Breaux Law Firm Raises Alarm Over New Law Creating Inequities in Louisiana's Justice System

New Orleans, LA - Evan Breaux, the co-owner of the Breaux Law Firm, has sounded a critical alarm regarding a recent legislative change that significantly impacts the rights of undocumented residents involved in automobile accidents in Louisiana. This new law, formally known as Act 17, has generated considerable controversy for its potential to erect a two-tiered justice system that effectively excludes a vulnerable population from obtaining essential legal representation.

A Shift in Justice

For years, the Breaux Law Firm has been a staunch advocate for individuals injured through the negligence of others. However, due to the enactment of Act 17, the firm can no longer represent undocumented individuals seeking compensation for injuries sustained in vehicle accidents. Breaux describes the law as a regression in the justice system’s accessibility, suggesting it serves primarily to limit the ability of certain groups to seek justice. By imposing such restrictions, the law misrepresents itself as a necessary tort reform while, in reality, it functions as a barrier to justice.

According to Breaux, the introduction of Act 17 effectively denies undocumented individuals the ability to claim general damages, including pain and suffering, as well as lost wages due to accidents where they might not be at fault. This has profound implications, as it effectively communicates that the pain and suffering of undocumented individuals are of lesser value in the eyes of Louisiana law.

Legal Foundations Under Threat

The Constitutional underpinning of the U.S. legal system has historically guaranteed legal protections to all individuals within the nation, regardless of their immigration status. The fundamental concept of due process, derived from the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, existed to provide equal protection to everyone. Breaux emphasizes that the long-standing precedent in Louisiana has acknowledged the rights of undocumented workers, allowing them to pursue justice in various contexts.

The newly instituted law, however, marks a stark deviation from this inclusive legal framework. Breaux believes that while states such as California and New York maintain robust protections for all injured parties, Louisiana has aligned itself with a regressive policy that fails to protect its citizens equally.