LEADERSHIP IN LAW HALL OF FAME

John Houghtaling and James Williams (pictured below with Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Bernette Johnson) were inducted into New Orleans CityBusiness’s Leadership in Law Hall of Fame for winning the award in consecutive years. read more»

IN THE NEWS
Ohio Supreme Court confirms that Prevailing Wage Law only applies to work performed on the site of Public Improvement Project
1981 MGM Fire
$170 million recovered for families of 85 people killed in a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, the second largest loss-of-life fire in U.S. history.
1982 Pan Am Flight 759
$13 million recovered for 3 families whose loved ones were killed when a Pan Am jet crashed into a New Orleans neighborhood.
1987 Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire
The Gauthier firm recovered $220 million in a class action lawsuit filed by the families of 96 victims who died in a fire at the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico.
1997 New Orleans Fair Grounds Fire
$57 million settlement after fire destroys the historic New Orleans Fair Grounds
1997 Catalyst Technologies v. Electec, Inc.
$346 million verdict in this breach of contract, lost profits case involving a failure to transfer computer software rights.
1997 New Orleans Train Car Fire
$3.365 billion verdict after a 1987 tank car explodes in New Orleans neighborhood.
2001 Castano Tobacco
$246 billion settlement. Groundbreaking litigation filed against several tobacco companies. Wendell Gauthier discovered documents exposing a corporate coverup of nicotine’s addictive potential. It paved the way for the landmark $246 billion settlement with the states in 1998.
2003 Intracoastal Tubular Company
$12 million for ground contamination
2004 $4.7 Auto Accident
$4.7 million recovered in auto accident when drunk driver’s negligence resulted in the death of four family members.
2004 Wrongful Death
$7 million recovered for a client severely injured in an industrial explosion.
2006 Products liability
$1.1 million products liability case. A small child severely injured his reproductive organs while riding a bicycle in which the brakes failed.
2006 Products Liability / Medical Malpractice
A products liability/medical malpractice case involving the product Intergel, a surgical adhesive which was later learned to cause severe tumors and cysts in females.
2007 Katrina Commercial Property
$75 million in settlements. The firm represented individual Katrina victims and numerous commercial settlements including $26.2 million in insurance proceeds for a Metairie high-rise Plaza) and $7.4 million for an office building in downtown New Orleans.
2007 18-Wheeler Fatal Accident
$900,000 recovered for the family of a 55 year old man who was burned to death when an 18 wheeler collided with his vehicle.
2008 Catastrophic Personal Injury
$1 million recovery for a 17 year-old boy who sustained paralyzing injuries during a high school football game.
1981 MGM Grand Hotel Fire
$170 million
1982 Pan Am Flight 759
$13 million
1987 Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire
$220 million
1997 New Orleans Fair Grounds Fire
$57 million
1997 Catalyst Technologies v. Electec, Inc.
$346 million
1997 New Orleans Train Car Leakage Fire
$3.356 billion
2001 Castano Tobacco
$246 billion
2003 Intracoastal Tubular Company
$12 million
2004 Wrongful Death
$4.7 million
2004 Industrial Explosion
$7 million
2006 Products Liability
$1.1 million
2006 Intergel
2007 Katrina Commercial Property
$75 million
2007 18-Wheeler Fatal Accident
$900,000
2008 Catastrophic Personal Injury
$1 million