For details regarding the class action lawsuit involving residents exposed to indoor mold who lived in housing units owned and/or operated by the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) from 1998 to August 29, 2005, please see:
See LONG FORM Notice of Class action and partial settlement.
UPDATE REGARDING 2026 PROPOSED PENN-AMERICA PARTIAL SETTLEMENT
Plaintiffs have reached a proposed partial settlement with Penn-America Insurance Company (“Penn-America”), an insurer that issued certain policies relating to Guste Homes (Melpomene) and B.W. Cooper Homes (Calliope). Under the proposed settlement, Penn-America has agreed to pay $4,250,000 to resolve certain claims relating to the specific insurance policies and policy periods identified in the Settlement Agreement.
This is a partial settlement only. The proposed settlement does not resolve the entire class action, and claims that are not released by the Settlement Agreement remain pending.
The Court has scheduled a hearing for August 31, 2026, to consider preliminary approval of the proposed settlement and the proposed procedure for providing notice to the class. If preliminary approval is granted, class members will receive additional information explaining the settlement, applicable deadlines, eligibility requirements, and their rights and options.
Class members do not need to take any action concerning this proposed settlement at this time. Please continue to check this website for additional information and Court-approved notices.
UPDATE ON 2018 PARTIAL SETTLEMENT
The 2018 partial settlement IS NOW FINAL. THE DEADLINE TO FILE A CLAIM FOR THE PARTIAL SETTLEMENT HAS PASSED. (See links below for the Judgments of the Court). The next step will be for the Court to determine how the settlement funds will be allocated and distributed to eligible claimants, who were residents of Guste Homes (Melpomene) and/or B.W. Cooper Homes (Calliope) during the applicable time period of the class. The Court should make this determination in the near future.
The class action is still pending, and the case will continue against HANO and other non-settling parties for claims not covered by the partial settlement. Please check this page for future updates.