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Bankruptcy filing halts 'Litigious Louie' disability lawsuits
West Sac man has sued several Yuba-Sutter businesses
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/louie-107070-bankruptcy-cases.html
May 25, 2011 04:27:00 PM
By Ryan McCarthy/Appeal-Democrat
The man called "Litigious Louie" for his frequent disability access lawsuits has a new legal filing: bankruptcy.
George Louie's pending bankruptcy actions, U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Brennan wrote, mean it appears Louie lacks standing to proceed in federal court in Sacramento on Americans with Disabilities Act cases.
Marysville attorney Timothy Evans, who is representing several local businesses Louie has sued, said Louie's bankruptcy puts on hold the many cases the West Sacramento man has filed.
"I see it as a big, screeching halt," Evans said.
The May 18 order by Brennan refers to the involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition filed against Louie.
Attorney David Wong of Berkeley filed the bankruptcy action against Louie on Feb. 28. Wong said he represents creditors Louie owes money to after the West Sacramento man lost ADA cases against businesses in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
"The days of his being able to run around and sue people are numbered," Wong said.
Loomis attorney Cris Vaughan, who is representing other local businesses Louie has sued, said the court order applies to federal cases and "is helpful in the sense that the cases are on hold for 60 days."
The bankruptcy trustee will decide whether he thinks Louie's cases are worth pursuing to add to the bankruptcy estate to be distributed to creditors, Vaughan said.
Louie did not return phone calls and emails seeking comment.
He named dozens of Yuba-Sutter businesses in two federal cases filed in January.
Steven Bovarnick, the attorney representing California Check Cashing Co. in Marysville, named by Louie in an ADA lawsuit in Yuba County Superior Court, wrote about the bankruptcies in a legal filing this month.
"Louie is well known to this court," Bovarnick stated. "What may not be well known to this court is that Louie is party to an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding filed against him on Feb. 28, 2011 and party to a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding filed by him on April 1."
In the book "Disabling America: The Unintended Consequences of the Government's Protection of the Handicapped," writer Author Greg Perry describes the West Sacramento man as "Litigious Louie" for his many disabled access-related filings.
Evans said Louie names mom and pop business in his local lawsuits.
"They don't need to be exploited," Evans said.
The owner of the Budget Inn in Marysville has said that Louie told him in December that an access matter could be settled for $5,000 as a "holiday special."
CONTACT reporter Ryan McCarthy at 749-4780.
West Sac man has sued several Yuba-Sutter businesses
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/louie-107070-bankruptcy-cases.html
May 25, 2011 04:27:00 PM
By Ryan McCarthy/Appeal-Democrat
The man called "Litigious Louie" for his frequent disability access lawsuits has a new legal filing: bankruptcy.
George Louie's pending bankruptcy actions, U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Brennan wrote, mean it appears Louie lacks standing to proceed in federal court in Sacramento on Americans with Disabilities Act cases.
Marysville attorney Timothy Evans, who is representing several local businesses Louie has sued, said Louie's bankruptcy puts on hold the many cases the West Sacramento man has filed.
"I see it as a big, screeching halt," Evans said.
The May 18 order by Brennan refers to the involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition filed against Louie.
Attorney David Wong of Berkeley filed the bankruptcy action against Louie on Feb. 28. Wong said he represents creditors Louie owes money to after the West Sacramento man lost ADA cases against businesses in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
"The days of his being able to run around and sue people are numbered," Wong said.
Loomis attorney Cris Vaughan, who is representing other local businesses Louie has sued, said the court order applies to federal cases and "is helpful in the sense that the cases are on hold for 60 days."
The bankruptcy trustee will decide whether he thinks Louie's cases are worth pursuing to add to the bankruptcy estate to be distributed to creditors, Vaughan said.
Louie did not return phone calls and emails seeking comment.
He named dozens of Yuba-Sutter businesses in two federal cases filed in January.
Steven Bovarnick, the attorney representing California Check Cashing Co. in Marysville, named by Louie in an ADA lawsuit in Yuba County Superior Court, wrote about the bankruptcies in a legal filing this month.
"Louie is well known to this court," Bovarnick stated. "What may not be well known to this court is that Louie is party to an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding filed against him on Feb. 28, 2011 and party to a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding filed by him on April 1."
In the book "Disabling America: The Unintended Consequences of the Government's Protection of the Handicapped," writer Author Greg Perry describes the West Sacramento man as "Litigious Louie" for his many disabled access-related filings.
Evans said Louie names mom and pop business in his local lawsuits.
"They don't need to be exploited," Evans said.
The owner of the Budget Inn in Marysville has said that Louie told him in December that an access matter could be settled for $5,000 as a "holiday special."
CONTACT reporter Ryan McCarthy at 749-4780.