Case Closed: Federal Court Sides with General Star, Dismissing All Claims via Summary Judgment

Leake Andersson is proud to announce another significant legal victory for our client, General Star Insurance Company and its insured. On February 7, 2025, Judge deGravelles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana issued a Ruling and Order granting the insured’s Motion for Summary Judgment in the matter of Abshire v. Livingston Parish, et al. This ruling resulted in the dismissal of the Plaintiffs’ constitutional violation claims against the insured and found that he was entitled to qualified immunity thereby dismissing all of Plaintiffs’ claims.  

Procedural History 

Plaintiffs filed their Complaint against General Star Insurance Company’s insured on August 11, 2022. The Complaint alleged that his actions violated the constitutional rights of a pre-trial detainee and that those violations caused his death.  Since the initial filing, the parties engaged in significant motion practice and discovery.  The discovery conducted on behalf of the insured revealed that he did not violate plaintiff’s constitutional rights, nor did he cause the plaintiff’s death.  Upon the completion of the discovery phase, Plaintiffs conceded that they did not have a basis for asserting a wrongful death claim against the defendants. 

Leake Andersson filed a motion for summary judgment and successfully argued that the insured did not violate Mr. Abshire’s constitutional rights.  Judge deGravelles agreed with the insured’s legal analysis and dismissed Plaintiffs’ claims against him. 

Partnering for Success 

This outcome is attributable to the exceptional efforts of Leake attorneys, Stefini Salles,  Donald McKay and Ryan Casteix, whose meticulous preparation and strategic advocacy were critical to achieving these results. 

At Leake Andersson, we take pride in delivering top-tier legal services that protect our clients’ interests and secure meaningful victories. We remain committed to upholding our reputation as trusted advocates and advisors. 

Learn More

For more information about our litigation and appellate services, or to learn how we can support your organization, please visit the Practice Areas page of our website or contact us directly. 

This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. 

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