Updates: Louisiana's Insurance Climate Remains Dismal for Business

This week there has been a fair amount of news coverage surrounding Louisiana's insurance market. We bring you the following stories as evidence of the continuing issues mounting to our state's insurance crisis and plaguing the trucking and transportation industry.
 

National Opt-Ed - Randy Guillot: Legal system abuse drives up Louisiana auto insurance costs

More reforms needed to protect Louisiana families, businesses

Opt-Ed from The Center Square - READ NOW

Featuring LMTA member and Past President Randy Guillot

-----------------------------

Randy Guillot is president of the trucking companies Triple G Express Inc. and Southeastern Motor Freight Inc. He oversees more than 140 employees and contractors and is responsible for making sure freight gets moved to and from one of the nation’s largest ports.

-----------------------------

The Insurance Research Council recently released a report on auto insurance affordability in Louisiana. Unfortunately, the findings are not new.

 

As has been the case for years, Louisiana is still the least affordable state in the nation for personal auto insurance, with drivers paying 40% above the national average for annual premiums.

 

According to the IRC, one of the key drivers of higher auto insurance costs in Louisiana is the high rate of claims litigation and attorney involvement in auto injury claims.

I applaud Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple and state lawmakers for taking steps to address the auto insurance crisis by implementing some positive legal system abuse reforms, including direct action reform and litigation funding transparency laws, during the legislative session.

 

However, their work was largely overshadowed by Gov. Jeff Landry’s veto of critical collateral source reform, which was the most significant legal reform bill passed by the Legislature in 2024. CONTINUE READING (Please follow this link to read more) 
 

Louisiana, once again, listed as ATR "Judicial Hellhole®" 

The 2024-2025 Judicial Hellholes® report shines its brightest spotlight on 10 jurisdictions that have earned reputations as "Judicial Hellholes®." Some are known for allowing innovative lawsuits to proceed or for welcoming litigation tourism, and in all of them state leadership seems eager to expand civil liability at every given opportunity.

 

The latest report has Louisiana ranks as the number 10 "Hellhole" in the country, our ninth year in a row to be included on the report.

 

UNDERSTANDING OUR RANKING:
 

Updates on "Operation Sideswipe"

Highway Robbery - Attorneys indicted for massive fraud Long-running fed case leads to blockbuster new charges in staged truck accidents

From WWLTV - READ NOW

 

In a blockbuster federal indictment more than five years in the making, two law firms and their attorneys who specialize in accident claims have been charged with several others for their roles in staging accidents, faking injuries and collecting millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements.

 

The King Firm, a Canal Street law office known for its splashy ad campaigns, was indicted along with staff attorney Jason Giles. They are accused of being part of a sprawling conspiracy.

 

Also indicted is Vannessa Motta and her law firm, Motta Law, LLC. Motta is the Hollywood stuntwoman-turned-accident-lawyer who has popped up in court documents as the attorney who filed lawsuits on behalf of many of the bogus accident victims.

 

Motta’s fiancé, Sean Alfortish, was included in the indictment for his alleged role in the conspiracy, accused of paying the people who stage the accidents, known as “slammers,” to ram into 18-wheelers intentionally.

 

Three others were indicted for various roles in being involved in at least six of the accidents between them, as well as filing fraudulent lawsuits. CONTINUE READING (Please follow this link to read more) 
This email was sent on behalf of The Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA) located at 325 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801. To unsubscribe click here. If you have questions or comments concerning this email contact lmta@lmta.la.