Articles by Michael Kunzelman

Louisiana’s Suit Against Katrina Whistleblowers Dismissed

A federal judge on Aug. 24 dismissed a lawsuit by the state of Louisiana accusing two self-described whistleblowers of illegally copying and circulating documents containing confidential information about homeowners applying to a Hurricane Katrina grant program. U.S. District Judge James …

As Water Inches Closer, an Agonizing Wait in Louisiana

The final wave of holdouts has mostly packed up and left this Louisiana town as water from the swollen Atchafalaya River has inched toward their homes, with their frustration and hope painted on signs posted outside. “Nothing left worth stealing,” …

Louisiana Town Works to Save Economic Engine From Flood

They call it the Vidalia Riverfront — a strip of land between the Mississippi River and the levee, with a park, walking trail, a camp ground, and $75 million worth of buildings that generate 300 jobs for this town of …

Gulf Coast Officials Enjoy Spending Spree at BP’s Expense

In the year since the Gulf oil spill, officials along the coast have gone on a spending spree with BP money, dropping tens of millions of dollars on gadgets, vehicles and gear — much of which had little to do …

Judge Defends Spill Decision That Upset Louisiana AG

A federal judge said Jan. 28 that he wasn’t trying to deprive states of their rights when he appointed Alabama’s newly elected attorney general to coordinate all states’ interests in the litigation spawned by the Gulf oil spill. “No such …

Ex-Airport Director Pleads Guilty in Katrina Insurance Fraud Case

The former director of aviation at New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for his role in a Hurricane Katrina insurance fraud case. Sean Hunter and his wife, Shauna Crowden Hunter, were charged in federal …

Appeals Court Rejects $21M Katrina Settlement

A federal appeals court has rejected a $21 million settlement of Hurricane Katrina damage claims that some residents had complained was unfair, and that one group said would have entitled residents and businesses to as little as $40 each. U.S. …

New Orleans Jury Awards $650K in Katrina Jail Lawsuit

A federal jury has awarded more than $650,000 to two Ohio tourists who were arrested in New Orleans, La., on public drunkenness charges two days before Hurricane Katrina and jailed for more than a month in the storm’s chaotic aftermath. …

Court: Government Contractor Not Immune to New Orleans Levee Suit

A government contractor isn’t immune from claims that it performed shoddy work that resulted in the failure of a New Orleans levee system during Hurricane Katrina, a federal appeals court has ruled. This week’s ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit …

Louisiana Parish President Quits Amid Federal Probe with Insurance Ties

Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, a Democrat who rose from small-city mayor to lead Louisiana’s most populous parish, has resigned as federal officials investigated alleged corruption in parish government. His resignation preceded that of Tim Whitmer, who quit as Jefferson’s …