Cases
Representative Matters: Dinwiddie v. Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85045 (W.D. Okla. May 27, 2015). Mr. Casey was lead counsel for Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. in Oklahoma federal court in a nationwide class action brought on behalf of about 200,000 purchasers of certain Suzuki vehicles. Plaintiffs claimed that the vehicles were defective because the headlamps had a condition that allegedly created the potential for vehicle fires. In response to plaintiffs' complaint, which sought economic loss damages for the alleged defect
for Suzuki's alleged negligent implementation of the recall, the firm filed a motion to dismiss all causes of action. The motion was granted in full without leave for plaintiffs to amend.
Harding v. MidSouth Bank, N.A. Mr. Casey
other firm attorneys represented a bank in connection with allegations that it manipulated its posting procedures for debit transactions. The case was brought by multiple plaintiffs' firms as a 10-year, nationwide class action. The suit was essentially identical to dozens of class actions brought against other banks across the country, which most banks settled after classes were certified. In response to the bank's Motion to Compel Arbitration, argued by Mr. Casey, a federal court ordered the case to arbitration despite that the arbitration provision at issue had several non-st
ard provisions. Harding v. MidSouth Bank, N.A., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 143984 (W.D. La. Oct. 3, 2012). Thereafter, the bank filed a motion to dismiss in the arbitration
the arbitrator dismissed the claims against the bank on the merits in 2014.
Strong, derivatively on behalf of Tidewater Inc. v. Taylor, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29234 (E.D. La. Mar. 5, 2013)
Strong, derivatively on behalf of Tidewater Inc. v. Taylor, 877 F. Supp. 2d 433 (E.D. La. 2012). Mr. Casey
other firm attorneys defended Tidewater Inc., a corporation which is a leading provider of offshore service vessels to the global energy industry, in a shareholder derivative action. The suit arose out of with alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. After successfully staying discovery pending rulings on pre-trial motions, defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the case because of the plaintiff's failure to adequately plead that prior dem
on the Board of Directors would have been futile. The Court granted the Motion to Dismiss. Plaintiff then file a Motion to Stay, which defendants opposed, in order to provide plaintiff with an opportunity to dispense with the dem
futility allegations
instead pursue a formal dem
on the Board of Directors. The Court denied that motion as well
dismissed the case with prejudice.
Mr. Casey co-led a team of Jones Walker attorneys
paralegals from several offices in 2010 in defending a major motor vehicle manufacturer in 38 arbitrations. The arbitrations were brought by dealerships in five states (Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi
Tennessee). The arbitrations were conducted under specially-targeted Congressional legislation which allowed the dealerships a one-time opportunity to contest the scheduled terminations of their dealer agreements.
Cole v. General Motors Corp., 484 F.3d 717 (5th Cir. 2007). Mr. Casey served as primary counsel for the defendant in this nationwide class action brought on behalf of 225,000 purchasers of products in every state in the nation. The United States Court of Appeals issued an opinion upholding the defendant's position that a nationwide class action would be contrary to law. Mr. Casey argued the appeal. The case has been dismissed.
Knoth v. General Motors Corp., 08-80001 (S.D. Fla.). Mr. Casey served as primary counsel for the defendant in a putative class action brought on behalf of Florida consumers who purchased vehicles manufactured at a plant in Mexico. The allegation was that the vehicles were damaged by storms while the vehicles were in port in Veracruz, Mexico, awaiting shipment to the United States. The matter has been dismissed.
Maldonado v. Ochsner Clinic Foundation, 493 F.3d 521 (5th Cir. 2007). Mr. Casey, along with other Jones Walker lawyers, defended a not-for-profit hospital in litigation where plaintiffs contended that the hospital overcharged uninsured patients for services rendered over a ten year period. The firm successfully defeated class certification in the district court,
the appellate court affirmed. There were approximately 50 similar class actions on the same issue against other hospitals around the country, but this was the first favorable ruling on certification for any hospital.
Atlas Roofing Corporation class actions (E.D. La.). Mr. Casey served as primary counsel for Atlas Roofing, a major manufacturer of roofing shingles, in a series of three class actions brought against the company. The suits alleged the defective manufacture of shingles. All of the cases were removed to federal court,
subsequently transferred before one federal district judge. In the first matter, we defeated class certification of a Rule 23(b)(2) class (the rule pertaining to an injunctive class). See Hilton v. Atlas Roofing Corp., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88290 (E.D. La. Dec. 5, 2006). In the second class action, we were successful in having the class claims dismissed inasmuch as plaintiff did not timely move for class certification. See Sewell v. Atlas Roofing Corp., 2007 WL 1198921 (E.D. La. Apr. 20, 2007). In the third class action, plaintiff's request for certification under Rule 23(b)(3) (a damages class) was also denied. See Welch v. Atlas Roofing Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81563 (E.D. La. Nov. 2, 2007).
Massey v. ICF Emergency Services, 07-462 (M.D. La.). We represented the contractor managing the State of Louisiana's multi-billion-dollar Road Home program (for victims of Hurricanes Katrina
Rita) in a class action brought on behalf of program applicants. We filed a motion to dismiss (argued by Mr. Casey) which was granted at the outset of the case.
In re The Western
Southern Life Insurance Co. Industrial Life Insurance Litigation, MDL No. 1395 (E.D. La.). Mr. Casey served as Lead
Liaison Counsel in an MDL on behalf of a defendant insurer. The MDL was made up of eight nationwide class actions alleging discriminatory pricing over a 60 year period by 80 companies acquired by the client. The cases were filed in four different states by a group of about 25 law firms. The case received press attention at various stages in publications such as The Wall Street Journal . In 2001
2002, we successfully removed all cases to federal court
obtained the formation of the MDL over plaintiffs' counsel's opposition. We also represented the client in the class certification proceedings. The district judge denied certification. In re Industrial Life Ins. Litig., 208 F.R.D. 571 (E.D. La.. 2002). In August of 2003 the United States Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit, by a 2-1 vote, reversed the district court's legal analysis without deciding whether a class should be certified. In re Monumental Life Ins. Co., Industrial Life Ins. Litig., 365 F.3d 408 (5th Cir. 2004). However, on rem
, the district court again denied certification. The matter was settled on an individual basis thereafter,
all cases were dismissed in 2007.
Federal Court Decisions: Dinwiddie v. Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85045 (W.D. Okla. May 27, 2015).
Strong, derivatively on behalf of Tidewater Inc. v. Taylor, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29234 (E.D. La. Mar. 5, 2013).
Strong, derivatively on behalf of Tidewater Inc. v. Taylor, 877 F. Supp. 2d 433 (E.D. La. 2012).
Harding v. MidSouth Bank, N.A., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 143984 (W.D. La. Oct. 3, 2012).
Maldonado v. Ochsner Clinic Foundation, 493 F.3d 521 (5th Cir. 2007).
Cole v. General Motors Corp., 484 F.3d 717 (5th Cir. 2007).
Welch v. Atlas Roofing Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 81563 (E.D. La. Nov. 2, 2007).
Sewell v. Atlas Roofing Corp., 2007 WL 1198921 (E.D. La. Apr. 20, 2007).
Hilton v. Atlas Roofing Corp., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88290 (E.D. La. Dec. 5, 2006).
In re Monumental Life Ins. Co., Industrial Life Ins. Litig., 365 F.3d 408 (5th Cir. 2004).
In re Industrial Life Ins. Litig., 208 F.R.D. 571 (E.D. La. 2002)
In re Air Bag Products Liability Litigation, 7 F.Supp.2d 792 (E.D. La. 1998).
Trapp Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Cadillac, Inc. v. General Motors Corp., 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10412 (E.D. La. 2002).
Ashker v. Horizon Offshore Contractors, Inc., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5752 (E.D. La. 2002).
Monumental Life Insurance Co. v. R.A.J. Holdings, Inc., 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13035 (E.D. La. 1999).
Marsh Buggies, Inc. v. Weems Geophysical, Inc., 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13043 (E.D. La. 1999).
General Motors Corp. v. Pamela Equities Corp., 146 F.3d 242 (5th Cir. 1998).
Fern
ez v. McDaniel Controls, Inc., 999 F.Supp. 1365 (D. Hawaii 1998).
McDermott International v. Lloyds Underwriters of London, 120 F.3d 583 (5th Cir. 1997).
FBT Bancshares v. Mutual Fire, Marine & Inl
Ins. Co., 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15029 (E.D. La. 1995).
FBT Bancshares v. Mutual Fire, Marine & Inl
Ins. Co., 1995 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11490 (E.D. La. 1995).
Jastram v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 844 F.Supp. 1139 (E.D. La. 1994).
Southern Constructors Group v. Dynalectric Co., 2 F.3d 606 (5th Cir. 1993).
Isquith for
on behalf of Isquith v. Middle South Utilities, Inc., 847 F.2d 186 (5th Cir. 1988).
State Court Decisions: White v. General Motors Corp., 775 So.2d 492 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2001).
White v. General Motors Corp., 808 So.2d 722 (La. App. 1st Cir. 2001).
Cacamo v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co., 764 So.2d 41 (La. 2000).
Tramonte v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 760 So.2d 1192 (La. App. 5th Cir. 2000).
In re Gas Water Heater Products Liability Litigation, 711 So.2d 264 (La. 1998).
de Nunez v. Valencia Bartels, 727 So.2d 463 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1998).
de Nunez v. Valencia Bartels, 684 So.2d 1001
1008 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1996)
American Suzuki Motor Corp. v. Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission, 572 So.2d 753 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1991)
