Entergy is facing a class-action lawsuit over extended outages from Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
______________________________________
The difficult times continue for those in Terrebonne Parish left without a roof over their head from destructive Hurricane Ida. Dave Brannen reports it’s a situation upsetting to State Representative Tanner Magee.
Cut 2 (28)…I’m Dave Brannen.”
______________________________________
After extensive power outages from Hurricane Ida, Entergy is now facing a class-action lawsuit from customers. As many as 902-thousand lost power following the storm. Juan LaFonta is one of the attorneys’ representing plaintiffs in the case.
Cut 3 (10) “…went down.”
La Fonta says the suit is seeking to recover damages for losses that include things like food that was spoiled due to lack of power and even electrical equipment that was harmed when power was restored.
Cut 4 (10) “…transmission lines.”
As of Monday LaFonta says they have seventeen plaintiffs, but they expect the number to grow as more people join the class-action lawsuit.
LaFonta says Entergy has failed to upgrade lines in the past even when recommended to do so, thus making them more vulnerable during a storm.
Cut 5 (12) “…monopoly going.”
Entergy issued a statement that they will not comment on pending litigation.
_____________________________________
Two lawsuits are now making their way through state court that allege that mandates issued by Ochsner Lafayette General and Our Lady of the Lourdes Regional Medical Center violate the state constitution by forcing nurses and staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth.
Cut 6 (06) “…what this is.”
There are a total of 83 plaintiffs in the two cases that under the mandate issued by the hospitals could face termination if not vaccinated.
Faircloth says those suing, who he calls “frontline heroes” and being “vilified” for not getting the vaccine.
Cut 7 (12) “…drive public policy.”
Ochsner is not commenting on the lawsuit but they say data and science show the efficacy of safety of the vaccines. Lourdes says it believes it’s taken appropriate measures to mitigate risks associated with the pandemic.
Faircloth says the court filing is a first step in trying to halt the implementation of the vaccine mandate for the hospital workers named as plaintiffs in the lawsuits filed in the 15th Judicial District Court.
Cut 8 (08) “…to the court.”
_______________________
The post-Ida misery continues. State Representative Tanner Magee of Houma told a legislative committee Monday that 13-thousand homes in Terrebonne Parish have been destroyed or significantly damaged. He says 68-percent of residences along the dividing line of the parish are not habitable, and owners are working through the difficulty
Cut 9 (08) “…makeshift structure”
Magee says the situation was and remains critical with FEMA saying temporary structures could arrive within the next month and lashed out at apartment owners who gave renters just over a week to vacate damaged residences, offering no options of where they were to go.
Cut 10 (11) “…be thrown out”
Magee says while FEMA has offered an alternative housing option for Ida victims in Terrebonne, he says that option doesn’t exist at the present.
Cut 11 (10) “…parish is booked.”
Magee criticized those who made a decision by September 3rd, four days after Ida’s landfall, that people would have to vacate apartments hit by the storm regardless of the amount of damage.
_____________________________________________
The mayors of Shreveport and Lake Charles have made a friendly wager that their city can get more residents vaccinated for COVID than the other. Mayors Adrian Perkins and Nic Hunter have set Halloween as the deadline to get the most first dose vaccinations. The two mayors posted an online video announcing the challenge. Perkins says both cities win if the vaccination rate increases.
Cut 12 (09) “…Louisiana.”
Despite the ongoing hurricane recovery in southwest Louisiana, Hunter feels Lake Charles residents are up to the challenge.
Cut 13 (11) “…your doctor.”
Each Monday the mayors will update vaccination progress on their respective social media pages. Both Perkins and Hunter say the vaccine is the answer to ending the pandemic
Cut 14 (10) “….loved ones”
Mayor Hunter will serve up a captain’s seafood platter from Steamboat Bill’s in Lake Charles should Shreveport prove victorious, and Mayor Perkins will pony up stuffed shrimp from Orlandeaux’s Café in Shreveport if Lake Charles wins.