Louisiana
Law firm accused of fraud in Louisiana hurricane suits files for bankruptcy in Texas
A Texas law firm accused in a scheme to file thousands of lawsuits against insurers after major hurricanes in Louisiana has filed for bankruptcy protection.
MMA Law Firm, formerly known as McClenny Moseley & Associates, filed for Chapter 11 protection in the Southern District of Texas last week.
The firm, which was fined a record $2 million by the Louisiana Department of Insurance for unfair trade practices, reported between $10 million and $50 million in liabilities in bankruptcy filings. The Insurance Department is listed as a creditor that is owed $500,000 in fines. A host of attorneys, adjusters and other companies and government agencies are also listed as creditors.
MMA filed thousands of lawsuits on behalf of homeowners across Louisiana who suffered hurricane damage in 2020 and 2021, when hurricanes Laura, Delta and Ida caused billions of dollars in damage. The firm’s lawyers have since faced a slew of allegations that they forged signatures and mishandled client funds, among other things.
The firm is accused of claiming to represent policyholders when it was actually retained by a roofing company, then sending demand letters to the policyholders’ insurers and negotiating settlements without authorization from the policyholder.
Former Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon called the company’s actions “one of the most egregious cases that has ever come through this department.”
The company went to court in August to try to convince a judge to lift their suspension. At the hearing, one of the firm’s founding partners, Zach Moseley, said the law firm had raised a total of $40 million in private investment, at least some of which came from the Equal Access to Justice hedge fund, which is based in West Palm Beach, Florida, and managed by B.E. Blank & Co. The investors later unsuccessfully tried to recoup their investments in disciplinary proceedings.
While Moseley did not specify how exactly the money was used, court documents showed that the firm paid internet marketing company Velawcity $13.9 million to find clients, at $3,000 to $3,500 for each “prescreened client lead.” The law firm then filed thousands of lawsuits, in at least some cases, without the plaintiffs expressed permission or knowledge, raising red flags with federal judges in Lake Charles and New Orleans.
Over the span of a year, federal courts across the state issued a series of sanctions against the firm, eventually banning its attorneys from practice in those courts and advising plaintiffs interested in pursuing their cases to seek new representation, leaving MMA unable to collect attorney’s fees on many of the cases it filed.
A lawyer representing the firm didn’t immediately respond to an email about the bankruptcy Monday.
The company has defended its practices in the past, saying it was deploying technology to help an unprecedented number of homeowners get a fair shot at recovering the funds needed to repair their homes.
Staff writer Alena Maschke contributed to this report.
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
Louisiana
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
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