(Main Office)

Statement of Practice

Blue Williams, L.L.P. practices in the following areas of law:

Admiralty/Maritime, Automobile/Trucking, Business Consulting, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Corporate Law, Criminal Defense, Employment Law, Environmental and Toxic Litigation, Estate Planning, Federal/State Workers' Compensation, Healthcare Law, Insurance Law: Coverage Issues, Defense of Extra-Contractual and Bad Faith Claims, Fraud and Arson Investigation and Litigation, Intellectual Property, Personal/Commercial Property and Casualty Litigation, Products Liability, Professional Liability, Successions, Tax Planning, Wills and Trusts.

Representative Clients:

Advanced Materials, Inc.
Agency Management Corporation
Argonaut Insurance Company
Association Hospital Services
Auto Chlor Services
American Sprinkler
The Assurant Group
Audubon Indemnity Company
Audubon Insurance Company
Boh Brothers Construction Co., LLC
Broadspire
Cambridge Integrated Services Group, Inc.
Cardiovascular Associates, Inc.
Casualty Insurance Company
Chef Paul Prudhomme
Chef Frank Brigtsen
City of Mandeville
Colony Insurance Company
Community Health Systems, Inc.
Community Health Services - Professional Services Corporation
Compass Group
Crothal Healthcare, Inc.
Delta Beverage Group, Inc.
DGM Australia
The Doctor's Company
Evanston Insurance Company
Everest National Insurance Company
FARA
Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies
First Financial Insurance Co.
Fortress Insurance Company
Glaxo SmithKline
The Gray Insurance Company
Great American Insurance Company, Inc.
Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission
Hematology Oncology Services
Hospital Corporation of America
Holiday Inn Corporation
Infinity Insurance Companies
James Construction Group
Jefferson Ambulatory Surgery Group
K-Mart Corporation
K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources
Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company (LAMMICO)
Louisiana Patient's Compensation Fund
Louisiana Premier Physician's Program
Louisiana Psychiatric Association
Louisiana Restaurant Association - Self Insured Fund
Louisiana Retailers Association
Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation
Maxxum Indemnity Company
Medical Protective Insurance Company
Metropolitan Property
Morrison Healthcare, Inc.
M.S. Carriers, Inc.
National Arbitration Forum
National Health Care of Leesville, Inc.
National Union Fire Insurance Company of Louisiana
Nationwide Insurance Company
Northland Insurance Company
Northwestern National Insurance Company
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc.
Outback Steakhouse
Parish of Jefferson
Penn Mill Lakes, L.L.C.
PepsiAmericas, Inc.
Ports Insurance Company
Regency Hospital Company
RehabCare Group
Restaurant Equipment & Supply Association, Inc. (RESA)
River Construction, Inc.
Sun Construction Co.
Sunrise Homes
Travelers Insurance Company
St. Tammany Parish Recreation District No. 1
SALCO Management
Sedgwick CMS
The Shaw Group
Sigma Consulting
Southern Water Services
State of Louisiana
State Farm Fire & Casualty Company
Tenet Healthsystems
TIG Insurance Company
Time Insurance Company
Touro Infirmary
VSL Corporation
Waffle House, Inc.
United National Insurance Co.
Wainer Brothers
Walgreen Louisiana Company, Inc.
Washington Mutual Bank
Wausau Insurance Companies
Worldwide Services Company
Zale Corporation
Zurich, U.S.

Address

3421 North Causeway Boulevard, Suite 900
Metairie, LA 70002-3760, (Jefferson Parish)

Phone

Phone: 504-831-4091
Fax: 504-837-1182
Toll Free: 800-326-4991

Website

http://www.bluewilliams.com

Office Hours

Monday: 8:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Tuesday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Wednesday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Thursday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Friday: 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Saturday: By Appointment Only
Sunday: By Appointment Only

Firm/Affiliate Offices

PARTNERS

Ryan J. Roemershauser (Partner) born Metairie, Louisiana, October 2, 1971; admitted to bar, 1998, Louisiana. Education: Southern Methodist University (B.A., 1993); Loyola University (J.D., 1997). Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Premises Liability Defense; Medical Malpractice Defense; Pharmacists Liability; Physicians Professional Liability; Hospital Liability Defense; Health Care; Criminal Defense.

Richard S. Vale (Managing Partner) born Toronto, Canada; admitted to bar, 1973, Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Loyola University (B.A., 1970; J.D., 1973). Practice Areas: Construction; Products Liability; Employer Liability; LHWCA Claims; State Workers Compensation; Maritime Law; Insurance Defense.Email: Richard S. Vale

Stephen M. Pizzo (Marketing Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1953; admitted to bar, 1979, Louisiana. Education: University of Southwestern Louisiana (B.A., magna cum laude, 1975); University of Alabama (M.A., 1976); Loyola University (LL.B., 1979). Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Health Care; Professional Liability Defense; Commercial Litigation; Health Care Corporate Law; Arbitration Adjudication.Email: Stephen M. Pizzo

Thomas G. Buck (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1957; admitted to bar, 1984, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., 1979); Loyola University (J.D., 1984). Member, Loyola Law Review. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Insurance Coverage; Construction Litigation; Premises Liability; Products Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Casualty Insurance.Email: Thomas G. Buck

Brian C. Bossier (Managing Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1960; admitted to bar, 1985, Louisiana and U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; U.S. Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit. Education: Loyola University (B.B.A., 1982; J.D., 1985). Top Brief Writer, Moot Court Competition. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Tort Litigation; Construction Litigation; Environmental; Insurance; Occupational Disease; Premises Liability; Products Liability.Email: Brian C. Bossier

Virgil A. Lacy III (Managing Partner) born Shreveport, Louisiana, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., cum laude, 1983); Tulane University (J.D., cum laude, 1987). Order of the Barristers. Justice, Tulane Moot Court Board, 1986-1987. Winner, Tulane Moot Court Trial Competition. Member, National Trial Team. Recipient: Edwin I. Mahoney Award. Practice Areas: Casualty Insurance; Commercial Litigation; Civil Litigation; Construction Litigation; Mineral Rights.Email: Virgil A. Lacy III

Kurt S. Blankenship (Partner) born Clinton, Louisiana, 1952; admitted to bar, 1977, Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.A., 1974); Tulane University (J.D., 1977). Practice Areas: Litigation; Appellate Practice; Medical Malpractice; Construction; Surety Law; Commercial Litigation; Health Care.Email: Kurt S. Blankenship

Danté V. Maraldo (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1967; admitted to bar, 1994, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., International Trade and Finance, cum laude, 1990); Tulane University (M.B.A., 1994; J.D., cum laude, 1994). Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award for Federal Criminal Law. Editor, Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. Practice Areas: Business Law; Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense; Health Care.Email: Danté V. Maraldo

Robert I. Baudouin (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, Louisiana. Education: Tulane University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1981; J.D., 1984). Languages: French. Practice Areas: Health Care; Medical Malpractice; Construction Litigation; Professional Liability; Commercial Litigation; Insurance; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Banks and Banking.Email: Robert I. Baudouin

Guice A. Giambrone, III (Partner) born Lafayette, Louisiana, October 6, 1972; admitted to bar, 1997, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1994); Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1997). Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice Defense; Casualty Insurance Defense; Automobile Insurance Defense; Appellate Practice.Email: Guice A. Giambrone, III

Mary K. Peyton (Partner) born Baton Rouge, Louisiana; admitted to bar, 1996, Louisiana and U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1993); Tulane University (J.D., cum laude, 1996). Law Clerk, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law Judges, 1996-1998. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Health Care; Product Liability; Workers Compensation; Insurance Defense Litigation; Commercial Litigation.Email: Mary K. Peyton

Edwin A. Ellinghausen, III (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, February 4, 1958; admitted to bar, 1982, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University and A. and M. College; Tulane University of Louisiana (J.D., cum laude, 1982). Practice Areas: Personal Injury Defense; Products Liability Defense; Admiralty Law; Maritime Law; Health Insurance Defense; Asbestos Defense.Email: Edwin A. Ellinghausen, III

Christopher T. Grace, III (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, May 18, 1970; admitted to bar, 2000, Louisiana. Education: University of North Carolina (B.A., 1996); Loyola University (J.D., 2000). Practice Areas: Litigation; Insurance Defense.Email: Christopher T. Grace, III

Richard L. Olivier (Partner) born Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 16, 1962; admitted to bar, 1990, Louisiana; 2005, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.A., Political Science, 1986; J.D., 1989). Assistant District Attorney, Orleans Parish, 1990-2001. Associate Attorney Connick & Connick, 2001-2005. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Asbestos Litigation.Email: Richard L. Olivier

Frank James Towers (Partner) born New York, New York, June 9, 1973; admitted to bar, 2001, Louisiana; 2003, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. Education: Skidmore College (B.A., 1995); Loyola University (J.D., 2001). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Workers Compensation; Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act.Email: Frank James Towers

John C. Henry (Partner) born Meridian, Mississippi, May 6, 1962; admitted to bar, 1988, Louisiana; 1996, Virginia. Education: University of Alabama (B.S., 1984); Tulane University of Louisiana (J.D., cum laude, 1988). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Casualty Insurance Defense; Federal Employer's Liability Act.

Tara Nunez Smith (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, October 13, 1976; admitted to bar, 2003, Louisiana. Education: Southeastern Louisiana University (B.S., 1998); Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 2002). Certification, International Legal Studies. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Asbestos Litigation; Toxic Torts; Commercial Litigation.Email: Tara Nunez Smith

Erin H. Boyd (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana; admitted to bar, 1990, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1987); Loyola University (J.D., 1990); Tulane University (LL.M., Energy and Environment, with Distinction, 1994). Casenotes Editor, Loyola Law Review. Judicial Clerk, Louisiana Supreme Court, 1990-1991. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Appellate Practice; Civil Liability; Tort Defense.Email: Erin H. Boyd

Pamela F. Noya (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1962; admitted to bar, 1987, Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.A., 1984); Loyola School of Law (J.D., 1987). Moot Court Finalist. Member, Loyola Law Review, 1986-1987. Practice Areas: Civil Practice; Workers Compensation; Construction Law; Construction Contracts; Construction Defects; Appellate Practice; Civil Appeals.Email: Pamela F. Noya

David B. Parnell, Jr. (Partner) born Lake Charles, Louisiana, June 4, 1975; admitted to bar, 2000, Louisiana and U.S. District Court, Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Millsaps College (B.A., 1997); Louisiana State University (J.D., 2000). Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Premises Liability; Casualty Insurance; Commercial Property Insurance; Extra Contractual Insurance Claims; First and Third Party Insurance; General Liability.Email: David B. Parnell, Jr.

Eric Edward Pope (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, February 2, 1973; admitted to bar, 1998, Louisiana; 2001, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A. English, History 1995); Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D. 1998). Practice Areas: Federal Workers Compensation; Workers Compensation; Insurance Defense; Property Insurance Defense; General Liability; Casualty Insurance Defense.

ASSOCIATES

Michelle A. Beaty-Gullage (Associate) born Anderson, South Carolina, November 27, 1968; admitted to bar, 1994, Louisiana. Education: Duke University (A.B., Political Science, 1991); Tulane University (J.D., 1994). Judge Ad Hoc, First City Court and Juvenile Court, New Orleans. Member: Louisiana State Bar Association; National Bar Association; Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel; Louis Martinet Legal Society; Defense Research Institute (Member, Young Lawyers Committee); Metropolitan Area Committee Leadership Council. Fellow: Loyola Institute of Politics. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Commercial Litigation; Premises Liability.Email: Michelle A. Beaty-Gullage

Craig R. Watson (Associate) born New Hempstead, New York, January 17, 1980; admitted to bar, 2004, Texas and Louisiana; 2005, Mississippi. Education: State University of New York at Binghamton (B.A., 2001); Loyola University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2004). Moot Court; National Order of Barristers. Licensed Louisiana Real Estate Agent. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Hospital Malpractice; Health Care Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Premises Liability.Email: Craig R. Watson

Tiffany O. Cazabon (Associate) born New Orleans, Louisiana, October 31, 1966; admitted to bar, 1993, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1989); Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1993). Practice Areas: Employment; Wills; Successions; Commercial Litigation.Email: Tiffany O. Cazabon

Brett W. Tweedel (Associate) born Slidell, Louisiana; admitted to bar, 2005, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., Theatre, 1999); Loyola University (J.D., 2005). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Casualty Insurance; Construction Litigation.Email: Brett W. Tweedel

Joseph F. Lahatte, III (Associate) born Metairie, Louisiana, October 12, 1981; admitted to bar, 2007, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., 2003), Dean's List; Loyola University College of Law (J.D., 2007). Moot Court Board Staff and Competitor. Member: Louisiana State Bar Association; Federal Bar Association. Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Insurance; Federal Workers Compensation; Personal Property; Casualty Insurance; Admiralty and Maritime Law; Insurance Coverage; Products Liability.Email: Joseph F. Lahatte, III

Kelly A. Dugas (Associate) born New Iberia, Louisiana, April 15, 1982; admitted to bar, 2007, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., Economics, 2004); Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D., 2007; B.C.L., 2007). Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Workers Compensation; Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act; Insurance Defense.Email: Kelly A. Dugas

Jade C. McKeough (Associate) born New Orleans, Louisiana, January 11, 1975; admitted to bar, 2002, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S.B.A., 1999); Southern University Law Center (J.D., 2002). Member: Louisiana State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Federal Workers Compensation; General Liability.Email: Jade C. McKeough

Stacie L. Jirovec (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, Louisiana, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Loyola University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2005); Loyola University College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2008). Member: Federal, New Orleans, American and Louisiana State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Admiralty and Maritime Law; Casualty Insurance Defense; Environmental Law; Toxic Substance Liability.Email: Stacie L. Jirovec

Colleen E. McGaw (Staff Attorney) born New Orleans, October 10, 1982; admitted to bar, 2008, Louisiana. Education: Millsaps College (B.A., Psychology, 2004); Loyola University (J.D., 2007). Member: Louisiana State Bar Association; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Business Consulting.Email: Colleen E. McGaw

Tania Nelson (Associate) born Miami, Florida, August 26, 1983; admitted to bar, 2008, Louisiana, U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: University of Florida (B.A., cum laude, 2005); Loyola University College of Law, New Orleans (J.D., cum laude, 2008). Phi Alpha Belta. Loyola Moot Court, Loyola Journal of Public Interest Law, Loyola Trial Advocacy Team. Author: "House v. Bell: Actual Innocence Exception, A Second Chance for Procedurally Barred Claims," Loyola University, New Orleans Jar. P. interest Law, Vol. 8, Spring 07, No. 2. Formerly with Krebs, Farley and Pelleterie, PLLC. Member: New Orleans Bar Association; Louisiana State Bar Association; Federal Bar Association; American Bar Association; Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice Defense; Insurance Defense; Casualty and Commercial Litigation.Email: Tania Nelson

Elizabeth S. Sconzert (Associate) born Galveston, Texas, April 7, 1979; admitted to bar, 2005, Louisiana. Education: Loyola University, New Orleans (B.A., English, 2001); Loyola University New Orleans School of Law (J.D., 2005). Phi Alpha delta, Justice, 2004-2005. Order of the Barristers. Law Excellence Awards in Civil Procedure, Criminal Law and Copyright Law. Articles/Index Editor, Loyola Law Review, 2004-2005. Law Clerk to the Hon. Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., Chief Justice, Louisiana Supreme Court, 2005-2006. Formerly with Johnson, Gray, McNamara, LLC; Krebs, Farley & Pelleteri, PLLC. Member: New Orleans (Member, Young Lawyers Section, 2005—), Louisiana State Bar Associations and American Bankruptcy Institute. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Commercial Litigation; Workers Compensation Defense; Insurance Defense; Personal and Commercial property Litigation; Construction Litigation; Environmental; Toxic Tort Litigation.Email: Elizabeth S. Sconzert

OF COUNSEL

Mickal P. Adler (Of Counsel) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1966; admitted to bar, 1993, Louisiana, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana; 1995, U.S. District Court, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana. Education: Millsaps College (B.B.A., 1988); Tulane University (J.D., 1993). Practice Areas: Corporate; Intellectual Property; Commercial Litigation.Email: Mickal P. Adler

William H. Reinhardt, Jr. (Of Counsel) born New Orleans, Louisiana, December 3, 1944; admitted to bar, 1970, Louisiana and U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana; 1971, U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; 1972, U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit; 2001, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Louisiana State University (B.G.S., 1967; J.D., 1970). Recipient, Henry George McMahon Scholarship. Practice Areas: Employment Law; Corporate Litigation; Corporate and Successions Work.Email: William H. Reinhardt, Jr.

John C. Overby (Of Counsel) born Galveston, Texas, September 12, 1966; admitted to bar, 1996, Louisiana; 2004, Tennessee. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1990); Tulane University (J.D., cum laude, 1996); Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M. in Taxation and Certificate in Employee Benefits Law, 2003). Practice Areas: Estate Planning(40%); Business Organization(20%); Taxation(10%); Successions(25%); Executive Compensation(5%); Business Law.Email: John C. Overby

Richard E. Gruner, Jr. (Of Counsel) born New Orleans, Louisiana, September 11, 1967; admitted to bar, 1992, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.S., 1989; J.D., 1992). Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Health Care.

William L. Brockman (Of Counsel) born New Orleans, Louisiana, October 7, 1949; admitted to bar, 1974, Louisiana; 1978, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., 1971); Loyola University (J.D., 1974). Member, International Moot Court Team. Participant, Law Clinic. Assistant District Attorney, Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office, 1975-1978. Member: Jefferson Parish and Louisiana State Bar Associations; Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Health Care; Toxic Torts; Insurance Defense; Maritime Law.Email: William L. Brockman