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Divisions and Staff

Penya M. Moses-Fields, City Attorney  pmfields@cityofno.com  (504) 658-9800

The major divisions of the City Attorney’s Office are as follows: (click on a division name to advance down the page)
Executive Administrative Unit
Transactions Unit
Risk Management Unit
In-House/Research and Opinions Unit
Municipal Court Unit
Traffic Court Unit
General Litigation Unit
Federal & Police Litigation Unit
Finance Unit
Housing Unit
Executive Administrative Unit
Excecutive Adminstrative Staff:
Transactions Unit

Review City bids, request for proposals or qualifications and contracts relative to procurement law, and cooperative endeavor agreements, memorandums of understanding and leases for form and legality whether executed by the Mayor or Council President;

Transaction Unit Staff:

Risk Management Unit

Protect City’s interests by monitoring and regulating City’s insurance coverage on all city property; investigates and adjusts all insurance claims against the city including workers compensation; and oversees judicial claims and sundry claims to pay claims against the city;

Risk Management Unit Staff:  

In-House/Research and Opinions Unit

Manage in-house administrative matters; advise the City Council on all legal matters; prepare and/or review legislative instruments; research and prepare advice responses and legal opinions; prepare proposed zoning ordinances and advises City Planning Commission on land use matters; and monitor all city sponsored and proposed legislation in the state legislature;

In-House/Research and Opinions Staff:

Municipal Court Unit

Prosecute offenders of alleged violations of the Municipal Criminal Code including domestic violence prosecutions;

Municipal Court Unit Staff:  

  • Charlene Larche-Mason, Chief Deputy City Attorney, cclarche@cityofno.com
  • Dan MacNamara, Deputy City Attorney, dmacnamara@cityofno.com
  • Lucille Perry, Domestic Violence Coordinator, lnperry@cityofno.com
  • Nia Morris, Advocate Coordinator, Domestic Violence, nmorris@cityofno.com
  • Jane Beebe, Assistant City Attorney, Domestic Violence, jlbeebe@cityofno.com
  • Mark Vicknair, Assistant City Attorney, Domestic Violence
  • LaKeisha Jefferson, Assistant City Attorney, Domestic Violence
  • Gerald Archer, Assistant City Attorney
  • Joseph Landry, Assistant City Attorney
  • Geoffrey Gates, Assistant City Attorney

Traffic Court Unit

Prosecute offenders of the Traffic Code;

Traffic Court Unit Staff:

  • Charlene Larche-Mason, Chief Deputy City Attorney, cclarche@cityofno.com
  • Gloria Reed, Legal Secretary, greed@cityofno.com
  • Bobbie Smith, Assistant City Attorney
  • Derek Russ, Assistant City Attorney
  • Tonya Jupiter, Assistant City Attorney

General Litigation Unit

Protect the City’s interest as it relates to lawsuits involving City property; actions resulting from the conduct of City employees; worker’s compensation claims; fiscal matters; supervision of Support Staff in Civil Litigation and Risk Management;

General Litigation Unit Staff:

Federal & Police Litigation Unit

Protect the City’s interests by defending the City and New Orleans Police officers in 1983 Civil Rights Action and tort actions; and provide legal counsel on any police matter to members of the police department. Actions resulting from the conduct of City employees; fiscal matters; labor and employment related matters concerning classified employees before the Civil Service Commission, supervision of Support Staff in police litigation and appearance;

Federal & Police Litigation Unit Staff:

Finance Unit

Provide legal advice to the Department of Finance including representing the Collector of Revenue in ad valorem, sales and use tax matters;

Finance Unit Staff:
Housing Unit

Provide legal advice to the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Development Administration including representing the City in housing related litigation; render housing legal advice; and oversees adjudicated blighted properties amelioration, demolition, quick-take, expropriations and administrative hearings.

Housing Unit Staff:

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