Hurricane Ida Claims and Case Management Order
On Sunday, August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall on the Louisiana coast as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph. Major hurricane-force winds impacted the region and the jurisdiction of the 21st Judicial District Court. The causes of action arising therefrom may sometimes be referred to as “the Hurricane Cases.”
In the aftermath, this Court recognizes a substantial volume of insurance coverage-related litigation linked to Hurricane Ida. In Act 318 of the 2021 Regular Session, the Legislature of Louisiana amended the laws expanding judicial authority related to special masters and mandatory mediation in cases stemming from certain major disasters.
Act 318 of 2021 authorizes this Court to issue this Case Management Order. This Court finds that doing so is warranted to best accommodate the adjudication of Hurricane cases in the 21st Judicial District. Accordingly, the Court aims to continue to be the objective and practical resolution of these related matters, in spite of the increased strain on the Court’s resources, and with the primary goal of enabling our community to move forward with crucial recovery efforts, in the aftermath of the Hurricane and the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.