PROFILE

David is an experienced litigator in a wide variety of personal injury and property damage claims in the areas of products liability, environmental, and asbestos, silica, benzene and other toxic tort exposures. In addition to serving as trial counsel, David manages a significant docket of multi-party cases involving complex issues related to occupational disease and manufacturer, supplier and premises liability. In this role, he employs a disciplined methodology, including the strategic planning and execution of the defense of a large docket of toxic tort cases, to achieve the best result for clients. This includes prioritizing and executing the defense of cases in a fast-moving, high-pressure and high stakes environment while managing a large team of attorneys and support staff.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Complex Litigation
• Pharmaceutical & Medical Device
• Products Liability
• Insurance
• Casualty
• Environmental & Toxic Tort
• Premises Liability
• Asbestos
• Trials
• Science & Experts

Representative Matters / Experience

• Asbestos Litigation: Louisiana Coordinating and Trial Counsel
• Welding Rod Litigation: Louisiana Trial Counsel
• Wood Destroying Organisms: Regional Counsel
• Insecticides: Louisiana Trial Counsel
• Termiticides: Louisiana Trial Counsel

Honors

• Best Lawyers in America: Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation-Defense (2020-2022)
• Louisiana Super Lawyers, Personal Injury Products: Defense
• CityBusiness Leadership in Law, 2013
• Certified Litigation Management Professional, Litigation Management Institute
• New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers
• AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell rating

AFFILIATIONS

• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
• New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel
• Defense Research Institute, Medicare Secondary Payer Task Force
• Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
• Federal Bar Association
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• Texas Bar Association
• New Orleans Bar Association
• Jefferson Parish Bar Association
• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys

EDUCATION

• J.D., Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center (1994)
• B.A., Louisiana State University (1990)

ADMISSIONS

• Louisiana and Texas state courts
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana

Military Service

• Louisiana Army National Guard, 1986-1992

Community

• Habitat For Humanity
• Trustee, Estate of Thomy Lafon
• Catholic Charities

Publications and Presentations

• Airing Asbestos Litigation’s Dirty Laundry
  DRI For the Defense April 2016
• Medicare and Other Lien Resolution in Complex Litigation
  New Orleans Bar Association CLE March 23, 2016
• Medicare Secondary Payer: Case Law Update
  DRI Webcast February 26, 2016
• What Are… Medicare and Medicaid Secondary Payer Laws?
  ABA Book Publishing 2016
• Health Insurance Liens in Liability Actions and Complex Litigation
  New Orleans Bar Association Procrastinator's Program December 29, 2015
• Contributor: Defense Practitioner’s Guide to Medicare Secondary Payer Issues
  Defense Research Institute 2015
• Reimbursement Rights of Medicare Advantage Organizations
  DRI For the Defense May 2014
• The Ethical Use of Social Media and ESI Evidence in Litigation Defense
  Pfizer PLACE Presentation May 13, 2014
• The Collateral Source Rule and Gratuitous Payments or Services
  David M. Melancon & Kelly E. Brilleaux, DRI For the Defense, November 2012
• Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Recoveries, Rx for the Defense
  DRI Drug and Medical Device Committee July 2012
• Practical Considerations: Mediating a Case Involving a Medicare Beneficiary
  DRI For the Defense June 2012
• Pre-Service Removal Exception to the Forum Defendant Rule Post Amendment of the Federal Jurisdiction
  IADC Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee March 2012
• The Basics of Termite Contractor Liability
  Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry AES Inspector Training, Grant Walker 4-H Education Center, Pollack, LA February 29, 2012
• Best Practices for Compliance with the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Statute
  Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act (MMSEA), CLE Presented by the New Orleans Bar Association, New Orleans, Louisiana May 14, 2010
• Claims Handling Presentations (multiple)
  Louisiana Pest Control Association