Orleans DA seeks state OK to file for bankruptcy

• By ALLEN M. JOHNSON JR.
• Advocate New Orleans bureau
• Published: Jan 6, 2009 - Page: 2B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

NEW ORLEANS — Newly sworn Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro Jr. acknowledged Monday he has sought the state’s permission to file for bankruptcy protection. 

The rare step is not necessarily imminent.

Cannizzaro, who took office Nov. 16, said he plans to appeal a $15 million federal jury award to exonerated former death-row inmate John Thompson, a process that could take weeks or even months.

Cannizzaro demurred when asked if he had a bankruptcy plan for his office.

“That’s not before us right now,” Cannizzaro said.

“We are going to exhaust the appellate process.”

The district attorney confirmed he had sent letters requesting authorization to file bankruptcy petitions from Gov. Bobby Jindal, Treasurer John N. Kennedy and Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell,  as required of municipal officials under federal bankruptcy code.

An attorney for Thompson, who seeks monetary damages for the 18 years he spent imprisoned, expressed dismay when shown a copy of Cannizzaro’s letter.

“We were surprised to see it,” attorney Gordon Cooney of Philadelphia, said.

“At no point during the life of this case has the district attorney been willing to sit down and talk about a settlement of this matter and that continues to be true today.”

Cannizzaro, a former state appellate judge, expressed surprise that a copy of his letter was a public record.

“I didn’t know that was a public document to be honest with you,” Cannizzaro said.

He also stressed he inherited the Thompson judgment after winning the fall election.