Courts in New Orleans, Louisiana
Orleans Parish Civil District Court
421 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112
Hospitals & Trauma Centers in New Orleans
Covenant House New Orleans – Trauma Services
611 N Rampart Street, New Orleans, LA 70112
Liability Considerations in New Orleans
The Archdiocese of New Orleans emerged from Chapter 11 in 2022 with a $95M settlement fund. Louisiana Civil Code art. 3496.2 sets a 3-year prescriptive period from discovery for childhood sexual abuse. Survivors who participated in the bankruptcy claims process received distributions; new civil suits for non-discharged conduct proceed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court but face discharge-injunction review.
Your Legal Team
Renee Fontenot
Partner
New Orleans, LA
Renee Fontenot is one of Louisiana's leading attorneys for Catholic clergy abuse survivors, with 19 years of experience navigating the state's distinctive diocesan litigation landscape. She represented survivors in the Archdiocese of New Orleans bankruptcy proceedings that resulted in a $305 million settlement in early 2026. Renee is now urgently focused on the Diocese of Alexandria bankruptcy: the court-ordered claims bar date is June 8, 2026, and she is working with survivors across central and northwest Louisiana to ensure they file proofs of claim before this absolute deadline. She is fluent in both English and French and has experience serving Louisiana's rural Catholic communities where survivors may have had limited prior access to legal representation. Renee provides free, confidential consultations and handles all clergy abuse cases on a contingency fee basis.
Education
- J.D., Tulane University Law School (2007)
- B.A., Sociology, Louisiana State University (2004)