Let the AG's office make contingency fee contracts!

Caldwell again delays action on contingency fee bill - Louisiana Politics | State Legislature News - NOLA.com

Contigency fee contracts-- which state that lawyers will only get paid if their case is successful-- with outsider firms will allow the State Attorney General's office to vigorously defend the state's interest while still subsisting on their limited budget. Private industry has lots of money to pit dazzling litigation teams against the AG's office in suits where the state's talented lawyers are understaffed and overworked.

Critics argue that allowing contingency fees for outside firms encourage plaintiffs to drum up lawsuits, but this is only speculation. The office still has the responsibility to do what is prudent for the state-- and that includes the state's industries that no Louisiana agency wants to damage unnecessarily. Legislation that provides for review of contingency fees, competitive bidding, and judicial discretion to limit the fees should result in a more rigorous protection of the state's- and therefore the people's-- interests and rights. The current jurisprudence makes it so that without specific authorization, the AG can't use contingency fee contracts- under the theory that this is somehow alienating state property. This argument doesn't seem fully convincing to me, because without enough manpower and resources to give the best showing in court that we can, the state will certainly lose out on some amount of recovery that would otherwise be state property.

Right now, if the state wants to bring any substantial private company into court-- or even just to defend against a lawsuit brought by one-- the fight can hardly be called fair. Unless we are going to quadruple the AG's budget, private firms willing to bet on the success of the case are the only viable solution.

Pragmatic Activism for the Wetlands: Thank you King Milling

R. King Milling is the president of Whitney National Bank in Louisiana and a prominent businessman regionally. Now he has been awarded the Loving Cup, a century-old award given by the Times-Picayune for unselfish community service, because of his tireless dedication to coastal restoration.

Milling should serve as an example to us all- especially to business people and others who do not work in coastal restoration. Read the praise in the article below heaped on him by major voices on coastal restoration like Sidney Coffee and Mark Davis. Then listen to his own reasons for his activism:

"I just loooooove plants, especially in our marshes! I think we should sacrifice capitalist interests for them no matter what the costs to our community."

Just kidding. These are his pragmatic words:

"This is not just about the environment. It's about culture, commerce and survival."
and
"It doesn't take a genius to understand the infrastructure is at risk, the future is at risk. That's what we will lose if we don't do anything. I think that used to shock some people, but it doesn't anymore."

King Milling is not a tree hugger. He is a banker- certainly not interested in losing money. He knows how urgent this issue is for everyone in Louisiana. It doesn't matter if you work in retail, the service industry, education, technology, health care, shipping, oil and gas, seafood, agriculture-- any industry-- we should all know that the health of our coast is our primary measure of the safety of our population and the security of any business from at least Baton Rouge on south. Every year, we sit closer and closer to the open ocean. There may still be controversy over climate change, but there isn't over coastal loss here: we've lost a Delaware amount of land. Now we can either be sitting ducks, or we can all work tirelessly to lessen the risk. Anytime you need a reminder of what that risk is, go here. Or ask King Milling.

Coastal restoration advocate King Milling wins T-P Loving Cup - Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

Good Deal (Perhaps): Expanded New Orleans Homebuying Assistance

At least 75% of the work force is now eligible for homebuying assistance in New Orleans through the city's Finance Authority.

The program can be used by people who make up to 20% more than the median New Orleanian's income to buy a first home or renovate their current one. For a two person household, that's $57,000. Man, maybe I should look into property....

Anyways, up to $65,000 of 0% interest soft-second mortgage and $10,000 of closing cost assistance are available to applicants out of a $27 million dollar pot.

One slightly huge caveat:

Each one of the "Housing Opportunity Zones"- where most of the assistance will be given- flooded during Katrina, at least to my knowledge. On the map I see areas in Mid City, Lakeview, New Orleans East, and off the Earhart Expressway, just to name a few.

Some areas took in only a little water, but others were severely flooded. This concerns me, as does any encouragement of development in floodzones without serious land use guidelines.

Of course, in areas with only moderate flooding, elevation of homes is completely feasible-- not to mention the traditional & smart way of building in NOLA!

If anyone wants to clarify- here are the zones.

Thanks to KL for passing on the link!

Sources: New Orleans City Business; Finance Authority of New Orleans

Legislators!! Aren't we going to regulate eugenics?!?

All this fuss over abortion and stem cells, but clinics in the US are now offering sex, hair color and eye color selection services! This means picking one embryo over another and "discarding" the other choices. To me this is the ultimate "playing god" and hearkens back to Hitler and his desires for the Aryan race.

Is it so different if it's only individuals and not a nation that can pick what type of child is better the way I choose a compute or a car? Is anyone else distressed by this?

BBC NEWS | Health | Designer baby row over US clinic