April 8, 2008 - Opinions - Louisiana Supreme Court

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April 8, 2008 
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<table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="90%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td valign="top" width="63%">FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE</td><td valign="top" width="37%"><div align="right">NEWS RELEASE #026</div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td valign="top">FROM: CLERK OF SUPREME COURT OF LOUISIANA</td><td valign="top">&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;The Opinions handed down on the&nbsp;8th day of April, 2008,&nbsp;are as follows: BY CALOGERO, C.J.:<a href="/opinions/2008/07C1890.opn.pdf">2007-C -1890 THE NEWMAN MARCHIVE PARTNERSHIP, INC. v. CITY OF SHREVEPORT</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Caddo)&nbsp; The Judgment of the Court of Appeal is reversed. The peremptory writ of mandamus is dissolved, and the Plaintiff&rsquo;s petition is dismissed.&nbsp; REVERSED; WRIT OF MANDAMUS DISSOLVED; PETITION DISMISSED.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY JOHNSON, J.:<a href="/opinions/2008/07OK0082.opn.pdf">2007-OK-0082 C/W 2007-KA-0716 STATE OF LOUISIANA v. KENNETH LANCLOS</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Jefferson) For the above reasons, we affirm the judgment of the First Parish Court finding that R.S. 32:57(G) is unconstitutional.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY TRAYLOR, J.:<a href="/opinions/2008/07C2441.opn.pdf">2007-C -2441 C/W 2007-C -2443 JOSEPH SHER v. LAFAYETTE INSURANCE COMPANY; UNITED FIRE &amp; CASUALTY COMPANY; THE UNITED FIRE GROUP; ROBERT JONES; WES SWANK; FRED VANDERBROOK; AND PROPERTY LOSS CONSULTING, INC.</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Orleans) For the reasons given, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and render judgment. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND RENDERED.Retired Judge Lemmie O. Hightower assigned as Associate Justice Ad Hoc sitting for Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, recused.VICTORY, J., concurs in the result. KNOLL, J., concurs in part and dissents in part and assigns reasons. WEIMER, J., concurs in the result.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY KNOLL, J.:<a href="/opinions/2008/06K2596.opn.pdf">2006-K -2596 STATE OF LOUISIANA v. AMANDA GUTWEILER AKA AMANDA HYPES</a>&nbsp;(Parish of Rapides) (First Degree Murder - Three Counts) For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the court of appeal is affirmed in part and reversed in part. The decision is affirmed insofar as it holds the indictment was properly quashed for the State's violation of grand jury secrecy by the release of a witness's grand jury transcript to its arson expert witness; the ruling prohibiting Dr. John DeHaan and Det. Bobby Sandoval from testifying in any future grand jury proceedings or prosecution of the defendant is reversed. This case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with the views expressed in this opinion. AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART AND REMANDED.JOHNSON, J., concurs in part, dissents in part and will assign reasons. VICTORY, J., concurs in part and dissents in part and assigns reasons.	TRAYLOR, J., concurs in part and dissents in part for reasons assigned by Victory, J.&nbsp;&nbsp;BY WEIMER, J.:<a href="/opinions/2008/07CA1680.opn.pdf">2007-CA-1680 SOUTHERN SILICA OF LOUISIANA, INC. AND MID STATE SAND AND GRAVEL COMPANY, L.L.C. v. LOUISIANA INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION</a>(Parish of E. Baton Rouge) The judgments of the lower courts are reversed. This court decrees that Southern Silica is entitled to indemnity for the years 1977 through 1982 from LIGA, but only after the pro rata shares of all insurers that provided coverage in the Louisiana suits against Southern Silica are determined by judgment or settlement. Because LIGA also owes Southern Silica a defense for the 1977-1982 time period, indemnification for defense costs borne by Southern Silica can be recovered from LIGA upon proper proof thereof. REVERSED AND RENDERED.KNOLL, J., concurs in result.&nbsp;
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