BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – A $21 million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit claiming that a concrete median crash barrier on I-12 worsened flooding for homes and businesses during the August 2016 floods.
The lawsuit, filed in January 2017, alleged that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and several contractors failed to conduct proper hydrologic testing and modeling before the I-12 widening project. The barrier, located between the Amite River and Colyell Creek, was accused of acting as a flood wall, causing water to back up and exacerbate flooding in East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes.
Settlement Details
Funds from the $21 million settlement will be used for drainage improvement projects in the affected areas. The projects aim to retrofit existing barriers with openings or take other measures to reduce the risk of future flooding.
Fairness Hearing Scheduled
A fairness hearing to approve the settlement is set for Feb. 3, 2025, in the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge. Class members include residents, businesses, and governmental entities impacted by the 2016 floods in areas north of I-12.
Next Steps
Class members cannot opt out of the settlement but may file objections by submitting them in writing 15 days before the fairness hearing. More details, including contact information for legal counsel, can be found on the Bruno & Bruno website or by contacting class counsel directly.