In the Media

Business on business lawsuits on the rise in Baton Rouge

December 10, 2021

Member Zelma Murray Frederick (Baton Rouge) was quoted in a Baton Rouge Business Report article on the rise of litigation in the Baton Rouge area, from pandemic-related litigation to disputes between businesses.

Zelma Murray Frederick with McGlinchey Stafford, whose practice includes commercial litigation, construction and collection disputes, says she filed a motion in state court last month but won’t get a hearing until March. 

“Everything’s backed up,” she says. 

Frederick says many parties are trying to find ways to get to federal court, where trying cases is faster and cheaper. She’s not seeing as many big construction cases, as more parties are opting to avoid litigation through arbitration. 

Frederick is seeing more cases around evictions, contract disputes and noncompete agreements and expects that trend to continue. She also is predicting a wave of bankruptcies because “the influx of money that’s kept people afloat is kind of over.”

“It’s just a weird time,” she says.

View the full article here.