14 Jul Settlement Will Create Two MSU Scholarships

In February of 2015, McNeese State University received a donation from Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge D. Kent Savoie as part of the Cy Pres Award from the Chem Waste Class Action Settlement Fund.

Partner Wells Watson and the attorneys of Baggett McCall secured a great victory and class action settlement on behalf of their clients. Attorney Wells Watson, Judge Savoie, State Senator Ronnie Johns, and special trial assistant Robbie Morgan presented McNeese State University President Dr. Philip Williams with a $120,000 donation to create two scholarships for students studying in the areas of chemical engineering and environmental science.

The funds will be endowed through the McNeese Foundation and will be matched with $80,000 from a special Louisiana Board of Regents fund designated for creating scholarships for students that are the first generation in their family to attend college.

The funds were part of a legal settlement; under the Cy Pres doctrine, the remaining and unclaimed settlement funds may be distributed according to the court’s discretion.

“We are thrilled that Judge Savoie used his judicial discretion to direct a portion of this settlement to benefit higher education in Southwest Louisiana,” MSU President Williams said. “These scholarships will benefit McNeese students for many, many years to come.”