FEDERAL COURT PETITIONED TO HALT DEMOLITION OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS IN NEW ORLEANS
A preliminary injunction was filed by Advancement Project, the law firm of Jenner & Block, LLP, and New Orleans attorneys Bill Quigley and Tracie Washington and against U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson and the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) on behalf of public housing residents in New Orleans. The injunction seeks to prevent the demolition of public housing units inNew Orleans and for local and federal agencies to repair habitable units and allow residents to return as expeditiously as possible.
Click here to read the complaint.
DISPLACED ORLEANS PARISH VOTERS DENIED EXTENSION IN TIME FOR COUNTING ABSENTEE BALLOTS
In its most recent filing in Acorn v. Blanco, Advancement Project requested an extension for absentee ballots because many may not be received on time. The U.S. District Court, denied this request calling it speculation and not adequate to show a violation of the voting Rights Act or Constitution. Advancement Project continues to gather evidence to support the claim that the Orleans Parish elections as is, violates the Voting Rights Act by depriving voters of free and non-discriminatory access to the ballot.
Click here to read the case history for this decision.
ACORN v. Blanco Plaintiffs Omnibus Brief
This brief on behalf of plaintiffs in ACORN v. Blanco argues that Louisiana's failure to afford Orleans Parish residents who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina out-of-state satellite voting centers in the upcoming New Orleans municipal elections violates the Voting Rights Act.
Acorn v. Blanco
This document is the complaint filed in the lawsuit against Louisiana state officials for gross violations against the Voting Rights Act for failing to ensure that the voting rights of displaced residents are protected.
ADVANCEMENT PROJECT ANNOUNCES GUIDELINES FOR FAIR LOUISIANA ELECTIONS
In hopes of ensuring fairness in upcoming Louisiana elections, Advancement Project has offered seven principles that contain specific directives for Louisiana election officials including proposed solutions for handling absentee ballots and address verification under extenuating circumstances. These solutions are offered as viable options for overcoming the unique challenges faced by Louisiana election officials as they attempt to conduct fair and impartial elections in April 2006 and beyond.
Kirk Complaint
This document is the complaint filed in the lawsuit to prevent the City of New Orleans from bulldozing 2,500 homes that belong to victims of Hurricane Katrina without notifying them of the planned demolition.
Kirk Preliminary Injunction Memo
This memorandum of law outlines why the demolition of 2,500 homes by the City of New Orleans should be immediately stopped and enjoined as violating the U.S. and Louisiana Constitutions.
Kirk Notice of Removal
The City of New Orleans filed this notice of removal to transfer the case from state to federal court.
Sylvester Opposition to Landlords Motion To Intervene
The plaintiffs, tenants and organizations that support tenants, filed this opposition to the attempt of several landlords and others to intervene in the lawsuit.
Sylvester Complaint, TRO and Preliminary Injunction Memo
These legal documents are the complaint and memo in support of a TRO and preliminary injunction in a federal lawsuit that was brought to ensure that tenants who were victims of Hurricane Katrina would receive adequate notice, if they were going to be evicted from their rental unit in New Orleans.