Berkley Insurance Company must cover the legal bills of former Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa in his successful fight against a March 2017 election bribery charge, a state appeals court says.
The appellate panel, which dispatched appeals from both sides in the dispute, also ruled that parish government can continue to pursue a trial over claims the insurer has been acting in bad faith by refusing to pay those bills.Â
In finding for parish government, the Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal overturned a lower court judge on the bad faith claim but upheld that same judge s finding that Berkley s policy had covered Matassa s legal bills of nearly $181,830 after a deductible.
A top official in Attorney General Jeff Landryâs office is on leave while the agency investigates an âoffice policyâ violation after a complaint filed by an employee.
Landryâs spokesman Cory Dennis confirmed Monday Pat Magee, the director of the criminal division for Landry, is on leave during the investigation into unspecified allegations.
âOur office treats employee complaints seriously in a manner that protects the legal rights of all parties involved,â Dennis said in an email. âAs such, Mr. Magee is on leave while an ongoing administrative investigation for potential violation of office policy is conducted.â
Landry s office, in response to a public records request for complaints filed against Magee, said the only complaints against Mr. Magee are part of the ongoing investigation and are therefore confidential.