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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The latest developments in a decades-old legal dispute in which New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu faces weekend house arrest because the city has yet to come up with a plan to pay $75 million owed to firefighters. All times are local.
7:10 p.m.
A representative for the New Orleans firefighters says they will continue their legal battle with the city over millions in back pay after the state's Supreme Court spared the mayor from house arrest in the case.
Nick Felton, who heads the union involved in the case, said Friday the matter is far from over and that they'll continue to push for money they say is owed them.
In a last-minute decision, Louisiana's Supreme Court Friday spared Mayor Mitch Landrieu from house arrest because of the city's failure to pay $75 million to firefighters in a decades-old legal dispute.
Felton said the city has the money, and paying firefighters would not bankrupt the city or cause layoffs.
6 p.m.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has thanked the state's Supreme Court for sparing him from weekend house arrest.
The mayor spoke at a late Friday news conference after the court issued a last-minute decision sparing him from having to serve house arrest on the weekends because of the city's failure to pay $75 million to firefighters in a decades-old legal dispute.
The case dates to 1979, when firefighters sued for back pay they say was owed to them under a state law giving firefighters annual raises based on years of service.
Landrieu said he never imagined in his "wildest dreams" that he could lose his freedom through the course of his job.
He says he's looking for a solution that won't "decimate" the city's budget.
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5 p.m.
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu won't have to spend his weekend under house arrest.
In a last-minute decision, Louisiana's Supreme Court spared the mayor from having to serve house arrest because of the city's failure to pay $75 million to firefighters in a decades-old legal dispute.
The case dates to 1979, when firefighters sued for back pay they say was owed to them under a state law giving firefighters annual raises based on years of service.
Landrieu had said he was prepared to finish out the last two years of his term under house arrest on weekends rather than make a payment that would require drastic cuts in city services.
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