Articles by Michael Kunzelman

Company Wants More Time to Settle Suit Over 13-Year-Old Oil Leak in Gulf

A New Orleans-based company that has failed to stop a 13-year-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is asking for more time to negotiate a settlement that could allow it to recover millions of dollars it set aside for …

Why the Number of Coastal Homeowners with Flood Insurance Has Been Shrinking

Amanda Spartz nearly did not renew her home’s flood insurance policy after her first year in Florida. Two hurricanes came close to the Fort Lauderdale suburbs last year, but they didn’t hit and her home isn’t in a high-risk flood …

Judge Won’t Toss Bias Claims Over Louisiana Salon Inspections

A federal judge on has refused to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses Louisiana state regulators of racially discriminating against a group of Vietnamese-American nail salon owners. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson’s ruling clears the way for a jury trial next …

As Louisiana Surveys Flood Damage, Death Toll Rises

As waters receded in parts of Louisiana’s capital city of Baton Rouge, some residents returned to their flood-damaged homes on Aug. 16 for the first time and found a soggy mess. David Key used a small boat to get to …

6 Dead, Tens of Thousands Evacuated in Louisiana Flooding

Emergency crews worked through the night to rescue scores of south Louisiana residents from homes and stranded cars as deadly flooding continued to inundate large swaths of the region Sunday, three days after rain-swollen water levels began rapidly rising. From …

Louisiana Judge Awards $50K in Sorrento Police Chief Sex Assault Case

A federal judge has awarded $50,000 in damages to a woman who accused a former Louisiana police chief of sexually assaulting her in his office while she was drunk and he was on duty. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick ruled …

Baton Rouge Police Sued by ACLU, Other Groups over Protests

Civil rights groups and activists sued Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies over their treatment of protesters rallying against the police shooting death of a black man, saying officers used excessive force and physically and verbally abused peaceful demonstrators. The lawsuit, …

Group Sues ExxonMobil Over Baton Rouge Chemical Plant Emissions

An environmental group’s lawsuit claims ExxonMobil Corp. continues to violate Clean Air Act regulations despite a 2014 settlement over emissions from the company’s Baton Rouge chemical plant. The Louisiana Environmental Action Network sued the company in federal court on March …

Insurers Dogged by Claims of Slanted Sandy Reports

When Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast, flood insurance companies working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency dispatched an army of structural engineers to do some detective work. Their assignment: Find out how much damage to policyholders’ homes was caused …

FEMA Wants at Least $5.8M in Superstorm Sandy Aid Repaid

After Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast nearly two years ago, the federal government quickly sent out $1.4 billion in emergency disaster aid to the hurricane’s victims. Now, thousands of people might have to pay back their share. The Federal …