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Judge Marc T. Amy

Judge Marc T. Amy to conclude 24 years of service on Third Circuit

Judge Marc T. Amy of the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, announced today of his decision not to seek reelection, concluding his 24 years of service on the Court at the end of this year.
“I wish to express my deep appreciation to the people of the Third Circuit, and especially my election district, for allowing me the great responsibility, honor, and privilege of serving as their Court of Appeal Judge,” said Judge Amy, who is from Abbeville.
Judge Amy received his Juris Doctor degree from Louisiana State University Law Center. He also earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Judicial Process from the University of Virginia School of Law. He was first elected to the Third Circuit, in 1994 and was twice reelected.
In addition to his membership in the Louisiana Bar, Judge Amy is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. By appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court, Judge Amy has served as a member of The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana and the Louisiana Appellate Court Performance Standards Commission.
Judge Amy is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and an elected member of The American Law Institute, where he served as an Adviser to the Institute’s project on the Restatement of the Law of Liability Insurance and on Member Consultative Groups for a number of other projects. He has also served on committees of the Louisiana State Law Institute for projects on the laws of mandate, domicile, deposits and definitions, loan, rents and annuities, respite, aleatory contracts, signification of terms, and water law.
Judge Amy was twice a faculty member of Tulane University Law School’s Summer School Abroad in Spetses, Greece. Further, he authored an article published in the JOURNAL OF LEGAL EDUCATION titled Judiciary School: A Proposal for a Pre-Judicial LL.M. Degree, 52 J. Legal Educ. 130 (2002). A version of the article was reprinted in JUDICATURE (July-August 2003). In keeping with his interest in pre-judicial education, Judge Amy was appointed to serve as a member of the Study Group on Pre-Judicial Education, a project of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Judicial Independence.
Judge Amy has worked in a number of other capacities with the American Bar Association, having served on the Advisory Council of the ABA Center for Human Rights and as an officer of the Appellate Judges Conference. He was also Program Chair for the ABA’s Judicial Division as well as the ABA Appellate Judges Conference Education Chair and a Board Member and officer of the Appellate Judges Education Institute. He is a former member of the ABA’s Coalition for Justice, the ABA’s Judicial Division Ethics and Professionalism Committee, and Chair of the Judicial Division Collaborative Court Funding Initiative Committee.
In state activities, Judge Amy has served on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Bench/Bar Committee. Also, Judge Amy is a past President and Board Member of the Louisiana Bar Foundation and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Center for Law and Civic Education. He served as Vice-President of The Louisiana Supreme Court Historical Society and is a past President and Board Member of Louisiana Appleseed. He is a member of the American Judges Association and the Third Circuit Judges Association.
Judge Amy is married to Dawn Broussard Amy and both are from Abbeville, LA. They are the proud parents of three children, Claire Amy Schultz, Ph.D., Jeanne L. Amy, J.D., and Michael T. Amy, J.D., LL.M.
“On behalf of myself and my family, I’d like to thank all of the people of the Third Circuit, who have been so kind to us over the years,” said Judge Amy. “And I am very grateful for the distinct honor of serving them in this capacity.” After completion of his term, Judge Amy looks forward to continuing to work in the legal community to serve the people of the state.
The Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, is one of five circuit courts of appeal in Louisiana. The Third Circuit is the largest; its territory consists of 21 parishes in southwest and central Louisiana. The parishes are Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, Grant, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion, and Vernon.

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Helen H. Pearson

November 26, 1929 ~ June 20, 2018

Abbeville—A Memorial Service and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, June 25, 2018 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Helen Francis Hebert Pearson, 88. Fr. Michael Richard will officiate the services. She will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery at a later date.
Helen graduated from Abbeville High School and attended S.L.I. (University of Louisiana at Lafayette). She served as acting secretary to its president Joel L. Fletcher.
She later moved to Sparta N.J. with her family where she was an active member of the “Fish International” organization doing charitable work for many years. She was a member of the Sparta Women’s Club and a member of many bridge groups including the Sparta Duplicate Bridge League. She tremendously enjoyed traveling to various Catholic Pilgrimage sites all over the world. Her greatest joy in life was with her loving family and devoted Monday Rosary Group and Medjugorje Prayer Group (of Lafayette).
She is survived by two sons, Bryan Stanley Pearson and wife Kathy of Lafayette, and Richard Bradley Pearson and wife Kay of Abbeville, five grandchildren, Megan Bertrand and husband “Tre” of Abbeville, Kimberly Giovanni and husband Rion of Lake Charles, Amanda Payton and husband Brett of Breaux Bridge, Jeffrey Pearson of Atlanta, and Kevin Pearson of Lafayette, and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Mrs. Lavelle (Marguerite) Broussard and Mrs. Edward (Evelyn) LeBlanc of Abbeville.
She was preceded in death by her husband Milton Franklin Pearson and a son Randall Craig Pearson, and her parents Henry S. and Amanda LaCasse Hebert, four brothers, Henry S. Hebert, Jr., Alfred J. Hebert, Robert J. Hebert, Charles G. Hebert, and three sisters, Albertine Simms, Alice Gordon, and Yvonne DeGraauw.
The family requests that the gathering will be observed at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville, on Monday, June 25, 2018 from 10:00 AM until time of services. A rosary being prayed at 10:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen H. Pearson’s memory to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503-3240.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

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Ellora Ann Guidry

January 23, 1938 ~ June 18, 2018

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 21, 2018 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Ellora Ann Guidry, 80, who died Monday, June 18, 2018 at Abbeville General Hospital. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Deacon Donald Bernard officiating the services.
Ellora is survived by her brother, Raymond Guidry and his wife Roseann; sister, Wanda Faye Wright and her husband James; six nieces, Elizabeth Babineaux, Christy Dillane, Jenny Robinson, Danielle W. Theriot, Angela Lemoine, Denise Clark and Becky Stepp; and six nephews, Michael Guidry, Brett Wright, Jacob Wright, Mark Harrington, Scott Harrington and Robert Duhon.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Adam Guidry and the former Edna Richard; and sisters, Coralie "Kitty" Harrington and Delores Duhon.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:30 PM; Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

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Abby Trahan arrived on the Southern Miss campus recently and is sporting her new Golden Eagles’ colors.

Trahan moving closer to Kaplan

Former Kaplan High softball pitcher Abby Trahan is moving closer to home after spending two years far away from Vermilion ...

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Why is Governor & Democrats Protecting Medicaid Fraud ?

Louisiana now covers one-third of the state (approximately 1.6 million people) under its $8 billion Medicaid program, and has seen its share of the cost increase from $1.7 billion in 2008 to $3.3 billion today. More alarming, new federal projections indicate Louisiana’s share of Medicaid cost will increase to over $6 billion by 2026. Medicaid is definitely the elephant in the back of the room. One would think reducing Medicaid spending would be a top priority. Unfortunately, the Governor, Senate Democrats and apparently even Senate President John Alario think otherwise.
Consider the following facts:
· The federal government breaks down Medicaid fraud into “Provider” and “Recipient” fraud, and will only reimburse states for their efforts to control provider fraud. Federal regulations seem to protect Medicaid recipients (a large voting block).
· At the October 25th Task Force on Coordination of Medicaid Fraud Detection & Prevention Initiatives meeting it was discussed how the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has inferior computer systems that “puts them behind the eight ball” in addressing recipient eligibility fraud – how in 2016 LDH only made 18 eligibility referrals to sheriffs -- how the State Legislative Auditor (Auditor) has found where approximately 208,000 applicants under Medicaid expansion are possibly not eligible ($1 billion of Medicaid payments may be in error) – how LDH does not appear to be on the same team as the Louisiana Attorney General (AG) and Auditor in fighting Medicaid fraud.
· Our AG, Auditor, Representatives Sherman Mack (R-Albany) and Tony Bacala (R-Prairieville) have collaborated on legislation that would (1) define Medicaid fraud to include recipient fraud (HB 88), (2) allow our AG to create a Medicaid Recipient Fraud Unit that would qualify for 50% reimbursement by the federal government (HB 163), and (3) allow tax data to be shared by the AG, Auditor and LDH in their Medicaid fraud efforts (HB 480).
· The Governor signed into law HB 88 – so everyone agrees Medicaid Recipient Fraud is illegal.
· The House passed both HB 163 and HB 480 to give the AG, Auditor and LDH the weapons to attack Medicaid Recipient fraud. However, Senate President John Alario gave them a death sentence as he sent both bills to Senate Committees (Judiciary B and Revenue & Fiscal Affairs) controlled by Democrats, and where they did in fact die.
· Senator J.P. Morrell (D, New Orleans) then offered a “Compromise bill” (SB 119) that allowed tax data to be used only by LDH in verifying Medicaid eligibility – and denying access to the tax data by the Auditor and AG (the only two agencies that are chomping at the bit to attack Medicaid recipient fraud). Remember, LDH is the agency that even the Governor’s Executive Counsel said “does not appear to be on the same team” when it comes to fighting Medicaid fraud.
· Representative Lance Harris (R-Alexandria) recently sent a letter to the Governor requesting that Medicaid fraud legislation be considered in addition to tax revenue legislation in the upcoming 3rd Special Session on June 18th – and therefore combine spending reduction legislation with tax increases. The Governor denied the request.
In summary, Medicaid fraud is a crime and may be costing over $1 billion in fraudulent payments (Louisiana’s share would be $400 million). Senate Democrats and the Governor acknowledge that Medicaid fraud is illegal, and say they are concerned - yet their actions indicate otherwise. Is it possible they are more concerned about getting re-elected than they are about the fiscal well-being of Louisiana?

Steve Gardes
Lafayette

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Jim Brown

Scandalous Louisiana Insurance Rates!

Can you put lipstick on a pig? Well, business leaders are certainly giving it their best shot in an effort to counteract the fact that Louisiana’s outrageously expensive insurance rates make the Bayou State an environment hostile to the attraction of new businesses. But, last week, compounding the problem, new figures showed automobile rates continue to rise, along with insurance rates for every homeowner. And unfortunately, both legislators and insurance regulators are assuming a blasé attitude — “that’s just the price you have to pay for living in Louisiana.”
Newspaper headlines blared out across the country about the skyrocketing insurance costs of driving an automobile in Louisiana. USA Today: “Louisiana Car Insurance Costs Most – the state can’t catch a break.” The San Francisco Chronicle: “Louisiana Tops State Rankings of Car Insurance Rates.” National Auto Week: “Drivers in Louisiana are hit hardest on Car Insurance Premiums.” New York Daily News: “Louisiana has the nation’s most expensive car insurance.” Similar headlines appeared in newspapers coast to coast.
Just how bad are the Louisiana rates? Compared to surrounding states they’re stunning. The Bayou State far outpaces its neighbors to win the dubious distinction of having the highest car insurance rates in the nation. Annual premiums in New Orleans average more than $4,000 per year with Baton Rouge a little cheaper at an average of more than $3,300 per year.
Texas weighs in at $1,545, making it over $1000 cheaper to insure in Texas than in Louisiana. To the east, Mississippi, a state that fares worse than Louisiana on most lists, car insurance averages a paltry $1,345. Should it really cost $1,354 more for auto insurance in Louisiana than in Mississippi? To the north, Arkansas comes in at $1,545, which is $1,154 less than insuring in Louisiana. In every other state in America, the charge of insuring a vehicle is not just less, but a lot less, with the cost being 46 percent higher than the national average.
Thousands of Louisianans have a camp or beach property in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama or Florida where legal residence is claimed in order to obtain a much cheaper rate. Take note of some of your fellow employees or neighbors who drive around your city with out of state license plates. Even at the state capitol, some of the top assistants to statewide officials drive cars registered in other states.
Why are Louisiana costs so high and so out of line with the rest of the nation? Lawsuit abuse — “It’s those damn lawyers,” shout the insurance companies. But a check of the laws shows that both Mississippi and Texas allow for punitive damages that dramatically increase jury verdicts, where Louisiana does not allow such damages. Doctors in Louisiana only have to buy the first $100,000 of malpractice coverage, with a state fund picking up the excess. The problems go way beyond “those damn lawyers.”
Louisiana brags about its wonderful differences and the special charm of living in the deepest of the deep southern states. And rightfully so, when it comes to the culture, music, food, architecture, plantation homes, football and ambience. But the lousy roads, drunk driving, uninsured drivers, and poorly trained drivers are part of Louisiana’s differences as well, and they aren’t so wonderful.
Then there is regulation, or the lack thereof in Louisiana. In most states, there is a pre approval system that requires insurance companies to submit a rate increase request to the Department of Insurance. Yes, there is a submissions process in Louisiana. But the insurance company can go right ahead and raise their rates before regulator review. This makes as much sense as closing the gate after the horse is already out of the barn.
If you add up the much higher charges incurred by Louisiana insurance purchasers as compared to surrounding states, the local folks are stuck paying out well over $1.5 billion a year more. That’s $1.5 billion that has been taken away from the local economy.
It’s $1.5 billion that Louisiana families could be using to educate their kids, and improve their quality of life. It’san injustice to Louisiana taxpayers that elected officials seem unwilling to address. And all Louisiana families are the losers.

*******

“It’s not hurricanes that are causing high insurance rates, but bad government policy.”
Policy analyst Michelle Minton

Peace and Justice

Jim Brown

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownusa.com. You can also hear Jim’s nationally syndicated radio show each Sunday morning from 9:00 am till 11:00 am Central Time on the Genesis Radio Network, with a live stream at http://www.jimbrownusa.com.

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Tuesday is the last day traffic will be able to pass over the downtown Abbeville bridge. It is expected to be closed on Wednesday for a couple of weeks.

Change of plans: Abbeville's Downtown bridge now closing on Wednesday

It’s not closed just yet.
Originally set to close Monday morning, the Old Abbeville Bridge will be closing on Wednesday.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced last week that the Old Abbeville Bridge on La. 14 Business between LA 335 (South Henry Street) and North Main Street will be closed until further notice. Crews with DOTD will be conducting maintenance work on the bridge.
But that has changed because of Mother Nature. The bridge did not close and the state announced it will not close until Wednesday.
Work will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The bridge could be closed for about three weeks.
The detour route will include US 167, LA 14 Bypass and LA 82:
• Traffic coming from the west on LA 14 will take LA 14 Bypass to LA 82 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic coming from the east on LA 14 will take LA 82 north to LA 14 Bypass and head east to US 167 and head south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on US 167 south can take LA 14 Bypass to LA 82 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on LA 335 north can head west to US 167 north to LA 14 Bypass and then head east to LA 82 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on LA 82 north can go to LA 14 Bypass and head west to US 167 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).
• Traffic on LA 82 south can go to LA 14 Bypass and head west to US 167 south to LA 14 (Abbeville Business District).

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Gulf Coast Bank’s Kenny Richey and Claire Wallace present a
donation check to Erath 4th of July President Robert Vincent and Board Member Douglas Vincent.

Gulf Coast Bank sponsors annual Erath 4th of July Celebration

ERATH — Gulf Coast Bank is excited to once again be a sponsor of the annual Erath 4th of July Celebration.
Kenny Richey, Branch Manager, and Claire Wallace, Senior Banking Associate of Gulf Coast Bank’s Erath branch, presented the check to Erath 4th of July Association President Robert Vincent and Board Member Douglas Vincent.
Gulf Coast Bank has been a proud supporter of this local celebration for many years.
“The generosity of our sponsors like Gulf Coast Bank allows us to continue to have this festival celebrating our Nation’s independence,” said Robert Vincent.
This year marks the 82nd Anniversary of the Erath 4th of July Celebration.
Gulf Coast Bank is a locally-owned and operated full-service banking institution with thirteen locations within Vermilion and Lafayette Parishes, including branches inside three area Walmarts.

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