Morris Bart represented more than 1,300 veterans and service members in the MDL, just over 900 of whom were eligible to receive the settlement, according to the court record. It explained that 15 of their clients “unequivocally” wanted to participate in the settlements but were unable to sign online, according to a filing it submitted on May 15. It said that these 15 clients gave explicit permission to put their names on the releases.
John C. Enochs of Morris Bart further told Law360 on Monday that the firm believed it did not violate the terms of the settlement or Louisiana law when its attorneys signed the documents with the explicit permission of its clients.
“Under Louisiana law, amanuensis signatures are valid, binding, and enforceable,” he said in a statement. “While we appreciate that Louisiana law is very much unique from all 49 other states based upon its origins in the French Civil Code, Louisiana’s laws are nonetheless entitled to the full faith and credit under Article 4, Section 1, of the United States Constitution. We are very pleased that we were able to work with opposing counsel to satisfactorily resolve the issue, which has been made moot pursuant to the court’s order.”
