Cellphones in Caddo Parish Classrooms: Navigating New Laws, Liability Risks, and Effective Policies7/18/2024
Cell Phone Policies in Schools: Balancing Rules and Liability
With the increasing prevalence of smartphones among students, schools are grappling with how to effectively manage cell phone use while avoiding potential liability issues. A new Louisiana law going into effect for the 2024-2025 school year prohibits students from possessing cell phones during instructional time. However, enforcing this policy comes with some significant liability concerns that schools need to carefully consider. The New Law and School Policies Louisiana's Act 313 of 2024, codified under La. R.S. 17:239(A), states that beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, "no student shall possess, on his person, an electronic telecommunication device throughout the instructional day." If a student brings a device to school, it must be turned off and properly stored away or prohibited from being turned on during instructional hours. Many school districts are updating their policies to align with this new law. For example, the Caddo Parish School Board's revised policy states that students cannot use or possess electronic devices during the school day unless specifically authorized by a teacher or principal for academic purposes. Disciplinary Guidelines and Graduated Consequences The Caddo Parish School Board's Middle and High School Discipline Guidelines under Policy JCDA-2, Infraction #15, provide a framework for addressing violations of the electronic device policy. These guidelines demonstrate a graduated approach to discipline: 1. First offense: The item is willingly relinquished to the administration. A mandatory meeting with the parent/guardian is held to review expectations. The device may be held for up to three days before being returned to the parent/guardian. 2. Second offense: Similar to the first offense, but refusal to relinquish the item results in up to two days of out-of-school suspension, followed by a parent return meeting and referral to the school counselor. 3. Third offense: The student is suspended for up to two days with a parent return conference. The student is barred from bringing the item for the remainder of the semester. 4. Fourth offense: The student is suspended for up to nine days pending an expulsion hearing. The Liability Dilemma While the law, policies, and disciplinary guidelines are clear about prohibiting cell phone possession during class, enforcing these rules by confiscating devices creates potential liability issues for teachers and schools. Consider a scenario where a student has the latest smartphone worth $1,000 or more. If a teacher takes this expensive device from a student, they could potentially be held financially liable if anything happens to the phone while it's in their possession. There are several reasons why schools may want to avoid having teachers or staff confiscate phones: 1. Financial liability: As mentioned, teachers could be responsible for replacing costly devices if damaged or lost while confiscated. 2. Potential for conflict: Attempting to take a phone from an uncooperative student could lead to verbal or physical altercations. 3. Privacy concerns: Student phones may contain sensitive personal information. 4. Disruption: The act of confiscating phones could cause more classroom disruption than the initial policy violation. 5. Staff time and resources: Securely storing and tracking confiscated phones takes time away from education. Recommended Approaches Given these liability concerns, schools may want to consider alternative approaches to managing cell phone use: 1. Clear policies with consequences: Have well-communicated policies outlining prohibited phone use and specific consequences that don't involve confiscation (e.g. detention, loss of privileges). 2. Secure storage options: Provide secure lockers or pouches where students can voluntarily store phones during class time. 3. Education on responsible use: Teach students about appropriate technology use rather than relying solely on punitive measures. 4. Parental involvement: Communicate with parents about phone policies and enlist their support in enforcement. 5. Limited confiscation: If phones must be taken, have students turn them off and place them in sealed envelopes to be picked up at the end of the day. This limits handling by staff. 6. Documentation: If confiscation is unavoidable, carefully document the phone's condition upon confiscation and return. 7. Graduated discipline: Implement a system of escalating consequences for repeat offenders, similar to the Caddo Parish guidelines, but consider alternatives to physical confiscation of devices. 8. Relinquish to Security/Office: Teachers can direct students to relinquish phones to security or the office instead of confiscating them personally. This approach:
Conclusion While banning cell phones during instructional time aims to reduce distractions, schools must carefully weigh the risks of strict enforcement through confiscation. By focusing on clear policies, education, and alternatives to taking possession of devices, schools can work towards compliance with new laws while limiting their potential liability. The Caddo Parish approach of involving parents, providing counseling, and implementing graduated consequences offers a model that other districts might consider adapting. However, schools should still be cautious about physically taking possession of expensive devices due to potential liability issues. As smartphone technology continues to evolve, schools will need to continually reassess and adapt their approaches to effectively manage student cell phone use while balancing educational needs, legal compliance, and liability concerns. Settlements can be reached very quickly, sometimes in less than two months, depending on the facts of the case. However, more complicated cases will take longer. Most car accidents in Shreveport, Louisiana, are resolved via settlement. But, it must be remembered that a settlement involves a full release of any further claims. That is, once a settlement is reached and paid, there can be no "going back" to demand more money. This is because a settlement involves signing a legally binding settlement agreement. In that agreement, there will be language that bars any ability to make more demands related to the accident in the future. The language is along the lines of the following:
Release of Claims: In exchange for the Settlement Amount, [NAME (the party injured in the crash)] hereby forever releases the Insurance Company, the at-fault driver, and all others from any and all claims, lawsuits, and demands, whether now known or unknown, flowing from the Accident from this Date until the end of Time. Because of this, if a victim agrees to settle too quickly, the victim of a Shreveport, LA car accident may not receive FULL compensation. So, "being patient" is generally the best method of ensuring the MAXIMUM settlement. If you have been injured, seek a consultation with an experienced Shreveport auto accident attorney like the ones at the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. Use our Contact Page. Under Louisiana law, an auto accident victim is entitled to compensation for ALL damages, including ALL medical bills, ALL lost wages and income, ALL pain and suffering, and much more. In less complicated cases, those medical bills, cost estimates for repairs, claims for lost income, etc., can be quickly and completely gathered. It is on the basis of that information that a settlement is negotiated. However, as noted, once a settlement is reached, there can be no further claims, even if the accident caused a latent injury unknown at the time of the settlement. Imagine that one of the injuries suffered in the car accident was a broken leg. The leg is set, and everything seems fine. But a month later, the doctors say surgery on the leg is needed. If the victim took the settlement money before the surgery, then the victim will have to pay those costs. And, as we know, surgery is very expensive. So, again, "being patient" is the best practice. For more complicated cases, reaching settlement takes more time because surgeries, therapies, and other healing treatments are needed before the victim's health is fully recovered. Further, because the medical bills are still accumulating, the total damages cannot yet be calculated. Thus, more serious cases with more severe injuries will require more time before settlement monies are paid. These cases can take six months to a year to settle. Settlement will take even longer, where long-term medical care is needed. The costs of such future medical care are recoverable as damages, but it takes time to evaluate and properly estimate what those future costs are going to be. Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. If you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law. To contact us, complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana personal injury case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle personal injury cases throughout all of Louisiana. Thank you for reading and visiting our website. For those charged with crimes in Shreveport or other parts of Louisiana, one crucial legal and constitutional protection is the protection against being tried twice for the same crime. In legal terms, being tried twice for the same crime is called double jeopardy. This matters because if a jury or judge says "not guilty," the criminal defendant is immediately set free and can go home. Without the protection from double jeopardy, the Louisiana prosecuting attorneys could keep the defendant in jail and "try again" with a new judge or jury. If you are arrested and charged with a crime, contact an experienced Shreveport criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams.
Those accused of crimes are protected from double jeopardy by both the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and by Louisiana statute. La. Rules Crim. Proc., Art. 591. The Louisiana statute states as follows: "No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of life or liberty for the same offense, except, when on his own motion, a new trial has been granted or judgment has been arrested, or where there has been a mistrial legally ordered under the provisions of Article 775 or ordered with the express consent of the defendant." In some cases, a double jeopardy argument can be successfully used as a defense to a charge and can lead to dismissal or the overturning of a conviction on appeal. There are, however, some exceptions -- or maybe nuances -- to the double jeopardy rule. Some can be seen in the words of the statute. The first exception is where a criminal defendant -- on "his own motion" -- requests a new trial. A "motion" is a written request given to the judge. The second exception is where a "judgment has been arrested." This means that a conviction has been overturned, and the case returned to the trial court for a new trial. This is allowed -- and does not violate principles of double jeopardy because, in effect, the defendant is asking for a new trial when the defendant appeals an adverse result. The final exception in the statute is for mistrials either agreed to by the defendant or legally ordered under the Louisiana rules and procedures. The most common mistrial occurs when a jury is "hung" and cannot agree on whether to convict or acquit. The other important exception or nuance is the fact that the United States is deemed to have two separate levels of government: the federal government and the government of Louisiana. Double jeopardy principles apply to each but apply separately. So, Louisiana cannot try a person twice for the same crime, and neither can the federal government. But each can make one attempt. This assumes, of course, that the actions and behavior are crimes at both the state and federal levels. Drug crimes are a good example where both governments have criminal statutes punishing the same behavior. Contact A Louisiana Criminal Defense Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams today. We are top-rated, relentless, and aggressive Louisiana criminal defense lawyers. Complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana criminal case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle criminal defense cases throughout all of Louisiana. Riding a bike is not only healthy but fun. Staying safe, though, is essential because if a bicycle accident happens on the roadway, bicyclists are at high risk of severe injuries and death. Knowing the bicycle safety laws where you are riding is just an extra step towards keeping yourself safe while on your bike.
If you have an accident, though, you may want to contact an attorney for advice and guidance on what to do next. You may be able to secure compensation for your losses. As an avid cyclist, Attorney Philip Adams is a Louisiana bicycle accident attorney with in-depth experience and knowledge of how to thoroughly investigate bicycle accidents. It is imperative that all liable parties are held accountable and pay victims their damages after a bicycle accident. Attorney Adams will fight on your behalf so that you are treated fairly and obtain the highest compensation possible from your claim. Overview of Louisiana Bicycle Laws If you are planning on riding a bike in Louisiana, then you should be aware of the following:
Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. If you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law. To contact us, complete our “Contact Us” page here. You may benefit significantly from having an attorney with legal competence and experience assisting you with your Louisiana personal injury case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle personal injury cases throughout all of Louisiana. Thank you for reading this blog post and visiting our website. In common everyday understanding, for a Louisiana car accident case, a "contingency fee" means "no attorney fee unless we win." More precisely, a "contingency fee arrangement" is one of several possible payment arrangements when hiring a lawyer to handle your case. Louisiana attorneys can charge in several ways:
With Shreveport, Louisiana, auto accident cases, most attorneys handle those cases with a contingency fee arrangement. As noted, this means there are no attorney's fees paid by the client until and unless there is a recovery in the case. If there is a recovery, then the attorney's fee is paid from the recovery, usually as a percentage of the total amount recovered. This is the meaning of the word "contingency." Any attorney's fees due for handling the case are contingent upon a settlement or court victory in the case. The typical fee is one-third of the settlement/recovery after expenses are deducted (such as filing fees, deposition fees, etc.). Often, there is a higher percentage if there is an appeal in the case handled by the attorney. Are contingency fee arrangements legal in Louisiana? Yes, contingency fee arrangements are allowed and legal under the laws of the State of Louisiana. See La. Rules Prof'l. Conduct, Rule 1.5. Contingency fee arrangements are specifically permitted in all cases except divorce and criminal cases. The Ethical Rules require the following for a contingency fee arrangement:
Why contingency fee arrangements benefit both the Louisiana auto accident lawyers and clients Contingency fee arrangements have many advantages for both clients and lawyers. Clients see an obvious advantage in that there are no up-front costs or fees to be paid. This allows clients to hire lawyers when they might not be able to otherwise. Something similar is true with respect to litigation costs and expenses. Louisiana car accident cases can be expensive if expert witnesses must be hired and if there are a lot of depositions to take. Often, clients cannot afford to pay these expenses upfront, and contingency fee arrangements allow clients to avoid paying these expenses until there is a recovery. Contingency fee arrangements also benefit lawyers. In general, more clients are available if attorneys are able to wait for fee recovery until the case settles or there is a victory in litigation. Likewise, depending on the complexity and length of the case, the attorney's fee might be higher than if the case was charged on an hourly fee basis. Of course, the opposite could also be true. Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams; if you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law. To contact us, complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana personal injury case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle personal injury cases throughout all of Louisiana. Thank you for reading this blog post and visiting our website. In Louisiana, it is itself a crime to conspire to commit a crime. See La. Rev. Stat., §14:26. To obtain a conviction for criminal conspiracy, the Louisiana government prosecutors must prove the following criminal elements:
The essence of the crime is the agreement and at least one act in furtherance of the agreement. Thus, it is no defense to criminal conspiracy to argue or claim that the crime was not actually committed. In terms of punishment, the potential jail terms and fines depend on the crime that was contemplated. Essentially, if convicted of criminal conspiracy, the defendant will be deemed to have committed the crime contemplated. Those convicted shall be fined and/or imprisoned in the same manner as for the offense contemplated but not more than one-half of the largest fine or one-half the longest term of imprisonment. If the criminal conspiracy involves a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment, then a minimum sentence of up to 30 years can be imposed. As noted, criminal conspiracy is a separate and independent crime. Thus, if the crime is NOT committed, the defendants can still be convicted of the criminal conspiracy. Likewise, if the crime IS committed, the defendants can be convicted of both the conspiracy and the crime. Some potential Louisiana criminal defenses to criminal conspiracy The most common criminal defense in a Louisiana criminal conspiracy case is to demonstrate that there was no agreement or combination. This can be done in several ways, including showing that the alleged agreement was a mistake. From Louisiana civil law, this would entail showing that there was no "meeting of the minds" between the alleged co-conspirators. The mistake might mean several things, like the defendant's mistake in thinking that the parties agreed to something entirely different, that the parties actually disagreed about what they wanted to do, or that one party was actually refusing to agree and the other party mistakenly believed an agreement had been reached. Other "contract-like" defenses include:
Contact A Louisiana Criminal Defense Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams today. We are top-rated, relentless, and aggressive Louisiana criminal defense lawyers. Complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana criminal case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle criminal defense cases throughout all of Louisiana. As a matter of Louisiana law, both the driver and the trucking company are generally legally liable for an accident involving a commercial big rig or 18-wheeler truck. On the other hand, as a matter of practice, the trucking company will be responsible since the company will have the largest liability and accident insurance policy, which will be the likely source of funds to compensate any victims for their injuries and damages to their vehicles. Indeed, the truck driver might not own an insurance policy separate and apart from the one provided by the trucking company.
This answer is generally accurate even if the driver is the owner of the trucking company. Many big rig and commercial truck drivers are essentially self-employed and typically establish corporations or limited liability companies to own the truck and operate the trucking business. Still, under those circumstances, the corporate entity will have a large insurance policy that covers accidents. Why is the big rig trucking company legally liable? Under Louisiana law, generally, employers are legally responsible for accidents caused by their employees. Thus, if the driver worked for a big trucking company or for his or her own smaller trucking company, the corporate entity -- being the employer -- will be legally liable under Louisiana law. This is often true for independent contractors, although the legal rules are more complicated for independent contractors. An important disclaimer is that an employer is only legally liable if a person is engaged in "work" for the employer when the accident occurs. So, if the truck driver was not actually working at the time of the accident, then only the driver would be legally responsible for the accident. For example, maybe the driver was using the truck to go grocery shopping for his personal consumption. In this context, grocery shopping is not part of the driver's work, so the accident would not have occurred while the driver was working. If the truck driver delivered produce for a grocery store, however, the truck driver would be working, and the driver's employer might then be liable. Another disclaimer is that absent other facts, the trucking company is only liable if the driver is legally liable. That is, the company cannot be held responsible unless the driver is responsible. So, the driver must have actually caused the accident. When might the trucking company be independently liable? There are some exceptions to the rule that the driver must have caused the accident for the trucking company to be liable. The exceptions generally exist where the trucking company has itself, independently, been negligent in some manner. For example, trucking companies have a legal responsibility to keep their trucks well-maintained and in good repair. If the truck in question was in bad repair, that alone might make the trucking company legally liable regardless of whether the driver committed any wrongdoing. As can be seen, in Shreveport, Louisiana, big truck accidents can be legally complex. As such, if you have questions, please reach out to our Louisiana truck accident attorney at Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. Our experienced attorneys have a proven track record of helping victims secure the compensation that they are owed when they are victims of Louisiana 18-wheeler truck accidents. Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams; if you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law. To set up a consultation, complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana personal injury case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle personal injury cases throughout all of Louisiana. Thank you for reading and visiting our website. Driving while under the influence ("DUI") of alcohol and/or drugs is a crime in Louisiana. If convicted, punishments and consequences for your life can be severe.
As one might expect, the punishments and life consequences are even more severe if your DUI/DWI case involves a fatality or someone who suffers severe bodily harm. In those DUI/DWI cases in which a fatality occurs, Louisiana prosecuting attorneys are likely to charge the defendant with vehicular homicide. At the bare minimum, if convicted, the defendant faces incarceration of not less than five years and up to 30 years, with at least three years being imposed without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Furthermore, the court is empowered to assess a fine in the amount of $2,000 up to $15,000. A mandatory five-year minimum sentence is required if this conviction is the defendant's second DUI/DWI conviction. The court is also required to order the defendant to participate in a court-approved substance abuse program and may also require the offender to participate in a driver improvement program. Minimum sentencing is also required when the convicted defendant had a higher level of blood alcohol content. Under Louisiana law, a per se DUI involves a BAC of 0.08% or higher. However, it is easy to be much more impaired by alcohol if you are higher than 0.08% BAC. And, if you are, higher mandatory minimums will be imposed. So, if the defendant's BAC was 0.15% or higher, then the mandatory minimum sentence for vehicular homicide is five years without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Further, if the defendant's BAC was 0.20%, and the defendant is convicted, the defendant would be deemed to have been convicted of a crime involving violence. With respect to impairment by use of drugs, the statute La. Rev. Stat., §14:32.1 does not contain any enhanced minimum sentencing because in drug impairment cases, there are no blood alcohol measurements. If over-the-counter or prescription drugs and alcohol are involved, there may be a legal defense if the label on the drug does not contain a warning against mixing medication with alcohol. The statute explicitly states: "It shall be an affirmative defense to any charge under this Paragraph pursuant to this Section that the label on the container of the prescription drug or the manufacturer's package of the drug does not contain a warning against combining the medication with alcohol." In terms of legal defenses, a good Louisiana criminal defense team might be able to show that the accident was not caused by the DUI/DWI. There are times, even when one driver is driving while under the influence, an accident is not caused by the driver's alcohol and/or drug usage. Another driver, for example, might have caused the accident, or something like the negligent design of the road or road surface could be responsible for the accident. Other criminal defenses might include various procedural and constitutional irregularities and failures of proof. Remember, under Louisiana law, you are innocent until proven guilty. Competent counsel will assess the totality of the circumstances when determining the cause of an accident and possible criminal exposure. Contact A Louisiana Criminal Defense Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams today. We are relentless and aggressive Louisiana criminal defense lawyers. Complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana criminal case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle criminal defense cases throughout all of Louisiana. In Louisiana, fault and legal responsibility for accidents is a cause of action for negligence. Generally, for a victim to "win" their case, they must prove the four elements of a negligence claim. The four elements are duty, breach, causation, and injury.
Every driver has a "duty of care." This means that a driver must be careful and must be on a constant lookout for dangerous or unusual conditions on the road ahead. The duty also means driving at a sufficient distance from the car in front of them so that they are able to stop if there is a sudden stoppage of traffic. Generally, if someone rear-ends another vehicle, it is often inferred that they were not paying careful attention and were driving too close to the car in front of them. Thus, the phrase "following too closely." For complex legal questions such as determining liability in a car accident, you are welcome to reach out to our Louisiana car accident attorney at Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. It is important that you are able to obtain compensation for all of your losses, and our experienced attorney has a proven track record of helping victims secure what they are owed. What if the car ahead stopped suddenly? In most cases, drivers do not suddenly apply their brakes and stop suddenly while driving. In most cases, there is a reason for a sudden slow-down or stop. That reason is most often the fact that traffic stopped or slowed ahead on the road. If there is a good reason for the car ahead to have suddenly slowed or stopped, then the general rule will likely apply (i.e., the driver of the vehicle following will likely be held liable). On the other hand, if the driver in the lead stopped or slowed suddenly for no reason, that conduct might be a case where the lead driver might be held liable in whole or in part. Louisiana has a comparative negligence law whereby damages are apportioned based on percentage of fault. A driver who stopped or suddenly slowed with no justification might be held 40% liable, for example. If that is the case, then the driver in the rear vehicle will end up paying only 60% of the total damages assessed because of the accident. Even if the driver in the front has committed negligence, the driver in the rear still has a duty to not follow too closely and a duty to be watchful when driving. Contact A Louisiana Personal Injury Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams. If you have been injured in a Louisiana accident, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full compensation you are entitled to according to Louisiana law. To contact us, complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana personal injury case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle personal injury cases throughout all of Louisiana. Thank you for reading this blog post and visiting our website. In Louisiana, there is a crime called "negligent homicide." See La. Rev. Statutes, § 14:32. Negligent homicide is defined as the killing of a human being by "criminal negligence." Note that negligent homicide can also be charged in Louisiana if death is caused by a dog or other owned animal. In this article, we will limit our discussion to homicide by a human being. Negligent homicide is a difficult crime to prosecute (and defend) because of the vague legal definition of "criminal negligence." To aid our explanation, let's look at the definition of non-criminal negligence. Most people have probably heard the term "negligence" in reference to accidents. For example, if two vehicles crash, one of the drivers might be held legally liable for the accident, injuries, and property damage because he or she was negligent. Those kinds of cases are handled by the civil courts. There are no criminal charges because the accident was, well, an accident. No one intended the accident, injuries, or fatalities to happen. In the civil courts, the victim must prove four legal elements. If negligence is proven, the victim is entitled to compensation. The four legal elements are
For criminal negligence, the same four legal elements must be shown except that the breach is "really bad." Most often, the injuries/damage to property must also be "really bad." In terms of the breach, "really bad" is often conceptualized as a reckless disregard for safety and life or knowingly ignoring obvious risks to safety and life. The behavior at issue is often defined as "shocking" to most people. More legalistically, it might be said that criminal negligence involves conduct that grossly deviates from the standard of care that should be exercised by a reasonable person. For example, if a driver is speeding, that driver is behaving negligently since there is a duty to obey speeding laws. In all honesty, most drivers drive faster than the posted speed limit (at least occasionally). Mostly, the excessive speed is 10, 15, maybe even 20 miles per hour over the speed limit. Most of us would not consider that breach of duty to be reckless, shocking, or a gross deviation from how a "reasonable person" would drive. But what about driving 30, 40, or 50 miles an hour over the speed limit? Most of us would say that is reckless. If a crash happens, it would not be construed as an "accident" but rather as a logical and foreseeable result of that sort of reckless driving. Then, if the crash killed several people, we would not be surprised if criminal charges were filed. Potential punishments If convicted of negligent homicide in Louisiana, the general potential punishments are jail time of up to 5 years and a fine of up to $5,000. If the person killed is under ten years old, the minimum sentence is two years. Contact A Louisiana Criminal Defense Attorney Today For more information, contact the Law Offices of Philip B. Adams today. We are top-rated, relentless, and aggressive Louisiana criminal defense lawyers. Complete our "Contact Us" page here. You may significantly benefit by having an attorney with legal competence and experience assist you with your Louisiana criminal case. We have offices in Shreveport and handle criminal defense cases throughout all of Louisiana. |