UPDATE: July 28th, 2025
Important Update for Clients in the Agriculture Street Landfill Class Action
Case Title: John Johnson, et al. v. Orleans Parish School Board, et al.,
*Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans, Case No. 93-14333
We are pleased to inform our clients that on July 10, 2025, the New Orleans City Council voted unanimously to approve a $90 million tax revenue bond to fund the payment of hundreds of outstanding court judgments—many of which have remained unpaid for decades.
According to media reports, the judgments awarded in the Agriculture Street Landfill Class Action (John Johnson, et al. v. Orleans Parish School Board, et al.) are among those expected to be included in the list of cases to be satisfied through this bond initiative.
While this development is a significant and positive step toward long-overdue justice, it may take up to 18 months before funds are available and disbursed. Once the bond proceeds are received by the City, the funds will be deposited into the registry of the Court for distribution by the Court-Appointed Distribution Agent.
This allocation will not include any money for the students and employees of Moton Elementary School. That is a separate judgment against the Orleans Parish School Board. We are still working to get that judgment paid.
We understand how long many of you have waited for this moment, and we remain committed to keeping you fully informed as the process moves forward. Please continue to check this website for updates as we receive more details from the Court and City officials. Please do not call us individually to discuss this matter. This is all the information that we have to report at this time.
UPDATE: April 18th, 2024
We are asking all Agriculture Street Landfill Clients to contact the following legislators in support of House Bill 925. The bill would require the City of New Orleans and HANO to report outstanding judgments to the State of Louisiana. This would be a big step in getting your judgment paid. See attached.
UPDATE: January 12th, 2024
On December 5, 2023, the Louisiana Supreme Court brought this 30 year long litigation to an end by affirming the Plaintiffs’ Judgments against the City of New Orleans and Housing Authority of New Orleans. There are 5002 class action claimants who resided, owned homes, and/or owned businesses and/or worked on the Agriculture Street Landfill site. There are judgments awarding the entire class compensable damages for emotional distress and diminution of property value in the amount of $76,323,455.71.
There was already an UNPAID Judgment in favor of 65 individual plaitiffs who went to trial in 2009 in the amount of $3,988,856.33
There was already an UNPAID Judgment in favor of the children and employees of Robert Moten Elementary School in the amount of $14,859,423.94.
THERE IS NO MONEY AVAILABLE TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE CLASS MEMBERS BECAUSE THE CITY, HANO AND THE OPSB HAVE NOT PAID THEIR JUDGMENTS.
We have entered into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the CITY and HANO agreeing to seek a federal or state funding source to pay these Judgments.
The other attorneys who are court-appointed are Joseph Bruno, Sr., Linda Harang, George Roux, and Stephen B. Murray.
If you need to update any of your information please call Linda Harang @ 504-483-3400
