Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Covington, LA

Honors/Awards:

• In recognition of distinguished service to the Children's Advocacy Center and children of the community from establishment of the CAC to completion of evaluation center, Fifth Annual Carol Keay Award, Children's Advocacy Center, 2008
• Louisiana Super Lawyer, 2015

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• LLM  Environmental Law - Tulane University - Honors Graduate, 1993

Bar/Professional Activity:

• American Bar Association
• New Orleans Bar Association  
• Louisiana Association for Justice
• All Louisiana State Courts
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
• United States Supreme Court
• Louisiana State Bar

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Silent Angels, LLC Non-Profit - supplying deserving children in the community with Christmas gifts anonymously from their parents and caregivers, 2013
• Children's Advocacy Center - Teddy Bear Tea Fundraising Event Sponsor, 2016
• Children's Advocacy Center - Teddy Bear Tea Fundraising Event Sponsor, 2013
• Silent Angels, LLC Non-Profit - supplying deserving children in the community with Christmas gifts anonymously from their parents and caregivers, 2014
• Silent Angels, LLC Non-Profit - supplying deserving children in the community with Christmas gifts anonymously from their parents and caregivers, 2018
• Silent Angels, LLC Non-Profit - supplying deserving children in the community with Christmas gifts anonymously from their parents and caregivers, 2017
• Silent Angels, LLC Non-Profit - supplying deserving children in the community with Christmas gifts anonymously from their parents and caregivers, 2016
• Children's Advocacy Center - Teddy Bear Tea Fundraising Event Sponsor, 2014
• Children's Advocacy Center - Teddy Bear Tea Fundraising Event Sponsor, 2015
• Silent Angels, LLC Non-Profit - supplying deserving children in the community with Christmas gifts anonymously from their parents and caregivers, 2015

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

• Review of latest rulings on Class Certification pursuant to FRCP Rule 23(c)(4) and trend in US 5th Circuit away from "narrow view" of predominance to "broad view" allowing certification with predominance being shown via bifurcation of trials and directly related to issue class pursuant to Rule 23(c)(4) with national evaluation and review of 5th Circuit jurisprudence, Lead Counsel, Memorandum in Support of Class Certification Pursuant to FRCP Rule 23 (c)(4), United District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, Slocum, et al vs. International Paper Docket # NO. 16-12563, 16-12567& 16-13793; Record Document number 182, Environmental, Personal Injury, Torts, 2019

Verdicts/Settlements:

• Evans et al. v. Temple Inland, Inc., S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans), CIVIL DOCKET #: 2:11-cv-02067-LMA-ALC Co-Lead Trial Counsel; Class Wide Settlement  for personal injuries and property damage, 2014
• Robert Earl Lee Bickham, et al. vs. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., c/w Bennie Adams, et al. vs. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., c/w Ida Mae Williams, et al. vs. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Washington, State of Louisiana, Docket #70,760, c/w 72,154, c/w 72,986; Settlement of Asbestos personal injury claims, 2017
• Paternostro, et al   Choice Hotels International Services Corp. et al, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans), CIVIL DOCKET #: 2:13-cv-00662-EEF-MBN Settlement of all personal injury and death actions resulting from legionella outbreak, 2015
• Crowe v. Pearl River Polymers, Inc., 22nd Judicial District Court Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana; Docket Numbers 99-14413, C/W 99-14636, 99-14695, 2000-12992, 2000-14693, 2004-10028, 2004-12367, 2004-12441, 2004-12755, 2005-10949, 2009-13552, AND 2003-14090 Appeal: 012 CA 1323 (La. Ct. App. 1st Circuit 2014) Settlement on behalf of all firm personal injury claimants, 2016
• In Re: Lumber Liquidators Chinese-Manufactured Flooring Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, National Multi District Litigation; U.S. District Court  for the Eastern District of Virginia - (Alexandria); CIVIL DOCKET  #: 1:15-md-02627-AJT-TRJ; Settlements on behalf of Personal Injury Claimants, 2018
• Representative Settlements in various types of personal injury cases which resulted in substantial settlements or verdicts: Diane Rabalais v. Mark Portacci, M.D., et al., 22nd JDC, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana -medical malpractice for contraindicated medication prescription and improper follow-up care involving both treating physician and hospital.Belinda Madden, et al. vs. Enterprise Rent-a-car, et al., 22nd JDC, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana-Premier case involving liability of a rental car agency for the negligence of a driver and governmental liability for inadequate safety measures at a public event.James V. Palazzo, et al. vs. Paul B. Guevara, M.D., 19th JDC, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana- medical malpractice case for improper care by emergency room physician which resulted in fatal stroke (loss of opportunity for survival).Urban M. Craddock vs. McDermott International, Inc., et al., CDC, Orleans Parish, Louisiana- Jones Act and maritime personal injury- derrick barge. Villery Kennedy vs. Universal Sodexho and Rowan Companies, et al., 16th JDC, St. Mary Parish Louisiana- Jones Act and maritime personal injury- jack up rig.Karen Kirk vs. Federal Bureau of Investigation through USA, USDC, Eastern District, Louisiana- federal tort claim act case involving a motor vehicle accident with a Federal employee.Helena S. Brandes, et al. vs. The Hartford Insurance Company of the Midwest, USDC, Eastern District, Louisiana- Property damage claim due to damages from Hurricane Katrina.Edward Taylor vs. Louisiana Dept. of Health & Hospitals, CDC, Orleans Parish, Louisiana- medical malpractice case for improper diagnosis care and treatment by residents without proper staff supervision.Carl Barios and George Bankston vs. Teleflex Marine Products and Covington Marine, 22nd JDC, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana- Products liability case involving improper repairs and manufacturing defect which resulted in a steering cable malfunction in sport boat  causing passengers to be thrown into the lake
• Class Action and Mass Tort Settlements in excess of $40,000,000.00.  Representative Defendants 3M, Albany International, Asten, Babcock and Wilcox, Combustion Engineering, Dresser Industries, Garlock, General Electric, Inc., Ingersoll-Rand, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Midland Ross Corporation, Owens Corning Fiberglass, Westinghouse (CBS Corporation), Owens Illinois, Choice Hotels, Lumber Liquidators. Representative Bankruptcy Trusts Verus; Delaware Representative Mass Tort Litigation: In Re: Lumber Liquidators Chinese-Manufactured Flooring Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, National Multi District Litigation U.S. District Court  for the Eastern District of Virginia - (Alexandria)  CIVIL DOCKET  #: 1:15-md-02627-AJT-TRJ; Description: Mass Torts – Flooring Environmental damages and personal injuries related to Formaldehyde Exposure Duties: 2017 – Filed and granted separate track for Personal Injury Claimants in MDL litigation 2017 – Appointed Co-Lead Settlement Counsel for Plaintiffs claiming Personal Injuries in the MDL 2018 - Appointed Co-Lead Counsel for Personal Injury Plaintiffs in MDL Crowe v. Pearl River Polymers, Inc., 22nd Judicial District Court Parish of St. Tammany, State of Louisiana; Docket Numbers 99-14413, C/W 99-14636, 99-14695, 2000-12992, 2000-14693, 2004-10028, 2004-12367, 2004-12441, 2004-12755, 2005-10949, 2009-13552, AND 2003-14090 Appeal: 012 CA 1323 (La. Ct. App. 1st Circuit 2014) Description:  2011-2015 – Mass Tort - Plant Explosion Duties: Co-Lead Trial Counsel, Co- Lead Appeal Counsel, Oralist on Appeal , Co-Lead Settlement Counsel Evans et al. v. Temple Inland, Inc., S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans), CIVIL DOCKET #: 2:11-cv-02067-LMA-ALC Description: 2011-2013 – Chemical Release; Class Action Mass Tort and Environmental Damages Duties: Appointment: Co-Lead Trial Counsel; Plaintiff’s Steering Committee Paternostro, et al Choice Hotels International Services Corp. et al, U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans), CIVIL DOCKET #: 2:13-cv-00662-EEF-MBN Description: 2013 - Joinder of Legionella Outbreak Plaintiffs Duties: Co-Lead Litigation Counsel Robert Earl Lee Bickham, et al. vs. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., c/w Bennie Adams, et al. vs. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., c/w Ida Mae Williams, et al. vs. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., 22nd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Washington, State of Louisiana, Docket #70,760, c/w 72,154, c/w 72,986; Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel – excess of 3,500 plaintiffs Lois Dier, et al. vs. Abney Mills Corporation, et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Docket #2000-2651 Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel Sandra Lusk, et al. vs. Eagle, Inc., et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Docket #2001-16292 Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel Sara Sue Gerald, et al. vs. Asten, Inc., et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Docket #2002-2190  Description:  Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties:  Lead Trial Counsel Dorothy Lang, et al. vs. Asten, Inc., et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Docket #2002-2973 Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel Faye S. Breland, et al. vs. D. B. Riley, Inc., et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Docket #2003-17451 Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel Mary Crain, et al. vs. Asten, Inc., et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Docket #2002-19371 Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel Walter Reed, et al. v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., et al., 20th Judicial District Court for the Parish of West Feliciana, State of Louisiana, Docket #13-836 Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel – excess of 1,000 plaintiffs Wayne Champagne, et al. v. D. B. Riley, Inc., et al., Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, Docket #2004-9606 Description: Mass Joinder of Asbestos Personal Injury Cases Duties: Lead Trial Counsel

Other Outstanding Achievements:

• Evans et al. v. Temple Inland, Inc., S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans), CIVIL DOCKET #: 2:11-cv-02067-LMA-ALC - 2011-2013 – Chemical Release; Class Action Mass Tort and Environmental Damages Appointment as Co-Lead Trial Counsel and Plaintiff’s Steering Committee; Class Wide Settlement Completed, 2012
• In Re: Lumber Liquidators Chinese-Manufactured Flooring Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, National Multi District Litigation- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia - (Alexandria) CIVIL DOCKET  #: 1:15-md-02627-AJT-TRJ; Mass Torts – Flooring Environmental damages and personal injuries related to Formaldehyde Exposure Distinguished Personal Injury Claimants within MDL  Appointed Co-Lead Counsel for Personal Injury Plaintiffs in MDL, 2018
• In Re: Lumber Liquidators Chinese-Manufactured Flooring Products Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, National Multi District Litigation- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia - (Alexandria) CIVIL DOCKET  #: 1:15-md-02627-AJT-TRJ; Mass Torts – Flooring Environmental damages and personal injuries related to Formaldehyde Exposure Distinguished Personal Injury Claimants within MDL Filed and granted separate track for Personal Injury Claimants in MDL litigation Appointed Co-Lead Settlement Counsel for Plaintiffs claiming Personal Injuries in the MDL, 2017

Educational Background:

• Tulane University School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana, L.L.M., Energy and Environmental Law
• St. Mary’s Dominican College, New Orleans, LA