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
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, Product Liability Litigation-Defense
- 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