Leads the Land Use and Zoning practice for the City of New Orleans. Supervises state litigation and appeals challenging ordinances, policies, and decisions related to zoning, historic preservation, building codes, and blight. Represents the City before the Board of Zoning Adjustments, Code Enforcement and Hearings Bureau, Short Term Rental divisions, the Vieux Carré Commission, and the New Orleans City Council. Conducts successful oral arguments before the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal and the Louisiana State Supreme Court.
Practiced across a wide range of litigation areas under multiple mayoral administrations, including general litigation, employment and labor civil service disputes, traffic camera litigation, administrative appeals, and zoning and land-use Board of Zoning Appeals matters. Conducted extensive negotiations and settlements. Represented Appointing Authorities in Civil Service matters, including high-profile disciplinary actions within all City departments and NOPD Training Academy. Served as an Administrative Hearing Officer in Health Violation and Chapter 28 Blighted Property Hearings.
Summarized and researched the law for all civil cases presented to the judge. Researched motions, reviewed trial transcripts, and drafted bench memoranda. Provided legal recommendations after attending pre-trial conferences, hearings, and trials. Drafted civil and criminal judgments and orders, prepared jury instructions and charges, and assisted with Post-Conviction Death Penalty research and writing.
Drafted pleadings, conducted research, and responded to and propounded discovery for a commercial and class action litigation practice focused on personal injury, products liability, and commercial contract disputes.
Conducted legal research related to motions, reviewed trial transcripts, drafted bench memoranda, and summarized appellate briefs. Provided legal recommendations after attending oral arguments.
Successfully argued before the Louisiana Supreme Court, reversing the district court and upholding the constitutionality of the City's Gallonage Tax on dealers of high alcoholic content beverages under City Code Secs. 10-501 and 10-511.
Fourth Circuit reversed the district court after oral argument, finding the district court erroneously shifted the burden to the City Council and improperly found the Council's decision was arbitrary and capricious. The Court denied the plaintiff's request to overturn the Council's decision denying rezoning of split-zoned properties from residential to commercial.
Successfully argued the City's exceptions of insufficiency of service and citation at the district court level, upheld and then reversed in favor of the City by the Fourth Circuit after oral argument. The appellate court found the matter was prescribed on its face and upheld the hospital's multimillion-dollar renovations, including a helicopter landing pad. Plaintiffs' writ to the Louisiana Supreme Court was not considered.
Successfully defended against a Petition for Writ of Mandamus granted by the district court. The Fourth Circuit reversed after oral argument, upholding the New Orleans City Council's decision to deny a conditional use permit for an ice cream parlor.