The August 2010 LADC Newsletter is posted and available for download in PDF format here: August 2010 LADC Newsletter.

LADC SIZZLIN’ SUMMER SEMINAR, FRIDAY THE 13TH: One of the LADC’s most popular seminars is the seminar formerly known as the Attorney-Client Seminar. This year the second annual Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar will be at the Windsor Court Hotel on Friday, Aug. 13. Don’t take a chance by working on Friday the Thirteenth. Our room block has expired but if rooms are still available you may make your hotel reservation by calling 1-800-262-2662. The CLE agenda includes the following: Toxic Torts and Class Actions: Oil Spills and Beyond (John Church, David Dugas, David Bienvenu, and Stephen Murray); Overview of the 2010 Legislative Session (Senators Edwin Murray and Danny Martiny); Insurance Law Update (Shelby McKenzie); Health Care Reform (Donna Fraiche); Professionalism (Brian Faughnan); Privileges, Liens, Subrogations & Other Snags(Shane Craighead); Ethics (Dane Ciolino and Phelps Gay); and Recent Developments in Louisiana Law (Frank Maraist, Dane Ciolino, and Bill Corbett). Registration materials are available here: Register for LADC Sizzlin’ Summer CLE.

• The 2010 LADC Trial Academy has been cancelled due to low registration.

To download the July 2010 LADC Newsletter (in PDF), please click here: July 2010 LADC Newsletter.

LAST CALL FOR LADC TRIAL ACADEMY: The twenty-sixth annual LADC Trial Academy is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 5-Saturday, Aug. 7 at Loyola Law School. Outstanding lawyers and judges provide excellent training in all phases of litigation for young lawyers, and it is an incredible bargain, offering over 21 hours of CLE credit. Registration materials are available at www.ladc.org.

LADC SIZZLIN’ SUMMER SEMINAR, FRIDAY THE 13TH: One of the LADC’s most popular seminars is the seminar formerly known as the Attorney-Client Seminar. This year the second annual Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar will be at the Windsor Court Hotel on Friday, Aug. 13. Don’t take a chance by working on Friday the 13th. Come get 8 hours of CLE credit and enjoy good luck at the seminar. We have a reserved block of rooms and suites at the Windsor Court Hotel at a special rate. Additionally, if the hotel offers summer specials better than our rate, we will get the better rate. Make your hotel reservation by calling 1-800-262-2662. Our room block expires on July 12. The CLE agenda includes the following: Toxic Torts and Class Actions: Oil Spills and Beyond (John Church, David Dugas, David Bienvenu, and Stephen Murray); Overview of the 2010 Legislative Session (State Legislators); Insurance Law Update (Shelby McKenzie); Health Care Reform (Donna Fraiche); Professionalism (Brian Faughnan); Privileges, Liens, Subrogations & Other Snags (Shane Craighead); Ethics (Dane Ciolino and Phelps Gay); and Recent Developments in Louisiana Law (Frank Maraist, Dane Ciolino, and Bill Corbett). Registration materials are available at www.ladc.org.

• Louisiana not in top 10 best or worse for tort liability costs http://bit.ly/9Rk1Jm #
• Why lawyers really don't need offices any longer http://bit.ly/9xDrdL #
• What lawyers and other public speakers can learn from songwriters http://bit.ly/brQYCU #

S.B. 547, if enacted, would amend Civ. Code Art. 2315 to authorize punitive damages.  The bill, as amended and approved in Judiciary A, would permit punitive damages:

“if it is proved that the plaintiff’s injuries were caused by the defendant’s wanton or reckless disregard for public safety in the drilling, equipping, operating, or producing of an oil or gas well, or in the commercial storage, handling, or transportation of oil, gas, product of oil or gas, or hazardous or toxic substance.”

To check on the progress of the bill, click here: http://www.legis.state.la.us/

S.B. 547 may be brought to the floor of the Senate as early as Thursday, June 3.

For the June 2010 LADC Newsletter, click here: LADC June 2010 Newsletter. The Newsletter’s “Bulletin Board” items are set forth below.

LADC TRIAL ACADEMY: The twenty-sixth annual LADC Trial Academy is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 5-Saturday, Aug. 7 at Loyola Law School. Outstanding lawyers and judges provide excellent training in all phases of litigation for young lawyers, and it is an incredible bargain. Registration materials are available at www.ladc.org.

LADC SIZZLIN’ SUMMER SEMINAR, FRIDAY THE 13TH: One of the LADC’s most popular seminars is the seminar formerly known as the Attorney-Client Seminar. This year the second annual Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar will be at the Windsor Court Hotel on Friday, Aug. 13. Don’t take a chance by working on Friday the 13th. Come get 8 hours of CLE credit and enjoy good luck at the seminar. We have a reserved block of rooms and suites at the Windsor Court Hotel at a special rate. Additionally, if the hotel offers summer specials better than our rate, we will get the better rate. Make your hotel reservation by calling 1-800-262-2662. The CLE agenda includes the following as well as more to be announced: Insurance Law Update (Shelby McKenzie); Privileges, Liens, Subrogations & Other Snags (Shane Craighead); Ethics (Prof. Dane Ciolino and Phelps Gay); Professionalism; and Recent Developments in Louisiana Law. Registration materials are available at www.ladc.org.

STRATEGIC PLANNING, THURSDAY, AUG. 12: The LADC officers and board of directors will engage in a day-long strategic planning session the before the Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar. The session will be held in conjunction with the board meeting usually held on that day. The purpose of the session is to assess the state of the organization and plan for the future. A key topic will be member services. Everything is on the table, including the following: newsletter; website; online CLE; email blast notices; CLE seminars and training programs; young lawyers’ services; expert witness services; participation in government (legislature, courts, and agencies); dues; travel; opportunities for member involvement and participation; and interaction with other national, state, and local organizations. We encourage all members who have ideas to communicate with us by contacting your district director, an officer, or the LADC office (Ladefensecounsel@aol.com or 225-928-7599). This is your organization, and we ask that you help us make it better.

ANNUAL MEETING 2011: Start planning now to attend the 2011 Annual Meeting. After conducting a survey of the membership, President Ron Sholes has announced that the trip will be to southern France. Stay tuned

BEAVER CREEK WINTER MEETING 2011: The winter meeting and ski trip to the Charter at Beaver Creek will be during Mardi Gras week, Wednesday, March 9-Sunday, March 13. Because flights book early during Mardi Gras week, you may want to make flight arrangements soon.