Gulfport has had great success with its environmental court, said Rick Ryan, chief of code enforcement and environmental compliance for the city. There have been 6,490 cases in environmental court since it started about two years ago, he said, and 99 of those had to appear in court. The rest cleaned up their properties after court officials sent them a letter. “I’ve seen a marked improvement in the time it takes for the process,” Ryan said. “We use every method we can, and we usually are successful at that. We prefer voluntary compliance, but after that we use the environmental court.”

In October, Morice was issued a permit to build a fence around his side and rear yards with a height limit of 6 feet for the fence boards. Earlier this year, a city official told Morice his fence was too tall, which he disputed. The city ordered Morice to tear it down in April or have the city do it at his expense. Ultimately, Morice was issued a summons for failing to comply with the order and was found guilty in city court. But while the sentence was on appeal to 24th Judicial District Court, city officials removed Morice's fence. A district judge ruled in Morice's favor last month. He said city officials removed his fence without compensation and says Morgan told him to go ahead and sue the city if he wants to get any money. [caption id="attachment_32524" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Mark Morice circa late August 2005/boingboing.net"][/caption]

New Orleans resident Mark Morice is credited with having rescued over 200 people from the flood immediately following Hurricane Katrina, using an idle boat he comandeered. The owner of that boat is now suing Morice for using the craft to save fellow citizens' lives "without receiving permission," and claims "grief, mental anguish, embarrassment and suffering . . . due to the removal of the boat." It seems no good deed goes un-sued

At a Dec. 14 meeting of the Gretna City Council, Jackie Berthelot, one of Morice's neighbors and the president of Garden Park Estates Homeowners Association, protested Morice's latest solution to the problem of his missing fence. Instead of erecting a wooden fence, Morice has placed heavy black tarp around his entire yard, and then painted the tarp with festive holiday messages, Berthelot said. Berthelot said the new fence does not comply with the homeowners association guidelines.

Mr Kohn: Then in January, 1948 a news photographer, Larry Schoenberger, snapped photographs of women demonstrating in front of the Gretna Courthouse against then Sheriff Frank "King" Clancy's interference with a political parade....... Mr. Kennedy. What is the significance of Gretna ? Mr. Kohn. Well, Gretna is what might be called the parish seat, the courthouse for the parish, and the public officials of the parish are centered in Gretna for the entire Jefferson Parish area, which is large and sprawling. Then Gretna is the principal headquarters for the Marcello mob operations. Gretna might be likened in relationship to the Marcellos to what Cicero in the past had been to the Capone mob. It was a place to which they could always draw back and be sure that no law-enforcement action would be taken against them. Mr. Kennedy. Then you spoke about the fact that the women were demonstrating against Sheriff Frank Clancy. That is Frank "King'' Clancy ? Mr. Kohn. Yes, sir. Mr. Kennedy. He appeared before the Kefauver committee or ultimately appeared before them ? Mr. Kohn. Well, sir, he appeared before the Kefauver committee twice, first to lie and the second time to confess. Mr. Kennedy. He was a notorious figure in that area ? Mr. Kohn. Yes. Mr. Kennedy. What happened there ? Mr. Kohn. Well, as this photographer started to drive away after taking his pictures, he was stopped by Carlos Marcello and Marcello's then bodyguard, Salvatore Marcianti . After grabbing and destroying the newsman's camera, they backed him up against the wall and went through his pockets. There were deputy sheriffs standing by watching the proceedings but they didn't interfere. The victim filed charges in Gretna against Marcello and Marcianti for robbery by force, but there is no indication of any prosecutive proceedings and these charges cannot be found in Marcello's official criminal record. As a matter of fact, although Marcello's life of crime has centered in and around Jefferson Parish, it has not been possible to locate any currently available record to indicate his arrests or charges in that parish.

Look, I know there’s a lot involved into it and I might be scared. I don’t like to talk about landfills and all that Dom because the history of landfills make me nervous about my own personal security to tell you the truth. You told me before they would rather pay a problem to go away rather than strong arm a problem to go away and I hope to god that would be true.

Thomas knew before the meeting that the contract was going to expire because he had met with Chief Operating Officer Chris Cox in August to discuss its end. He also said he knew that the lobbyist was willing to continue working until a new contract could be minted. But his point with the phone call was to put heat on a growing frostiness between the council and the Young administration.

If not for a conflict of interest, some would have no interest at all ~ Nowdoucit

There are too many pigs for the teats ~ Abraham Lincoln

Yesterday Anita Lee at the Sun Herald broke and then added to the story of a ruling by Judge Barbier yesterday which allowed the Plaintiff's Steering Committee to recoup their expenses from those folks that have settled their claims with BP via the Gulf Coast Claims Facility involving a 4% holdback from Louisiana and Alabama originated claims and 6% for everyone else. Seeing Anita's story, my Katrina Bro Editilla sent me a bat signal via twitter, Anita was kind enough to share the order and spare me the PACER charge when answering my email inquiry and I shook the tree.  I just about got pummeled by everything that fell out but today we'll start by saying while we've favorably blogged on Judge Barbier's rulings in post Katrina insurance litigation his latest ruling is way off base IMHO. In fact it stinks folks.

Luckily for everyone Rebecca Mowbray at the T-P joined the party today and advanced the discussion by disclosing a somewhat open secret that Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is feuding with Gov Jindal and both have legal teams with snouts firmly entrenched in the BP trough supposedly representing the State of Louisiana by pissing on each other. What Mowbray left out was that Caldwell's contract council, Allan "Show me the Money" Kanner and Judge Barbier have also been clashing repeatedly in the courtroom and it that was addressed in the Judge Barbier's Order and Reasons:

The Louisiana Attorney General has objected to the creation of a hold-back account insofar as it applies to the State of Louisiana. Louisiana is one of only two Gulf Coast states that have filed claims in this MDL, the other being Alabama. Notably, the Attorney General for the State of Alabama long ago reached agreement with the PSC to work cooperatively to further their joint or aligned interests. Largely for this reason, the Court appointed Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange as Coordinating Counsel for the Gulf Coast States. The Court has on multiple occasions encouraged the State of Louisiana to cooperate with the PSC and the State of Alabama insofar as their interests are aligned versus the Defendants in this complex MDL. Rather than cooperate or attempt to work collaboratively, the State of Louisiana, through its retained private counsel, has instead often obstructed and frustrated the progress of the litigation.

Now before the oil spill the politicians that were owned by big oil locally could be pretty open about that fact as Mary Landrieu’s career campaign finance reports indicate. I strongly suspect sight unseen Bobby Jindal got a bunch of oil and gas ca$h too as he got lots as a congressman.  After the spill it just wouldn’t look so good for any politician that was excoriating BP to take campaign ca$h from them but it seems as if there is always willing middle man to spread the wealth and into our narrative enter Magnum JD, his partner and their nonrefundable $1.115 million dollar contract with BP to provide advice on how to deal with state officials. Let’s follow the money and take a looksie at a partial list of the fundraisers ol’ Mags held around that time period:

• Bobby Jindal – shortly before and after signing the contract with BP @ $1,000/person.
• Mary Landrieu from $2,400 down shortly after.
• Billy Nungesser – shortly before @ $1,000/person.
• Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell who was sighted with Magnum and Bull Durham shaking down BP with those useless machines Bull was peddling.

According to the document attached hereto as Exhibit “1”, E. Wade Shows, Esq. and his law firm entered into a Contract for Professional Legal Services (“Contract”) with the Louisiana Department of Justice on July 30, 2010. According to this Contract, Mr. Shows and his law firm are to provide non-specified legal services on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Justice as requested by the Attorney General or his designee. The Contract is in effect for the period commencing July 1, 2010 and ending June 30, 2013. The amount of the Contract is limited at this time to a total of two hundred fifty thousand ($250,000) dollars. In addition to the non-specific legal services Contract discussed above, Mr. Shows and his law firm has entered into the following Contracts for Professional Legal Services with the Louisiana Department of Justice (“DOJ”):

a. Contract to provide legal services on behalf of the Louisiana DOJ in any matters relating to the investigation of foreclosures, including relief mitigation and related programs. Exhibit “2”. The value of this contract is presently not to exceed seven thousand five hundred ($7,500) dollars. This Contract was in effect from November 1, 2010 through October 31, 2011.

b. Contract to provide legal services on behalf of the Louisiana DOJ in any matters relating to the Chinese Drywall Litigation. Exhibit “3”. The amended value of this contract is presently not to exceed four hundred fifty thousand ($450,000) dollars. This Contract is in effect from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2012.

c. Contract to provide legal services on behalf of the Louisiana DOJ in any matters relating to the tobacco arbitration. Exhibit “4”. The amended value of this contract is presently not to exceed one million six hundred thirty three thousand ($1,633,000) dollars. This Contract is in effect from April 23, 2010 through March 31, 2013.

d. Contract to provide legal services on behalf of the Louisiana DOJ in any matters relating to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Incident. Exhibit “5”. The amended value of this contract is presently not to exceed seven hundred thousand ($700,000) dollars. This Contract is in effect from August 23, 2010 through March 31, 2012.

In addition to these various legal services contracts with the State of Louisiana, Mr. Shows and his firm also represent private individuals in civil matters in various Louisiana courts. One of those private civil matters appears to seriously conflict with the ethical duties and obligations owed by Mr. Shows to the State of Louisiana. On November 17, 2011, Mr. Shows and his law firm enrolled as counsel of record on behalf of Mr. Calvin C. Fayard, Jr. in the matter titled Louisiana Democrats f/k/a DEMOPAC, et al. v. The Louisiana Board of Ethics, et al., civil action number 603,810 in the 19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana (“the Ethics Suit”). Exhibit “6”. The Ethics Suit was brought against the Louisiana Board of Ethics and its members by Calvin C. Fayard, Jr. and others. The Ethics Suit seeks a declaratory judgment on several legal issues, and specifically seeks to have La. R.S. 18:1505.2 declared unconstitutional. Exhibit “7”. Since the constitutionality of a Louisiana statute has been challenged, the State of Louisiana must be defended by the Louisiana DOJ and Attorney General Caldwell. Mr. Shows’ is now representing a private litigant in a legal matter against Louisiana while he (Shows) is employed by the State through the various Contracts described above, particularly the non-specific legal services Contract. I sincerely and respectfully request an advisory opinion on whether or not this is a violation of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics.

U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo is declining to accept his congressional retirement benefits and is helping sponsor a bill that would eliminate pensions for members of Congress. “South Mississippians are tightening their belts, and so should the federal government,” Palazzo said in a statement. “That’s why I wrote to the chief administrative officer for the House of Representatives stating I would neither apply for nor accept any pension or retirement benefits derived from my service as a Member of Congress. That’s also why I support the EPIC Act.” The End Pensions in Congress Act, also known as the EPIC Act, would eliminate pension benefits for members of Congress in the futhre (sic), not those currently serving or retired.

I was in the courtroom when LaDart rendered his decision. Guess I’ll never forget the subtle shit-eating grin Mike Thomas (who then was a Council aid) flashed to Eula Lopez after LaDart gave his decision. “The Riot’s” daughter was also in the courtroom. I will follow this one with a great deal of interest…”

You’ve Got Mail (for now) June 2, 2010 If the Jefferson Parish Council gets what it wants during the ongoing regular session, certain email communications sent from voters to their local government would no longer be considered public records. By Jeremy Alford It has been snaking through the legislative process largely unnoticed. Good government groups, which largely oppose such measures, didn’t have it on their tick sheets. The press association, for its part, has been tracking bigger fish. And the mainstream media, preoccupied by a historic oil spill and and equally unprecedented budget shortfall, has mostly failed to pick up on the ensuing debates. Nonetheless, legislation that was originally filed to block the public’s access to certain documents in the Jefferson Parish Department of Inspection and Code Enforcement appears highly likely to pass before the regular session adjourns June 21. If this happens, the bill would become state law before the end of the year. The Jefferson Parish Council unanimously adopted a resolution in early February backing the concept and state Rep. Robert E. Billiot, D-Westwego, eventually drafted and introduced House Bill 951 for consideration. Billiot, who has a close relationship with the Council and contributed money to its membership during the most recent election cycle, has steered the legislation through the House already and the proposal is now pending action in the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee. For the Council, it’s stance is in direct conflict with the crawfishing it did back in April when members reversed course and unendorsed another set of public records bills that would have stripped all access to parish documents subpoenaed by federal investigators. As the feds continued sifting through the parish’s dirty laundry, voters rebelled against the move and the Council rescinded its resolution backing the measures authored by Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Metairie. As a result, they died on the legislative vine. However, Billiot’s HB 951 is still alive and kicking, complete with the backing of the Jefferson Parish Council. Although it has been heavily amended and rewritten by lawmakers, there are still a couple of weeks remaining in the regular session — just enough time for just about anything, meaning the proposal could change and be altered a few more times. To be certain, Billiot’s bill has had an interesting run through the session so far. It may have escaped the attention of local observers earlier this spring because it was originally filed as a measure targeting West Baton Rouge Parish. Billiot called it a “clerical error” before the language was changed during the bill’s initial hearing before the House and Governmental Affairs Committee in late April. Additionally, the argument that Billiot has presented to lawmakers isn’t the same line that Parish Attorney Louis Gruntz fed The Jefferson Report in February when we asked him about the new law the Council wanted: [Gruntz said] that an exemption from the public records law is needed to protect tipsters who call in leads on businesses and individuals that might be violating local ordinances. He said such tips are commonplace already and range from zoning disputes to blighted properties. “We’ve had a few problems in the past that resulted in shouting matches and arguments and we just want to avoid that,” Gruntz said. “We want to protect the public and offer them anonymity, like Crime Stoppers.” That means, if such a law were to be adopted, that a person or business being investigated by a parish code enforcement official would not be able to ascertain what – or who – prompted the inspection. The property owners who end up being fined, however, would remain in the public record. Gruntz has been attending the legislative hearings in recent weeks and testifying before lawmakers, but Billiot, as the bill’s author, has taken the lead. In his presentations to lawmakers, Billiot has repeatedly said a new law is needed because there have been problems with animal control. As for the residential challenges cited by Gruntz, Billiot has largely glossed over those issues. In particular, Billiot has recounted at least twice a story about a constituent’s “little kitten” and her neighbors’ refusal to get involved out of fear. Some members of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee actually laughed at Billiot’s story when he explained further in late April. “They took that kitten and threw it over the fence where there was a pit bull and it ate the poor, little kitten,” Billiot said, adding that neighbors may have dropped a dime on the responsible party if there had been an anonymous process in place. Of course, the only thing funny about the situation is that Billiot’s legislation was filed in an attempt to alter the section of state law addressing residential and commercial building code enforcement, not animal protection. So, not surprisingly, when the full House received HB 951, a group of mindful lawmakers were able to rewrite the bill so that it would only impact the area of state law dealing with animal cruelty. And that is still the posture of the bill as of this week. During his testimony on the bill, Gruntz zeroed in on the kind of emails that the bill would exempt from public records law. He claimed that government officials are able to keep tipsters confidential if they act through a phone call or in person, but when they send an email, their identity becomes public record. “And that’s the problem,” he told lawmakers. For now, the House has thrown the effort a slight curveball and the exemption isn’t as broad as it was during the spring. But strange things tend to happen during the session’s closing days. The pace will soon become hectic as dozens of bills are tossed into compromise committees and legislative leaders try to hammer out an agreement on how best to close the state’s unprecedented budget shortfalls. It’s just the kind of mass hysteria where anything can happen — and if history is any indication, it will. To keep tabs on HB 951, visit www.legis.state.la.us

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LOUISIANA AND PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS

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In addition, solitary confinement often resulted in severe exacerbation of a previously existing mental condition. Even among inmates who did not develop overt psychiatric illness as a result of solitary confinement, such confinement almost inevitably imposed significant psychological pain during the period of isolated confinement and often significantly impaired the inmate’s capacity to adapt successfully to the broader prison environment. It is both tragic and highly disturbing that the lessons of the nineteenth century experience with solitary confinement are today being so completely ignored by those responsible for addressing the housing and the mental health needs in the prison setting. For, indeed, the psychiatric harm caused by solitary confinement had become exceedingly apparent well over one hundred years ago.

Well, the first day of two-a-days. We had about a three-hour-plus practice in the morning in that south Florida sun. You guys know what it’s like down there in late July, early August. And then that night we had another practice under the lights, if I recall I think it was about from 6 to 9. Jeno James, our best offensive lineman at the time, comes in and collapses after practice, uh, vomiting all kinds of stuff that would make a billygoat puke, eyes rolled in the back of his head. Myself, about four other lineman are trying to carry him from the locker room, to the training room. Obviously it’s a moment of panic, everyone, you know, we don’t know if this guy’s, you know, gonna die, I mean, the whole deal. But he’s so big and sweaty and heavy that we actually have to set him down in the hallway between the locker room and the training room. Nick Saban literally just starts walking in, steps over Jeno James convulsing, doesn’t say a word, doesn’t try to help, goes upstairs, I don’t know what he does. But then obviously they get Jeno trauma-offed to the hospital. Saban calls a team meeting about 10:30 that night, comes down and says, ‘You know, the captain of the ship can never show fear or indecision, we’ve always gotta have an answer, and so I had to go upstairs, that’s why I walked over Geno like that, I had to collect my thoughts and decide what’s best for our team.’ And I’m thinking to myself, I think along with Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas and Yeremiah Bell and all these other guys going, ‘Did he, does he really believe what he’s just saying?’ He showed no human emotion for one of his best players. He literally stepped over him when four or five grown men are trying to carry Jeno to the training room. And at that point honestly, you know, I was only there, you know, for seven weeks of that football season before he cut me, um, and let me say this – that was the best thing that ever happened to my career.

A year ago we replaced Congressman Gene Taylor because he had thrown in with the liberal Democrats and was voting with them most of the time. We elected Steven Palazzo to replace him because he was the only one running against Taylor and we were hoping he would do a better job. However, since he’s been in Washington it seems like he has forgotten all about the people he is supposed to represent. During the last several months I cannot get him to acknowledge anything I send him. I don’t know if he replies to his constituents on the Coast, but he pretty much ignores us in the northern half of the district. We don’t need Gene Taylor back in office, but at least Gene Taylor answered our correspondence. Congressman Palazzo had a small window of opportunity handed to him on a silver platter with which to prove himself. He has proven to have fallen in with the Washington crowd. IDA F. MURCHIE Ellisville

Among those getting full pardons was the brother of former NFL quarterback and Southern Miss standout Brett Favre. Earnest Scott Favre had his record cleared in the 1996 death of his best friend, Mark Haverty. Favre had driven in front of a train in Pass Christian while drunk, pleaded guilty in 1997, and was sentenced to a year of house arrest followed by two years' probation.

Earnest Scott Favre did receive a full, complete and unconditional pardon. Though originally only expected to serve one year of house arrest for causing his friend's death while driving drunk in 1996, the elder Favre had his full sentence - 15 years - reinstated after leaving home for a fishing trip.

...an attorney for two of the total 221 helped by Barbour said each case should be examined carefully before making an overall judgment. "There are a whole lot of people in prison who should not be there," said Chokwe Lumumba, also a Jackson City Councilman. "Obviously, murder is the kind of thing you put people in (prison) for," he continued, "but that doesn't mean that people cannot be rehabilitated."

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Bill Duron: Bill is chairman of the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, agency of the Government of Ontario and serves on the boards of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows and the Advisory Board of Ryerson University’s School of Retail Management. Melody Duron - high-end interior decorator William Thorsell, former publisher of the Globe and Mail and director of the Royal Ontario Museum.

According to Ameristar Casino’s complaint, a security official was responding to a report of water seeping under the door of Hagan’s sixth-floor room when he found Hagan asleep in the bathtub with the water still running. “... The water was overflowing onto the floor and into the hallway of the sixth floor and into several rooms (4) ... causing wet carpet ...” with additional water damage suspected in three other fifth-floor rooms. The officer, the report said, repeatedly tried to wake up Hagan. Finally, the report said, Hagan responded, using his foot to turn off the faucet before falling back to sleep.

1. They were sold a small stake in Cerro Coyote as evidenced by the stock purchase agreement I posted here on Slabbed last year. 2. They have found out via Slabbed the Inn at Coyote Mountain, the major asset of Cerro Coyote has been sold. 3. They have not yet received anything back on their investment.

The Kübler-Ross model, commonly known as The Five Stages of Grief, was a theory first introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. Included in her book was the Model of Coping with Dying, which she based on research and interviews with more than 500 dying patients. It describes, in five discrete stages, a process by which people cope and deal with grief and tragedy, especially when diagnosed with a terminal illness or experience a catastrophic loss. In addition to this, her book brought mainstream awareness to the sensitivity required for better treatment of individuals who are dealing with a fatal disease or illness. Kübler-Ross added that these stages are not meant to be complete or chronological. Her theory also holds that not everyone who experiences a life-threatening or life-altering event feels all five of the responses nor will everyone who does experience them do so in any particular order. The theory is that the reactions to illness, death, and loss are as unique as the person experiencing them.

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

as more local investors in the project that had no clue Abel, Leary and Perret sold the hotel and whom received not a penny back on their investment have sent me bat signals and that does not count the inquiries from those who are still coming to grips with the fact their “friends” Danny Abel and Aaron Broussard fleeced them.

If you are using my email to you to suggest that there is something untoward about Cerro Coyote, Danny, and the rest, you better think again. I am a very minor shareholder in a corporation of which they are the officers and majority shareholders. There were no "counter letters" and never any idea of making a profit--it was a place to go vacation, period. Kinda like a timeshare. If no one was ever using the place, I can't blame them for selling. Nor could I have controlled whether the majority voted to sell or not. I left the area and didn't think to give them updated contact info., so it doesn't suprise me they didn't get in touch. I'm sure my investment is not worthless. Your accusations are way over the top, Doug, and you should be more careful in what you say. I've located Danny and will take this up with him.

LOT 3-B AND 7-D SOLD BY RALPH FONTCUBERTA IN JAN 21 2010 TO PRAKA-NOVA SCOTIA LLC, 7216 STONELEIGH DRIVE HARAHAN LA

RIVERBEND LODGE ( former Marie Krantz property ) OWNED BY AARON BROUSSARD ( no other owners that I see ) ASSESSED FOR 210,800 COMMERCIAL, 31,200 RESIDENTIAL INTERESTING — IN DECEMBER 2010 AARONS DEED BECAME JOINT TENANTS WITH VAUGHN AND CHARLES AND ONLY THEY SHOW UP ON ASSESSMENT NOW AS OWNERS. A MORTGAGE WAS TAKEN OUT THAT SAME MONTH FOR 231,000 WITH HSBC BANK OF CANADA IN MARKUM ONTARIO. THE MORTGAGE WAS NOT REGISTERED UNTILL JANUARY 17 2011 ( this could have been deliberate or just a slow lawyer )

On Februray 28, 1765, less than a month after being chased by the British government in Nova Scotia out of the colony for his murder, mutilation and scalping of hundreds of British subjects, famed Acadian firebrand Joseph Beausoliel Broussard stepped off a ship in New Orleans, where his progeny have multiplied and still reside. One of the most famous of those today is Aaron Broussard, alledgedly one of the most corrupt officials in a notably corrupt region.....

I believe this little shin-dig has something to do with a piece of property in Belle Chasse Louisiana that is is the subject of a rather heated opposition to a large development headed to Belle Chasse that includes a Super WalMart. Nungesser is doing what he can to push the development, even though the majority of residents in Upper Plaquemines are against it. The Parish has spent loads of money fighting it, and you wouldn’t even believe the shenanigans involved. The real story is no one is saying is Jindal’s father-in-law is a principal in the company that owns the property. The Court even sealed the documents that reflects the current owners of the property, and the options to purchase the property.

In 1997, Nungesser was sued for damages by a man named Ryck H. Soto, who had previously worked for Nungesser’s General Marine Leasing. According to the suit, which was filed in Orleans Civil District Court, Soto alleged that he was “wrongly terminated” after Nungesser allegedly made “sexual advances.” Nungesser denied all the allegations, which included requests for oral sex and “exposing his genitals.” Nungesser’s consultant, Gates, said the suit was withdrawn by Soto. “The allegations alleged are completely false and (the plaintiff) will corroborate that,” Gates said. (Download the court filing) Soto did, in fact, confirm to Gambit he “had a kind of humbug that was personal with Billy, and I was honestly trying to embarrass him. ” Soto added, “I don’t remember all the particulars, but we’ve made up. I’m campaigning for him now.”

Several weeks ago, I interviewed four ladies and was hesitant on posting their information on NOLA forum. However, since a certain person attacked Lieutenant Governor Dardenne’s personal life after the election, I feel a need in posting the following: There are several persons involved and will be identified as Mr. A., Ms. B, Ms. C., Ms. D., Ms., E. and Mr. F. You will have to place names to some of the Mr(s). and Ms(s). I don’t think you will have any difficulty. Ms. B. placed me in contact with persons Ms. C. and Ms. D. on a phone conversation about Mr. A. Mr. A. may hold a high political office in Plaquemines Parish. Ms. C. met Mr. A. for the first time just over 10 years ago. She met with him for the first time and was paid for her services. He did not desire a man or woman’s natural services. He wanted a woman who liked other women. When the services began, She strapped on a sexual device and began servicing him. When she was finished, she withdrew the strapped on device and he expelled an undesirable body product all over the bed. She told him that he would have to clean up the mess, and that she was not paid for that duty. She told me that he was the most disgusting person she had ever met......

Now, some may remember the time Vitter appeared on Jeff Crouere’s WGSO radio show and famously denied extra-marital relations with prostitutes. Later, after Vitter’s phone number implicated him in the D.C. Madam scandal, Jeanette Maier– New Orleans’ own Canal Street Madam — told the press that Vitter was also one of her clients. Jim Letten made the unusual move of telling the press that Vitter’s name “never surfaced” on Maier’s list (which doesn’t preclude the possibility that Vitter was a client before she began compiling a list to protect herself). Vitter never came back on Crouere’s conservative talk after the scandal broke. There’s an interesting parallel here because Nungesser, like Vitter, was confronted about prostitutes on Crouere’s radio show, denied any association, and never again appeared on the program. Talk radio enthusiast David C. Bellinger heard the exchange, and recounted it last year in his characteristically restrained manner:

Astonishingly, on the Jeff Crouere program, on AM 990 WGSO on 3/18/2008, Billy Nungesser claimed that he never heard of the Canal Street brothel! And Nungesser has been a stranger from the Jeff Crouere talk program ever since -– quite a feat considering I know of no “bigger” publicity hound than Nungesser!

Furthermore, Nungesser has not accepted a challenge to undergo a lie detector examination when challenged to such by the Canal Street Madam – Jeanette Maier – and if the James Gill column is in any way or manner whatsoever a “slanderous” falsehood” — then why has Billy Nungesser not filed a libel suit against James Gill, The Times Picayune, and Jeanette Maier, hummmmm!!!!!!!

Bellinger then refers to another radio show where the Nungesser topic was broached, and a caller named “Shirley from Kenner” asked, “Where did Jeanette Maier ever find a woman willing to have sex with a ‘whale’?” Ouch. As parting shots go, that one must be judged offensive on several levels. First, it’s juvenile to make fun of a fat man’s weight. Second, it’s sexist to assume that all prostitutes are women. Maier has told me and others, in more than one conversation, that Billy Nungesser Jr. was on her list because he was a client of hers. In fact, she said this on Crouere’s show, which prompted him to call Nungesser, to get his reaction. Nungesser said that he’d never been to the Canal Street brothel (which might be true, since Maier occasionally took her act on the road to events like fishing rodeos).

Meanwhile, political pundit Jeff Crouere took a victory lap last week, reminding everyone that Jeanette Maier, the Canal Street Madam, declared on Crouere’s radio show that Nungesser had been client........ Now, I don’t automatically believe everything Maier says. But I can confirm Crouere’s statement that Maier “privately mentioned many times” that Nungesser was a client, and that he had “off-menu” tastes that ran to $2,000 a pop. But if Maier is merely out to stir publicity, it’s difficult to understand why she would consistently tell the same story for years in private before finally divulging the name of the Plaquemines Parish president, way back in 2008. Sunday’s Times-Picayune op-ed page featured a double whammy on Nungesser, courtesy of the “Gill and Grace” show. (In that show, by the way, I aspire to the role of their silly neighbor, Jack.) Columnist James Gill, who got the ball rolling on this back in 2003, reminded us:

U.S. Sen. David Vitter is a big supporter [of Nungesser’s] too. One theory attributes this to Vitter’s displeasure last year when he was thought vulnerable on the hooker issue and Dardenne flirted with the possibility of running against him in the Republican primary.

But Nungesser is no stranger to prostitutes either, having been fingered in court as a customer of the celebrated Canal Street brothel, so Vitter may have felt an affinity with him regardless. Still, it must be admitted that Vitter is not exactly happy-go-lucky and a grudge against Dardenne cannot be ruled out.