The latest monster movie to be released is “Godzilla: King of the Monsters.” Its touted as a whole host of monsters that beat the hell out of each other.
It’s likely that three Godzilla class actions suits will soon be beating the hell out of city reserves. Specifically the estimated “operating reserve” of Shreveport’s Department of Water and Sewerage (DOWUS).
Godzilla the flick is playing in local theaters. The Godzilla litigation is playing at the Caddo courthouse.
Just this week Caddo District Judge Mike Pitman ruled that the city is liable for overcharging commercial water and sewer customers. The amounts that the city will be required to refund and the amount of attorney fees for class counsel will be decided at an upcoming hearing.
Next month a hearing is set to determine if the city will be responsible for overcharging residential customers for water and sewer. Although a separate basis of liability is alleged, the commercial user judgment gives validation to the residential class action.
Two of these money pits were inherited by Mayor Adrian Perkins from last term mayor Ollie Tyler. The third suit was recently filed.
To date, the city has spent excessive funds (estimated to exceed $200 grand) on legal defense, all to no avail. Its time for the city to stop lawyering up, cut its losses and resolve this litigation.
The Pitman ruling is the wolf at the door. Its not going away and there will probably be two more to follow. This is an economic reality that soon needs to be addressed by the Perkins administration and the Shreveport city council.