Recent Cases
The attorneys in our firm have tried over 50 cases in the past 4 years. The following are the firm's most recent cases.
Marjorie Huffman v. Ford Motor Co., 22nd Judicial District Court, Parish of St. Tammany, Directed Verdict after 3 days of trial, May 6, 2015..
Naquin v. Lafayette Insurance Co., et al, 24th Judicial District Court, Parish of Jefferson, No. 664-847. A week long trial in February of 2015 arising from a motor vehicle accident in which liability was stipulated to prior to trial and punitive damages were sought for intoxication. The jury returned a verdict in favor of defendants on the intoxication claim and awarded plaintiff less than $200,000 after plaintiff sought a judgment of multiple millions and would not drop his demand below a million dollars prior to trial. The verdict was not appealed.
Betty Kean v. Ford Motor Company, et al, 19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, No. 541852. This case involved a head-on collision with severe injuries to Betty Kean. Plaintiff attempted to prove that the seat in the Ford F-150 was defective. The trial was handled by Robert Maxwell and Carl Giffin in December 2012. The jury rendered a unanimous defense verdict after a 7 day trial. Plaintiff blackboarded specials of $2.1 million in hard specials (which were not disputed) and total damages of $5.3 million.
James Kevin Johnson v. Mike Anderson Seafood, Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans, CDC No. 2005-11225. This matter was tried by Stephen Elliott and Mike Robertson before a jury in November 2012. The case involved a construction defect. There was a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for less than plaintiff’s last settlement demand.
Melancon v. City of New Orleans, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, No. 12-CV-01337. This is litigation involving the entire taxicab industry concerning the constitutionality of 28 City ordinances that affect the industry. A 3 day bench trial was held in the USDC. It resulted in a partial victory verdict for the industry (which we represented) and a partial victory verdict for the City of New Orleans.
Dickens v. Sagon RV Supercenter, LLC, et al, First Judicial District, Harrison County, Mississippi, No. D2401-070-1578 (trial September 2012). This case involved warranty and breach of contract claims for a recreational vehicle brought against the dealer, manufacturer and chassis manufacturer. The trial was handled by Michael W. Robertson, and the jury found our client, Workhorse Custom Chassis, LLC, free from fault as to plaintiffs' claims and Newmar Corporation's cross claim.
Aundrea Melancon v. The Hertz Corp., et al, 24th Judicial District Court, Parish of Jefferson, No. 682-311. Steve Elliott and Jeanne Mauldin took this case to trial with a Jefferson Parish jury in September 2012. The verdict was $50,000 less than plaintiff’s last demand, and the matter settled on appeal.
Joseph Burse, III v. Wade J. Mongrove, et al, 2nd Parish Court, Parish of Jefferson, No. 111-019. This case was tried by Matt Ziifle to a judge in July 2012. The court found that plaintiff was 50% at fault. Plaintiff received less than his last demand.
David Edwards, et al v. Winnebago Industries, et al, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, No. 09-826. This case concerned a product warranty claim on a 2007 Winnebago Adventurer. The case was tried by Robert Maxwell and Carl Giffin in July 2012 and a jury rendered a defense verdict.
Jeryd Zito v. Advanced Emergency Medical Services, Inc., et al, 25th Judicial District Court, Parish of Plaquemines. This case was tried to a judge resulting in a verdict for the plaintiff. The matter was appealed up to the Louisiana Supreme Court who reversed the entire trial court judgment and found plaintiff 100% at fault this past June 2012
Callie Garland v. Ford, 14th Judicial District Court, Parish of Vernon, Case No. 84,503 - This case, which was tried by Carl J. Giffin Jr. in May of 2012 to a Judge, involved a redhibition property damage loss. The trial resulted in a $52,000.00 verdict for the plaintiff. This matter was settled for less than the judgment amount.
GT Towing, Inc. v. International Truck & Engine Corp., et al, 22nd Judicial District Court, Parish of St. Tammany, No. 2007-148765. This jury trial resulted in a compromise verdict. Plaintiff received $100,000 less than his last demand. It was handled by Stephen Elliott. The case was settled after the judgment was signed.
Sharon Stevenson, et al v. Kenneth W. Branch, et al, U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana, No. 10-CV-00614. In this matter, liability was stipulated to and the damages issue was tried. The jury gave plaintiff less than her last demand. Stephen Elliott took this to trial in March of 2012.
Arthel Scheuermann v. Lafayette Insurance, Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans, No. 07-10629. Scheuermann was a business income loss claim by a plaintiff law firm resulting from Hurricane Katrina. Plaintiffs claimed approximately $2 million in additional damages plus statutory penalties. The case was tried by Howard Kaplan and David McDonald. The trial court granted a directed verdict on bad faith claims. The jury returned a defense verdict and did not award the plaintiff any additional damages.
Rigmaiden v. Hyundai Motor America, 36th JDC, Parish of Beauregard, Louisiana, No. C99-846A (trial February 2012). Two car accident involving allegedly defective airbags in a Hyundai vehicle. Plaintiff sustained serious non-fatal injuries. Trial resulted in a defense verdict. Tried by Robert Maxwell.
Whirley Walker v. Ford, City of Alexandria Court, Case No. 119,662. This matter was a redhibition property damage case which resulted in a $39,000.00 plaintiff verdict. This matter was appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeal and has subsequently been settled. Tried by Carl J. Giffin, Jr. to a Judge (February 2012).
Dawn Flores v Ford Motor Company, No. 29,309, 23rd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Assumption. Bob Maxwell and Philip Dominique obtained a defense verdict for Ford Motor Company in December of 2011 in a death case tried in State District Court in Napoleonville, La. Plaintiffs claimed that the seatbelts in a Ford Explorer were defective and caused the ejection and death of a soldier home on military leave. The jury found for Ford on all issues.
Kristina Lee Kelley, et al v. Hyundai Motor Company, et al, No. 4:09-CV-000894MM, United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, Little Rock Division. Bob Maxwell obtained a defense verdict for Hyundai Motor America in August, 2011, in a rollover/death case tried in federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas. Plaintiffs claimed a Hyundai Tiburon had defective seatbelts and airbags which resulted in the partial ejection and death of a teenager. The jury found for Hyundai on all issues.
Chiropractic Strategies Group v. Juneau Odenwald, Inc., AAA No. 69 110 00546 09. This matter involved a construction defect and was tried to an arbitrator in August 2011 with the result being a defense verdict. Carl J. Giffin, Jr. handled this matter.
Gina Wiltz, wife of/and Timothy Wiltz On behalf of their minor son, Ryan Wiltz, 24th JDC, Parish of Jefferson, No 630-138 (trial July 2011). This case involved a 1 car accident which resulted in three fatalities and one survivor, Mr. Wiltz, who is brain injured. The allegations against our insured, along with others, are that minors were able to purchase alcohol which they put into a community of alcoholic drinks at a tubing party. The matter involved multiple defendants and was tried by Stephen N. Elliott and Caroline Elliott. It resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. Our client was found 22.5% at fault.