Louisiana Policy Institute for Children appoints Dr. Libbie Sonnier-Netto as new Executive Director6/24/2019  Dr. Libbie Sonnier-Netto, an expert with extensive experience in the field of early childhood, is the new Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC).  "The Committee of 100, chamber and other business leaders know that Dr. Sonnier-Netto will continue to build on the strong relationship established between employers, corporate decision-makers and LPIC,” said Committee of 100 CEO Michael Olivier. “This relationship is built on strong dialogue and quality research, two traits Libbie has already demonstrated she has." Dr. Sonnier-Netto assumes directing the strategic mission of the non-profit organization. She said, “This legislative session, I worked side-by-side with Melanie and the partners she has brought to the table from throughout the state to bring needed attention and action to Louisiana's early care and education network. I am humbled to be following in her steps, and to build upon the Policy Institute’s mission and to work with our partners in improving the life chances of children by continuing to focus on outcomes and measurable progress." Dr. Sonnier-Netto received her Doctor of Philosophy in human development from Virginia Tech. Under the mentorship of world-renowned scholars, Drs. Sharon and Craig Ramey, Dr. Sonnier-Netto'sdissertation involved the 5thdecade follow-up of the Abecedarian Project “babies” who are now in middle-age. Additionally, she earned a Master of Education in early childhood intervention and family support services from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Sonnier-Netto began her career as an early childhood interventionist working with families who had children with developmental disabilities. She has led teams of individuals in system-wide initiatives for the betterment of children, families, caregivers, and practitioners. Dr. Sonnier-Netto served as a state director of two federal programs managing multi-million-dollar budgets as well as developing and implementing pilot programs for children birth to age five in four states, including Louisiana, across multiple agencies and community partners to improve the efficiency and efficacy of direct services for children and their families. “Her experiences conducting longitudinal and experimental research allow Libbie to translate scientific findings into meaningful and practical policy implications that support better life outcomes for children, as well as make the need understandable for broad audiences,” said Ms. Bronfin. Dr. Sonnier-Netto is a co-author of multiple research publications in the areas of child development and learning capabilities, and is a licensed educator with specialties in special education, early education interventions and learning disabilities. She is a member of the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Educational Research Association, the International Society on Early Intervention, the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Council on Family Relations. “Libbie’s background will only strengthen what we have been able to accomplish in the past five years in improving access by Louisiana families to high quality early care and education programs for their young children,” added LPIC Board President Gwen Hamilton. “The Board of LPIC was very much interested in finding a person who could build upon the incredible history established by Ms. Bronfin. Libbie so perfectly provided that measure and caliber of expertise. We're confident that the road ahead will be navigated well under her leadership. Ms. Bronfin will continue to serve as a Policy Advisor to LPIC. Media: for release or photo, contact Devin Johnson at bcodevin@aol.com or call 504.881-3273 To contact Dr. Sonnier-Netto: lsonniernetto@policyinstitutela.org
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FOUR WINDS TRIBE LOUISIANA CHEROKEE TAKE COURT ACTION AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS6/19/2019 The Four Winds Tribe Louisiana Cherokee, through its attorneys at Porteous, Hainkel and Johnson, LLP and the Winch Law Firm, L.L.C., filed a lawsuit this week against America’s pharmaceutical industry for knowingly mislabeling and misrepresenting opiate-based drugs and creating a spiraling addiction crisis across the nation, said Attorney Ralph Alexis.
The Four Winds lawsuit is the most recent filed by a Tribal Government and joins more than 100 pending suits by other Tribes. The filing underscores the nationwide show of Tribal solidarity in stepping forward and taking necessary legal action to end the opioid epidemic plaguing Native American Tribal populations, according to Mr. Alexis. There are currently more than 2000 lawsuits filed across the nation against the opioid manufacturers and distributors, many of which have been aggregated in a Multi-District Litigation proceeding in Cleveland, Ohio, before U.S. District Judge Dan Polster. The lawsuits also focus on the distributors’ violation of the Controlled Substances Act by their failing to report unusual patterns associated with certain opioid purchases and use. The Louisiana Tribe’s attorneys point to the fact that there have been on-the-record admissions of wrongdoing by some of the defendant manufacturers and distributors of opioids. Porteous, Hainkel and Johnson and the Winch Law Firm are part of a national leadership team of attorneys and medical experts called the Opioid Justice Team, which has filed a number of lawsuits, including class actions, on behalf of parishes, cities, non-profit health providers, hospitals, drug rehab centers, opioid-dependent and exposed babies, and Native American Tribes, all of which have borne extensive unreimbursed costs caused by the opioid epidemic. The team alleges that civil lawsuits brought against the pharmaceutical drug manufacturers, opioid drug distributors and/or wholesalers, are the only way to remedy the prescription opioid drug epidemic. “The documented facts show that pharmaceutical manufacturers deceptively marketed their opioid products by exaggerating the benefits of opioids and byintentionally downplayingthe extremely addictive nature of opioids,” said co-counsel Ralph Alexis of Porteous, Hainkel and Johnson. “And it is well established that the Opioid Crisis has disproportionately affected Native Americans,” said co-counsel Justin Winch of the Winch Law Firm. The suit seeks to create long-term solutions to help deal with the medical, social and legal issues related to the epidemic. For more information contact: Ralph Alexis, ralexis@phjlaw.com, (504) 581-3838 or Justin Winch, justin.winch@winchlawfirm.com, (504) 214-3400. For more information contact: Mark Stein (mstein@lowestein.com) 504-581-2450; Craig Williams [craig@mandwlegal.com] - (318) 963-5980
Update: As of June 14, this care provider has added all its Louisiana facilities to this suit. These facilities are: The Carpenter Hospice of Northwest Louisiana; St. Joseph Hospice; St. Joseph Hospice of Acadiana; St. Joseph Hospice of Bayou Region; St. Joseph Hospice of Cenla; St. Joseph Hospice and Palliative Care of Monroe; Grace Hospice of New Orleans; St. Joseph Hospice & Palliative Care-Northshore; St. Joseph Hospice of Southwest Louisiana; Stat Home Health of Northwest Louisiana; Stat Home Health of Southwest Louisiana; Homedica of Louisiana, LLC; Companion Home Services; NOLA SJH II; Stat Home Health Of Southeast Louisiana, LLC. Additionally Allegiance Health Management facilities from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Texas will be included. For more information, contact Mark Stein, Lowe & Stein, et al at (504) 581-2450. JUNE 14, 2019 Allegiance Health Management has added all its Louisiana facilities, as well as similar health care centers in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas, to a lawsuit filed yesterday by Minden Medical Center which seeks a jury trial for unreimbursed damages it has incurred due to America’s manufactured prescription opioid epidemic, announced Counselors Craig Williams of Marioneaux & Williams and Mark Stein of Lowe, Stein, Hoffman, Allweiss & Hauver New Orleans. Access the original filed lawsuit here. Here is the updated lawsuit. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, is part of a nationwide effort by a legal-medical partnership seeking damages for hospitals and emergency rooms impacted by the opioid epidemic. It makes claims of deceptive practices and racketeering by America’s drug industry. The suit seeks to recover monetary losses they have incurred treating adults and opioid-dependent born children. The suit is against America’s pharmaceutical industry for knowingly mislabeling and misrepresenting opiate-based drugs and creating a spiraling addiction crisis across the nation. The suit seeks to create a long-term solution to help deal with the medical, social and legal issues related to the epidemic. Said Attorney Mark Stein, “Hospital damages during the last five years will increase exponentially and will continue to do so. Inpatient care due to opioid use was estimated at $700 million in 2002. By 2012, that number grew to $15 billion. And the estimates for 2017 exceed $25 billion. The cost of an opioid-related adult ICU admission rose from an average of $58,517 to $92,408 between 2009 and 2015. The in-depth analysis we and our experts have undertaken with hospitals like Minden establishes historic damages.” The Opioid Justice Team has filed a number of lawsuits, including class actions, on behalf of counties, parishes, cities, non-profit health providers, drug rehab centers, opioid-dependent babies, and Native American Tribes for extensive unreimbursed costs caused by the opioid epidemic. Find more information at www.opioidjusticeteam.com The Opioid Justice Team media contact: C. Brylski/D. Johnson (504) 897-6110 JUNE 13, 2019 (Minden, Louisiana) Minden Medical Center which serves the residents of Webster Parish in Louisiana filed suit today in federal court, seeking a jury trial for unreimbursed damages it has incurred due to America’s manufactured prescription opioid epidemic, announced Counselors Craig Williams of Marioneaux & Williams and Mark Stein of Hoffman, Allweiss & Hauver New Orleans.
The suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is part of a nationwide effort by a legal-medical partnership seeking damages for hospitals and emergency rooms impacted by the opioid epidemic. It makes claims of deceptive practices and racketeering by America’s drug industry. Mr. Williams is also representing the Parish of DeSoto in making similar claims against prescription opioid manufacturers, distributors and marketers for creating a public health problem in that area. “The question for Minden Medical is not whether to become involved in opioid litigation, since America’s hospitals already are. The question is whether we wanted our own seat at the table to determine the fate of our own claims and be the master of our own future,” said Mr. Williams. Minden Medical Center seeks to recover monetary losses they have incurred treating adults and opioid-dependent born children. The suit is against America’s pharmaceutical industry for knowingly mislabeling and misrepresenting opiate-based drugs and creating a spiraling addiction crisis across the nation. The suit seeks to create a long-term solution to help deal with the medical, social and legal issues related to the epidemic. Minden Medical Center is part of the Allegiance Health Management system which operates 12 hospitals in Louisiana. Said Attorney Mark Stein, “Hospital damages during the last five years will increase exponentially and will continue to do so. Inpatient care due to opioid use was estimated at $700 million in 2002. By 2012, that number grew to $15 billion. And the estimates for 2017 exceed $25 billion. The cost of an opioid-related adult ICU admission rose from an average of $58,517 to $92,408 between 2009 and 2015. The in-depth analysis we and our experts have undertaken with hospitals like Minden establishes historic damages.” The Opioid Justice Team has filed a number of lawsuits, including class actions, on behalf of counties, parishes, cities, non-profit health providers, drug rehab centers, opioid-dependent babies, and Native American Tribes for extensive unreimbursed costs caused by the opioid epidemic. Find more information at www.opioidjusticeteam.com The Opioid Justice Team media contact: C. Brylski/D. Johnson (504) 897-6110 Filed Complaint For the first time in nearly a decade, more Louisiana working families will have crucial support in sending their children to a quality Early Care and Education Center thanks to a Governor and Legislative-supported budget which includes an $18.8 million increase for ECCE programing and seats, announced Executive Director Melanie Bronfin, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.
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