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Plaintiff withdraws election lawsuit challenging Morrell residency

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by Dominic Massa and Richard Thiberville / Eyewitness News

Posted on December 22, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Updated Tuesday, Dec 22 at 1:52 PM

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NEW ORLEANS -- An election season lawsuit challenging the residency of Orleans Parish Clerk of Criminal Court Arthur Morrell was withdrawn, following testimony in court from Morrell himself on Tuesday.
 
An attorney for plaintiff Stephen Gordon withdrew the suit on Tuesday as it was being heard in Judge Michael Bagneris' courtroom.
 
The suit alleged that Morrell lives in Prairieville and not Gentilly and should not be allowed to run for re-election in February.  Morrell responded to the allegation on the stand, echoing his earlier statement which called the suit false and without substance.

A separate lawsuit filed Monday by New Orleanian Eric Gallatin challenges the residency of Morrell's wife, city council member Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, who is seeking re-election to the District D council seat.  A hearing date has not yet been set in that case but the suit has been assigned to Judge Ethel Simms Julien.
 
The suit withdrawn Tuesday alleged that the Morrells reside at a home in Prairieville, and not at their Moore Drive home in Gentilly. The Morrells do own property in Prairieville and have said that they lived there after Hurricane Katrina while repairing damage to their Moore Drive home.

“It is a misguided effort to distract the voters from the real issues of rebuilding our criminal justice system and moving New Orleans forward,” said Morrell's statement released Friday. 

“Arthur Morrell has lived at 4925 Moore Drive in Gentilly with his wife Cynthia Hedge-Morrell for more than 30 years…. Like many New Orleanians, Arthur had to completely renovate his flooded home. He fought contractors and insurance companies after Katrina - a long and painful process - but is very happy to be back home," according to the statement.
 
In April, Eyewitness News reported that the Morrells had been delinquent on paying property taxes on the Moore Drive home for several years. Soon after being contacted by WWL for the story, the Morrells paid the tax bills. The Morrells said they had been delayed by Hurricane Katrina.

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tom77 said on December 18, 2009 at 9:06 PM

They are special people, but I feel the lawsuit is bogus, if they finished fixing their Gentilly house and are living there. After all, the wife probably avoids driving to the other house, after she was recognized as an outstandingly meek and civil motorist. At least, she doesn't have the hwy closed during her transit or use those disgusting blue lights ala Nagin.

doglady said on December 19, 2009 at 12:59 AM

EXCUSE ME! THA HOUSE IS ASSESSED AT $41,000. SO IT IS NOT REPAIRED OR THEY ARE CHEATING THEIR ASSESSMENT.

tam00 said on December 22, 2009 at 11:59 AM

This is pathetic and the Morrell's are as corrupt as they get. They are clearly doing what it takes to beat the system. THis is corruption people. Not playing by the same rules as the citizens you serve. This is what is so wrong with our city. Elected officials should be held to a higher standard and not allowed to manipulate the system as they are so clearly doing. Katrina or not, they are not ACTIVE residents of the community and they were delinquent on their taxes. These should be disqualifying actions for running for public office. They are a discrace to this city and remain part of the problem, NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION. Hopefully both will lose re-election and they can retire to Prairieville.

muspench said on December 22, 2009 at 2:10 PM

doglady is exactly right. The Morrells are claiming a homestead exemption on 4925 Moore Dr., the storm-damaged house they are supposed to be repairing. The property is appraised at $41,600. It's a 2-story house on a 60 x 125 lot, which means if the assessment is correct they have done no meaningful repair at all and they're somehow managing to survive in a ruined shell. It also means they pay $0 in property tax on their primary residence in this parish. Logical conclusion: Either the property is extremely underassessed, or they don't live there. Furthermore, they bought 2 Serantine St. properties this summer for $120k each. The 2009 assessments matched the sales prices. The 2010 assessments are HALF the 2009 figures, for no apparent reason. (I posted details of the four properties listed on opboa.org as owned by the Morrells here: nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/12/morrell_family_residency_chall/5520/comments-3.html .)