[StBernard] St. Bernard judge to hold hearing on secret case

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard judge to hold hearing on secret case

Published: Friday, January 27, 2012, 7:00 AM

 By Times-Picayune Staff 

A St. Bernard Parish judge will hear arguments today on whether to unseal
two secret lawsuits filed by the Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable
Foundation against a firm partly owned by St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack
Stephens. The foundation filed the suits earlier this month against Amigo
Enterprises Inc., a third of which is owned by Stephens. The foundation
asked that the suits be sealed from public view, and state District Judge
Kirk Vaughn agreed, but set a hearing for today on The Times-Picayune's
request to end the secrecy.

Because the suits are being kept confidential, it is not clear what the
dispute is about. But the foundation previously accused Amigo of not paying
its share of the $5.5 million that Amigo received in the summer of 2010 from
renting marina space in Hopedale to BP during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill
cleanup efforts.

Amigo has a long-term lease with the foundation for the waterfront marina
property in the eastern part of the parish. Amigo is supposed to pay $1,500
per month to the foundation, with inflation adjustments every five years
since 1996. In addition to the rent, the lease states that Amigo is supposed
to pay 10 percent of all gross income from any subleases or contracts to the
foundation.