"I was heartened to learn of Judge Stan Duval's decision yesterday recognizing that the negligence of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the construction of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet was a direct cause of the devastating flooding in the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish.   I hope that this ruling will mean that those affected by this flooding will now be adequately compensated for their losses. 

"It is unfortunate that those residents of other parts of the City who experienced flooding from the failure of the federal levees following Hurricane Katrina will not receive similar compensation because of the Corps' statutory immunity for work involving flood control projects.  That flooding was also indisputably caused by the Corps' gross negligence and malfeasance. 

"As an attorney I have fought for the rights of New Orleans entities after the flooding of Hurricane Katrina. I was a member of the litigation team that represented the Port of New Orleans and successfully settled the Port suit against its insurers for Katrina-related damage to 22 miles of riverfront property.

"I hope that President  Obama and his administration will recognize the need to fully compensate the City of New Orleans and its citizens for damage caused by the failure of the federal levee system."