One-year anniversary of deadly Bourbon Street attack brings resolve for justice from survivors and their legal team

Maples & Connick and national mass disaster law firm Romanucci & Blandin say the tragedy never had to happen 

NEW ORLEANS (December 29, 2025) – For people who were on Bourbon Street last year on New Year’s Eve – and the people who love them – the early hours of 2025 set into motion an unthinkable year of loss, trauma, physical and emotional recovery. Fourteen people died, dozens were injured and a large group of others were traumatized by a person operating a rented truck that was driven into a crowded street. But the tragedy could have easily been prevented, and those people would have moved on with their evening and their lives - if only New Orleans public safety officials, municipal leaders and city contractors had properly done their jobs.

Romanucci & Blandin and Maples & Connick filed a civil lawsuit on January 29, 2025, and the firms together now represent 35 survivors who were harmed and loved ones of those who died in the attack. The lawsuit seeks justice for the victims and their families, holding those responsible accountable for their failure to protect the community despite clear warning signs and predictable risks.

The lawsuit was filed in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, against the City of New Orleans, Mott MacDonald, LLC, Hard Rock Construction, LLC, and the perpetrator’s auto insurance carrier for the rental vehicle for their respective roles in the preventable mass tragedy that occurred. The cases have been consolidated by the court with those from other law firms for the purposes of discovery, and the cases survived several motions to dismiss this year. The discovery phase is now beginning.

Preventable Tragedy

The horrific events in the early hours of the new year were the predictable and entirely preventable result of a chain of events initiated by the actions and inactions taken by Defendants. For nearly a decade, New Orleans’ elected officials and public safety employees, along with their hired consultants and contractors, were aware of the risk to the French Quarter, and specifically to Bourbon Street, of a coordinated attack involving the use of a motor vehicle to strike and attack pedestrians. 

Following the deadly Bastille Day attack in Nice, France, on July 14, 2016, in which a driver drove a box truck on the Promenade des Anglais, killing 86 and injuring more than 400 others, major city centers all around the world, including New Orleans, were placed on alert for copycat attacks. To prepare against this type of attack, New Orleans utilized $40 million in taxpayer money to purchase and install the equipment needed to keep its residents and visitors safe. Despite years of preparation and warnings of motor vehicle-based attacks, New Orleans officials and their hired consultants and contractors recklessly and willfully put the New Year’s celebrants at risk by focusing on reconstruction of safety systems that would be ready for the Super Bowl in New Orleans in February of 2025, at the expense of New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl.  The system that was in place on New Year’s Eve was not suitable for its intended purpose, and the City and its contractors should have known better. The City deviated from its own public safety plan for New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl, a decision that completely exposed Bourbon Street to just the type of attack they were warned to take all reasonable precautions to stop. The Defendants gave the opportunity to a dangerous person intent upon taking innocent lives and depriving the public’s right to be safe from violence. All of these actors must be held accountable for the massacre on Bourbon Street on New Year’s Eve 2025. 

Attorneys representing the Plaintiffs include Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci, Managing Partner Gina A. DeBoni, Partner Michael D. Cerasa, Senior Attorney Sam A. Harton and Senior Attorney Patrick A. Huber from Romanucci & Blandin, and Partners Aaron Maples and Brendan Connick from Maples & Connick in New Orleans.

Romanucci & Blandin has substantial experience in the arena of mass disasters, representing loved ones and survivors impacted by mass shootings around the country, including The Fourth of July Parade in Highland Park, Illinois; Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas; Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky; Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada; and the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

“The systemic failure in this tragedy is stunning. Those entrusted with safeguarding the public had years of repeated knowledge of the risk in public spaces such as Bourbon Street. They lacked both a reliable safety plan as well as a suitable back-up plan to prevent a large-scale tragedy. Residents and visitors trusted New Orleans officials to keep them safe, and the defendants all had a clear responsibility to protect the people who were invited and encouraged to be in New Orleans for the holiday celebrations and sporting events,” said Romanucci & Blandin Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci.

“We have seen the deep impact this tragedy has had on New Orleans and those who love it. We believe many potential visitors now avoid Bourbon Street out of fear for their safety. Some of our clients continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. Others still struggle with daily pain and disfigurement from their injuries. We are also very aware that many people now suffer anxiety and depression from what they saw and heard during that attack. We are fiercely committed to securing accountability for this tragedy,” said Maples & Connick Partner Aaron Maples.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. For more than 25 years, we have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards. Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit https://www.rblaw.net/ or call (312) 458-1000.

About Maples & Connick, LLC

At Maples & Connick, we are compassionate trial lawyers dedicated to embracing clients as family. We provide unwavering support and experienced representation to those seeking justice. We understand that while we may have many cases, you only have one. Your voice matters and we are here to listen. Together, we pursue justice with empathy and care, restoring peace of mind and empowering your spirit. Welcome to our family, where compassion meets expertise, and justice is pursued with heart. For more information about Maples & Connick, please visit www.maplesconnick.com or call (504) 269-3870.