News & Knowledge

As a follow up from our April 2017 post regarding a pro bono asylum case, Louisiana Super Lawyers magazine published a story in the January 2018 issue featuring Michelle Roy’s work on this case. April 2017: Tim Gray and Michelle Roy of our New Orleans office represented a client, a minor, who fled from Guatemala to the United States with her family in 2015 to escape gang violence and political persecution. The firm sought permanent status for this client as a “Special Juvenile Immigrant” and as a member of a persecuted class entitled to asylum. The firm accepted this pro bono representation through a program sponsored by the Catholic Charities which matches volunteer lawyers with undocumented juvenile children in Louisiana. The firm continues to represent other undocumented minors through this program. We are honored for the featured publication on Michelle’s dedication to this case, you can read the full issue by clicking here. Or read her article here:  

Charles Abbott and Byron Kitchens undertook representation of a national power tools manufacturer in July 2017 in claims arising out of a residential fire in Orleans Parish, Louisiana in which the homeowner’s insurer claimed losses of nearly $700,000.00, casting allegations of sole fault for the loss upon the power tool manufacturer, claiming its product was defective under the Louisiana Products Liability Act. Partnering with attorneys from Lightfoot, Franklin & White, our team quickly removed the lawsuit from the Civil District Court of Orleans Parish to the United States Eastern District of Louisiana.  Within two weeks of removal, the Plaintiff-Insurer transmitted a settlement offer. Assessing the evidence, or more particularly lack thereof, the defense counter-offer was simply an opportunity for the Plaintiff-Insurer to dismiss its case with prejudice.  A week later, the Plaintiff-Insurer accepted the “offer” and agreed to dismiss its case with prejudice.

Congratulations to Charles Abbott selected as a “2017 Top Lawyer” by New Orleans Magazine. Charles was recognized as a top lawyer in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions.

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is pleased to announce the additions of Spencer Ritchie and Sampada “Sam” Kapoor to our Jackson office along with Chelsea Gaudin in our New Orleans office.

Byron Kitchens argued before the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, seeking dismissal of a corporate Third Party Defendant. In the case, a non-resident alleged occupational and non-occupational exposure to asbestos.

Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP is pleased to announce Charles Abbott, Byron Kitchens and Amy Maccherone have joined the New Orleans office as Partners. Our three new partners and their legal team join the firm from Cotten Schmidt & Abbott also in New Orleans. The team brings with them over three decades of combined litigation expertise with national experience focus in Commercial Litigation, Premises Liability and Product Liability.

Forman Watkins is proud to have Michael Abraham, Erin Latuso, Michelle Roy, and Etienne Rene join our firm in the New Orleans office.