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Areas of Emphasis
- Public-Private Sector Redevelopment
- Zoning and Land Use
- Administrative Law
- Environmental Law and Litigation
- Mass Tort Litigation
Distinctions
- President and CEO, Bureau of Governmental Research, 1999-2000
- National Excellence Award for Public Policy, Governmental Research Association, 2000
- Common Cause Legislative Leadership Award, 1990
- Volunteer of the Year for pro-bono services, Safe Harbor Women’s Shelter, 1996
- Senator, Mississippi State Senate, 1989-93
- Mayor, Bay St. Louis, 1985-89
- Mississippi Advisory Commission on Public Trust Tidelands, 1988-90
- Co-Recipient, Ted Aschman Prize, American Society of Planning Officials, 1976
Education & Honors
- Loyola University, J.D., 1993
- Loyola Law Review
- Moot Court Board
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.C.P., City Planning, 1976
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, S.B., Urban Studies, 1976
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Associations
- Mississippi Bar
- Louisiana State Bar Association
Bar Admissions
- Mississippi, 1993
- Louisiana, 1993
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Legal Experience
- Lead counsel for Louisiana Land Trust, a legislatively-chartered nonprofit charged with managing 10,000 Hurricane Katrina-damaged properties across South Louisiana and returning them to commerce.
- Led 15-member legal team representing the Regional Transit Authority in New Orleans in major effort to reorganize the agency following a change in administration, and to restructure the agency following Hurricane Katrina.
- Managed defense team defending several national clients against 21,000 plaintiffs alleging lung injury from silica dust in Mississippi litigation.
- Lead counsel for an international water treatment company in a seven-year long class action in Louisiana over drinking water quality.
- Executive management experience in public works construction, zoning, environmental regulation, employment and labor matters and economic development.
- Prepared Mississippi’s coastal zone management program, including drafting legislation, wetlands permitting and waterfront industrial development regulations.
- Martello v. City of Ferriday, 886 So.2d 645 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 2004), writ denied, 894 So.2d 1148 (La. 2005). Represented a water treatment equipment manufacturer in a long-running class action.
- Freeman v. Walley, 276 F. Supp. 2d 597 (S.D. Miss. 2003): Represented an excess insurer opposing a $4 million underlying judgment in an action removed to federal court.
- International Rivercenter v. Henry C. Beck Co., 672 So. 2d 1160 (La. App. 4 Cir.), writ denied, 675 So.2d 1083 (La. 1996); and International River Center v. Johns-Manville Sales Corporation, 861 So.2d 139 (La. 2003). Represented the general contractor in a construction dispute over a major facility in New Orleans.
- Lindy Investments, L.P. v. Shakertown Corp., 209 F.3d 802 (5th Cir. 2000): Represented the owners of four large apartment complexes in an action against the manufacturer of defective siding.
- Massey v. Decca Drilling Company, Inc., 647 So.2d 1196 (La. App. 2nd Cir, 1994), writs denied, 653 So.2d 563 and 564 (La. 1995) Represented the insurer on appeal of a $19 million jury award ($43 Million with accrued interest); secured a reduction of the award to $44,000.
Papers, Presentations, & Publications
- Overview and Status Report on the New Orleans Capital Program, Bureau of Governmental Research, October 2000; examined capital budget process of City of New Orleans.
- Privatization of Sewerage and Water Board Operations, Bureau of Governmental Research, April 2000. A report on the options and issues involved in privatizing a major urban utility system.
- Property Tax Exemption and Assessment Administration in Orleans Parish, Bureau of Governmental Research, December 1999; comprehensive examination of operations of seven Orleans Parish Tax Assessors. The report was the analytic foundation for post-Katrina reforms that abolished the archaic seven-assessor system. It won the prestigious Governmental Research Association’s National Excellence Award for Public Policy in 2000.
- The States Ante Up: An Analysis of Casino Gaming Statutes, 38 Loy. L. Rev. 1123, 1993.
- Chisom v. Roemer: The Elected Judiciary is Subject to Vote Dilution Claims Under the Voting Rights Act, 38 Loy. L. Rev. 211, 1992.
- Frequent lecturer on zoning and land use issues at professional seminars in Mississippi and Louisiana
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