University Law Center
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
225-771-4900

Court Closings & Openings as of September 2, 2005

2005-09-02T18:00:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, August 31, 2005, Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeals Clerk/Court Administrator, Diana Pratt-Wyatt 318 227-3702, put out the following information.

The Louisiana Supreme Court, the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal, and the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal are currently closed until further notice due to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina in south Louisiana. Operational plans for the courts are currently being devised and will be issued as soon as possible. Information about these courts will continue to be posted to the following Courts of Appeal websites as it becomes available.

www.lacoa2.org
www.la-fcca.org
www.la3circuit.org

You can email Diana at: CLerkdpw@lasccoa.state.la.us
As of this posting, the Louisiana Supreme Court Website, is still not operational.

The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Website indicate the emergency "command post" for the court is currently located in Houston at the district court

The website provides the following Information for Attorneys and Litigants:

1. Do not send any filings or documents to New Orleans at this time.

2. All filing deadlines on or after August 24 through September 9 are automatically extended until September 12, subject to further extension. Before filing, check our internet website as set out below.

3. Attorneys and litigants are directed regularly to check our internet website, www.ca5.uscourts.gov for additional instructions and information.

4. True emergency matters, e.g. death penalty cases with execution dates, or deportation matters with an imminent and confirmed deportation dates, may be filed by FAX at 713-250- 5050 or mailed or delivered to:

Chambers of Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King
Rm. 11020
515 Rusk Street
Houston, Texas 77002.

Questions or comments can be sent to Webmaster_ca5@_ca5.uscourts.gov

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas reports on its home page that its main internet server which is located in New Orleans, LA is down. It is currently operation on its COOP internet server which contains important messages such as filing extensions, court relocation notices etc. in the case of an emergency or crises. The court does not anticipate any delays in the court schedule

Likewise the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi reports on its website that its main internet server which is located in New Orleans, LA is down and awaiting restoration of power in the meantime it will continue to post important messages on its COOP internet server

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana website has the following notice:

The offices of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana are closed until further notice. By order of Chief Judge Helen G. Berrigan, all deadlines and delays in matters pending before this court are suspended until ordered otherwise.

Let us know you are safe.

2005-09-02T07:11:00.000-05:00

The LACDL and the NACDL list-services are abuzz with lawyers looking for displaced LACDL members. If you have been displaced, we are looking for you. Let us know where you are and what you need. Leave your name and location and way we can contact you in a comment to this post.

Baton Rouge Bar Association Response to Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

Dear Friends,

All of us in the Baton Rouge area extend our hopes and prayers to those of us with family and friends in the areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. In these last two or three days, we have been working at the Middleton Bar Center to assist lawyers throughout the state and the people who will be seeking refuge in Baton Rouge. At this point, we are the largest Bar Association that has an operational office in this state, and we intend to make our assets available to help everyone we can.

From the start, we have offered the Louisiana State Bar Association any and all assistance we can give. The LSBA President is Frank Neuner of Lafayette, but the LSBA office in New Orleans is inaccessible. We provided the LSBA with unlimited use of our staff conference room, and we are making our entire facility as available as possible, while still meeting our core responsibilities to our local members. The LSBA can restore its communications once it can get access to its servers. Since Tuesday, we have been receiving inquiries from state and local bar associations throughout the country, offering assistance and support in every possible way. In order to receive funds, the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation will be accepting monetary donations in any amount for deposit into an account in a local bank to provide monetary aid to lawyers who have lost their homes and offices in the storm. Checks should be payable to the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation; please note on the check "LSBA Hurricane Relief." As soon as the Louisiana State Bar Foundation members can be assembled (many are displaced as well), the exact criteria for disbursements to those in need will be established. As soon as the Foundation is operating from its remote office, all funds will be turned over (and we will continue to collect and remit funds and provide receipts for as long as the money comes in). Please note this money is not being used for just those lawyers who have to relocate to Baton Rouge, which is why the disbursements will be handled by the statewide organization. (For those who wish to make monetary donations for the general public, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (http://www.braf.org) has two separate funds designated for displaced people in Baton Rouge and recovery efforts in New Orleans).

In addition, the BRBA will be hosting a hotline at our office that will be run by the Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division, and the Baton Rouge Bar Association to provide free legal assistance to those displaced by the hurricane. The panel of these volunteers will be assembled by the Young Lawyers Division to work with people on a statewide basis.

Locally, the BRBA is trying to coordinate efforts with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross to be trained in connection with the forms that the displaced people, particularly those living in the emergency shelters, will need to complete in order to obtain assistance. Because the access to this information will be limited at the shelters, our plan is to assemble teams of BRBA members who can staff tables; this is perhaps not legal help in its purest sense, but just fresh eyes and sharp minds being lent to some people who are in desperate need. More information on this initiative will be forthcoming once the details are ironed out. If you are interested in signing up for this volunteer work, please reply to this email and ask to be signed up on the list that we will begin to construct today.

Finally, the BRBA will serve as a clearinghouse for any lawyers who wish to provide or rent space to displaced lawyers. If you have any space that you could provide on a short-term basis, please reply to this email with details on the space, your exact location, and phone numbers where you can be reached (night and day, if possible), and we start our "supply list". Our ability to reach these lawyers who have been displaced is quite limited with email at this point, but word of mouth will likely lead to a flood of calls from lawyers from the areas who have lost the use of their offices due to the flood. Please have any lawyer who may need help from us call the Bar Center at 344-4803 to be put on the "needs list."

The members of the Baton Rouge Bar Association are special group of people, and our Association is recognized as one of the finest in the country. There has perhaps never been a greater need to which we can respond. Please, sign up for these programs, volunteer at the shelters, donate money, take in a lawyer, and help any way that you can.

Gregory E. Bodin,
President, Baton Rouge Bar Association

Ann G. Scarle, Executive Director
Baton Rouge Bar Association
P. O. Box 2241
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Phone: 225-214-5563
Fax: 225-344-4805

Tell us what you need. Help is on the way!

2005-09-01T23:07:00.000-05:00

Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Katrina Relief Blog

The great frustration that many in and outside of the legal community are feeling at this moment is the frustration of not knowing what we can do to help. If you are a displaced Louisiana Criminal Defense Lawyer we want to know what we can do to help you. Tell us where you are, where your office was, what you need to stabilize yourself, your family and your practice.LACDL is responding. Our list-service is up and running, and much good information is being posted. Our executive committee met in a teleconference this morning to begin assessing the impact of Katrina on our organization and what LACDL can do to help its membership rebuild. Participating in the phone conference were NACDL President Barbra Bergman, President-elect Marty Pinales, and Presidents Mike Snure of the Flordia Association of Criminal Defense lawyers and Joe Van Hest of the Alabama associatin of Criminal Defense lawyers. A number of issue were identified that need to be addresed immediately including:
1. An Internet bulliten board to coordinate and match displaced lawyers with members who can provide assistance.
2. Monetary Assistance to help dispalced lawyers rebuidl their practices.
3. Locating incarcerated clients who have been relocated
4. Finding ways to communicate with relocated members
5. The impact of Katrina on scheduled LACDL programs and events

The outpouring of relief is enormous.

NACDL has established established a new Katrina Disaster Bulletin Board. Members in the affected areas can post messages and NACDL members nationwide can respond. The new Bulletin Board is at www.nacdl.org/relief.Members can offer assistance and those in need can learn about the assistance being offered. To access the site, either enter your NACDL user name and password, or enter "katrinarelief" as the user name and "help" as the password. (these are case sensitive)

NACDL has designated Alison Sterling as its Katrina Disaster Relief Coordinator. Her job for the next several months will be to field phone calls and e-mail messages from members in LA, AL, MS, and elsewhere, and to serve as a clearinghouse for offers of help and requests for assistance. She will also be monitoring the new Katrina Disaster Bulletin Board and serve as a conduit for communications among members. Further, Alison will have information available about relief efforts and organizations that are providing humanitarian assistance on-the-ground. Her phone number is 202-872-8600 x248 and her e-mail is alison@nacdl.org.

NACDL members can make tax-deductible contributions to the Foundation for Criminal Justice and its Katrina Disaster Relief Fund online at: http://www.nacdl.org/public.nsf/FoundationGiving?openform. NACDL has donated $5,000 to this fund. After the needs of affected NACDl members are better known NACDL plans to provide cash grants and loans to help defense lawyers get back on their feet.

The Baton Rouge Bar Foundation is also accepting donations to provide monetary aid to lawyers who have lost their homes and offices in the storm. Checks should be payable to the Baton Rouge Bar Foundation; please note on the check "LSBA Hurricane Relief," for more info go to http://www.brba.org.

Many people are offering places to stay. Southern University Law Professor Michelle Ghetti reports that a Baton Rouge group is coordinating to connect those with places to stay with those without places to live. You can access the website at www.shareyourhome.org and input your information. You will then be coordinated, through the organization, with someone who matches your need/offer. Your offer can be specific as to #, types of people, pets, etc. For example, one family with teenage girls didn't want to take in teenage boys. No place is necessarily too far away.

The group of lawyers has legal forms necessary to protect you and the family staying with you and those will be available through the website. If you cannot access the website for some reason, you can call 1-888-827-2525.

The LSBA office in New Orleans is currently inaccessible, but the Baton Rouge Bar Association is providing LSBA with temporary space. The LSBA can restore its communications once it can get access to its servers.

The LACDL Board will meet in Alexandria on Saturday September 17th, to continue focusing our effort to provide relief to our affected members.