Did your father or spouse work at the Avondale Shipyard? While they were building the vessels that powered our nation, they may have unknowingly brought a deadly passenger home. Mesothelioma isn’t just a ‘worker’s disease’; it is a family tragedy caused by ‘take-home’ asbestos fibers. The landmark ruling in the Legendre case proves that Louisiana
For decades, Louisiana refinery workers were told that their health was a priority, even as they handled toxic chemicals like benzene every day. But when these workers are diagnosed with leukemia, corporations like Exxon often try to hide behind the ‘Workers’ Comp Bar’ to limit their liability. At the Berniard Law Firm, we utilize the
You filed your mesothelioma lawsuit in your home parish, expecting a local trial. Suddenly, you receive notice that the case has been ‘Removed’ to a U.S. Federal Court hundreds of miles away. This isn’t just a change of scenery; it is a calculated legal maneuver by industrial corporations to change the rules of the game.
If you worked as an electrician at a Dow Chemical plant or a South Louisiana shipyard, you were likely exposed to toxic asbestos for years. When victims like Sidney Mabile, Sr. file lawsuits to hold these companies accountable, the legal battle often turns into a ‘blame game’ between big corporations and their insurance companies. These
For years, workers at the Placid Oil Facility in Natchitoches unknowingly brought home a silent killer on their work clothes: asbestos dust. In a heartbreaking Louisiana case, Myra Williams was diagnosed with incurable mesothelioma simply from handling and washing her husband’s laundry. If your family has been devastated by ‘take-home’ asbestos exposure, understanding how Louisiana
For decades, industrial workers in Marrero, Louisiana, relied on American Optical respirators to protect them from toxic asbestos dust. Tragically, many of these safety products were defective, leading to thousands of cases of asbestos-related lung cancer. If you or a loved one used these respirators between 1956 and 1970, you may have a claim—but a
If you or a loved one worked at the Huntington Ingalls Shipyard (Avondale) and were exposed to asbestos, you may find your lawsuit suddenly ‘removed’ from Louisiana state court to federal court. This isn’t an accident—it’s a calculated legal move by major corporations. In the case of James Latiolais, Huntington Ingalls used a specific federal
If you or a loved one worked at the Exxon refinery in Baton Rouge, you know the reality of the toxic environment there. For years, asbestos was everywhere. When workers get sick today, Exxon’s first move is usually to claim ‘immunity’ under the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Act. However, a recent case involving a long-time Exxon
For generations, the sugar mills of Pointe Coupee Parish, including the Alma Plantation, were the lifeblood of the local economy. But behind the scenes, many of these facilities used massive amounts of asbestos insulation on boilers, pipes, and turbines. If you worked in a Louisiana sugar mill and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may
If you or a loved one served as a merchant mariner on U.S. Navy vessels, you likely lived and worked in a cloud of toxic asbestos dust. When these workers get sick, big contractors often try to hide behind the ‘Federal Officer Removal Statute’ to drag the case into federal court. But a recent
Jeffrey Berniard is a specialized injury attorney with over 21 years of experience fighting for Louisiana families.