Products Liability
Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
Employment Practices Liability
Professional Negligence and Nursing Home Litigation
Environmental and Toxic Tort Litigation
Construction Litigation
We have had years of experience and have defended claims involving insurers, their insureds, self-insured retention programs and self-insured entities from claims arising in automobile law, including uninsured and underinsured motorists actions for catastrophic injury and wrongful death. We handle a broad variety of commercial and personal lines claims in the areas of product liability; asbestosis, silicosis, mold, sick building syndrome; professional liability; state and federal workers’ compensation; Jones Act; property damage claims; premises liability claims which include negligent security, physical or sexual assault and misconduct by a third person on the insured’s property; accidents in store aisles, sidewalks, and parking lots. We handle business litigation for breach of contract. In addition, we litigate homeowner claims, including slip and fall accidents, animal liability, and mold among many other examples of negligence defense litigation.
The Juge, Napolitano firm has represented various manufacturers in product liability claims including:
• Manufacturer of a lawn mower for claims of negligence in design and manufacture
• Defense of a manufacturer of lighting fixtures
• Defense of manufacturers of propane heaters
• Defense of manufacturers and distributors of gas and electric ovens
• Defense of manufacturers of truck tires
INSURANCE COVERAGE AND BAD FAITH
In our 27 years of experience in representing the insurance industry in coverage interpretation and actions, Juge, Napolitano has provided representation of insurers in bad faith claims. We have litigated and negotiated claims involving additionally insured, indemnity and contract issues, deductibles, self-insured retentions and other provisions. We have provided coverage opinions on issues ranging from policy language interpretation to the duty to insure and defend.
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY
We have extensive experience in defending employers and insurers for claims of wrongful termination, age, race, Title VII harassment and discrimination claims, sexual harassment, retaliation claims; hostile workplace allegations; issues with covenants not to compete; confidentiality issues; and contract negotiations and disputes. We also handle FLSA claims; wrongful termination. We have consulted with numerous smaller companies on policy and procedure manuals, hiring and firing advice, compliance with FMLA, FLSA, ADA, Title VII, necessary HR training on discrimination, harassment, and complaint procedures. We have also responded to EEOC and NLRB complaints and investigations, and representing employers before NLRB on unfair labor practice claims.
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE AND NURSING HOME LITIGATION
We represent various professionals in professional negligence/malpractice claims. We assist nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers and continuing care providers in claims involving abuse or neglect, dehydration, deprivation of rights, fracture or other injuries, inadequate supervision or staffing, intentional misconduct, malnutrition, medical malpractice, medication errors, negligence, ulcers and wrongful death. Our experience includes representing hospitals, physicians and practice groups in all types of medical malpractice claims, from Medical Review Panel through trial and appeals.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOXIC TORT LITIGATION
Our experience in environmental claims includes individual and mass toxic tort matters, asbestos, silicosis, mold, sick building syndrome, military hazardous chemical claims, ground water and subsurface water contamination claims, property damage and business losses, air emissions, explosion or catastrophic failure, and chlorine leaks. We have extensive experience representing companies in the petrol-chemical industry, including Shell Oil, Shell Chemical LLC, Cajun Constructors, Brand Scaffolding, and Kellogg, Brown & Root.
Juge, Napolitano was lead counsel for Shell Chemical in a claim involving multiple plaintiffs exposed to phenol. The case resulted in eight decisions by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal and four decisions by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Juge Napolitano led a team of lawyers in a case involving insurance and contact issues, as well as, the defense of the underlying damages claim.
We have experience in representation of owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and homeowners in construction litigation matters. We have experience in handling cases involving construction site falls, framing, roofing, design, water intrusion, differential settlement issues, crane accidents, scaffolding accidents, workers injured in the operation of equipment, concrete and foundation defects, mold and moisture issues.