Following a trial on merits, the 6^th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Madison, State of Louisiana, rendered a judgment in favor of Mr. Stewart’s client declaring the adoption of an ordinance passed by the City Council of the City of Tallulah fixing the compensation of several officers of the municipality, over the veto of Mayor Eddie Beckwith, to be in violation of La. R.S. 33:406(B)(3) and La. R.S. 33:404:1.  The Court further held that provisions of Ordinance 08-01-01 concerning the salaries of the Mayor, the Police Chief and the City Clerk are ineffective and do not operate to re-fix the salaries of the aforementioned public officials.  The Court also specifically held that the individual members of the City Council were in violation of Louisiana Law for their refusal to pass a budget ordinance in accordance with the Local Government Budget Act, the penalties for which are malfeasance in office.  This judgment is now final and non-applicable.  City of Tallulah v. Eddie Fountain, et al., Case No. 08-274.

LARWRASON ACT

Following a trial on merits, the 6^th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Madison, State of Louisiana rendered judgment in favor of Mr. Stewart’s clients declaring the validity of an ordinance passed by the City Council of the City of Tallulah fixing the compensation of several officers of the municipality.  The Court specifically held that under the Lawrason Act (La. R.S. 33:361, et seq.) the Mayor had the authority to cast the deciding vote on an ordinance where there was an equal division of votes among Council members in accordance with La. R.S. 33:405(A)(1) and La. R.S. 33:406(A)(1).  Gerald L. Odom v. City of Tallulah, Case No. 07-113.

SPEECHES AND PRESENTATIONS

Louisiana Asbestos Litigation Conference (New Orleans, LA – 6/24/2010)