Name: Suzette Peychaud Bagneris
Item: Suzette Peychaud Bagneris
Author: sbagneris

Bio

Suzette Bagneris

THE BAGNERIS FIRM, LLC

1929 Jackson Avenue

New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

Telephone: 504-810-3995

Facsimile: 504-336-2198

Email: sbagneris@bagnerislawfirm.com

Website: www.bagnerislawfirm.com

EDUCATION

St. Frances Cabrini Elementary School (Graduated 1982)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Ursuline Academy (Graduated 1986)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Loyola University (Graduated 1990)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Double Major: English/Communications

Triple Minors: Writing, Psychology and Religious Studies

Honors: Magna Cum Laude, Louis J. Twomey Scholarship, Dean’s List 1987-1990, National Jesuit Honor Society, Cardinal Key, Faye B. Bryant Academic Scholarship, Sigma Tau Delta Honor Society

Loyola Law School, Juris Doctor (Graduated 1993)

New Orleans, Louisiana

Full Academic Scholarship

Honors: Recipient of Levy Award for Academic Excellence from Loyola Law School

(1990); 1st Place in Oral Advocacy, National Frederick Douglas Moot Court Competition

held in Atlanta, Georgia (1993)

BAR ADMISSION

Admitted to Louisiana State Bar, October 1993

ADMISSIONS TO PRACTICE

Louisiana State Bar, Louisiana State Bar No. 22241 (October 8, 1993)

USDC, Eastern District of Louisiana (August 31, 1994)

USDC, Southern District of Texas (December 27, 1995)

USDC, Western District of Louisiana (April 13, 1998)

Supreme Court of the United States of America (August 10, 2001)

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

The Bagneris Firm, L.L.C., (Jan. 2004 to present)

Job Position: Partner/Owner

Heaven’s Gate Realty, LLC (Jan. 2007 to present)

Job Position: Partner/Owner

Bagneris & LaFonta, LLC (2002-Dec. 2003)

Job Position: Partner/Owner

Harvey, Jacobson & Glago (July 1, 2002)

Job Position: Partner

Murray Law Firm (April 1999 to July 1, 2002)

Job Position: Associate

Fine & Associates, PLC (Feb. 1995 to April 1999)

Job Position: Associate

Law Office of Glyn J. Godwin (Oct. 1993 to Feb. 1995)

Job Position: Associate

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Louisiana State Bar Association

National Bar Association

Louis A. Martinet Society

Louisiana Association of Justice

American Association of Justice

New Orleans Real Estate Investors Association

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Form

ADDITIONAL HONORS & ACHIEVEMENTS

2000 - Gambit Weekly’s “40 Under 40" Honoree

2002 - Kingfish Magazin, “Women At Law: top female attorneys and leaders in the Industry, who are making a name for themselves both in the legal world and in their community.”

2006 - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc./Rho Pi Omega Chapter Leadership Award

2007 - Times Picayune endorsement for judicial office (2007)

Since 2015 – Member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

2021 – Finalist for the National Bar Association’s Hidden Figure Award that recognizes a woman lawyer who may be described as a hidden figure because of her significant contributions to the legal profession that are not widely known. A nominee had to meet one of the following criteria:Dared to be first and broke barriers or new ground; Showed resilience to change the projections of her success, or the success of others; Removed obstacles to aid in pursuing her career goals or the goals of others; or Used her privilege or power to empower another lawyer.

AREAS OF LEGAL PRACTICE

Litigation based practice: Class Actions and Complex Litigation, Personal Injury, Mass Tort Cases, Toxic Exposure, Wrongful Death/Survival Actions, Trucking Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability, Slip & Fall, Premises Liability, Automobile Accidents

NOTABLE CLASS ACTION AND MASS TORT LITIGATION EXPERIENCE

I have successfully tried three (3) class action cases as Lead Trial Counsel. I have also participated in the trial of one (1) environmental mass consolidation tort case. I have frequently lectured on class action litigation and trial practice for the Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association and Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. I have also taught skills courses on class action litigation at Loyola Law School. I have experience in the following class action/mass tort disaster matters:

Elias Membrano, et al. v. 1031 Canal Investments, LLC, et al, and consolidated cases, Orleans Parish, Civil Action No. 2019-10819, Div. L-6 [Case pending class certification of economic loss claims and consolidation for discovery of bodily injury claims for the Hard Rock Hotel Collapse in New Orleans; Involvement – 1 of 11 Attorneys Appointed to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee

Eric Lassair, et al. v. City of New Orleans, et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Civil Action No. 2:19-cv-11377 [Case pending class certification involving a Gert Town community exposed to Radium-226]; Involvement – Lead Counsel

Joshua Akeem, et al. v. Dasmen Residential, LLC, et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Civil Action No.2:19-cv-13650 [Case pending class certification involving claims of negligence and strict liability brought by residents of an apartment complex for personal injuries and other damages due to water intrusion and mold]; Involvement – Lead Counsel

Darnette Daniels, et al. v. State of Louisiana, et al., Orleans Parish, Civil Action No. 2019-6895, Division “G” [Case pending class certification involving educational mismanagement of John F. Kennedy High School that resulted in seniors ineligibility to graduate, loss of scholarships and educational opportunities]; Involvement Lead Trial Counsel

Eddy Oliver, et al. v. The Orleans Parish School Board, et al., Orleans Parish, Civil Action No.05-12244 [Class Action lawsuit involving the wrongful termination of all Orleans Parish School Board members in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; Involvement – Lead Trial Counsel

John Johnson, et al v. The Orleans Parish School Board, et al, Orleans Parish, Civil Action No. 93-14333 [Class Action lawsuit involving neighborhood in New Orleans, LA. Built atop a former toxic waste dump that was designated as a Superfund site by the U.S. EPA; Involvement: Class Counsel; Co-Lead Trial Counsel

In re Chemical Release at Bogalusa, 22nd JDC, Parish of Washington, No. 73,341, [ClassAction involving a release of nitrogen textroxide at the Gaylord Chemical Plant in Bogalusa, Louisiana, in October of 1995; Involvement: Class Counsel]; Settled with class (Value of Settlement: $160 million).

Mary Self versus Illinois Central Railroad, Co., USDC, Eastern District of La., No. 96-CV- 4141 [Class Action involving a train derailment in Kentwood, Louisiana, in December of 1995; tried to verdict for plaintiffs; Involvement: Class Counsel, Liaison Counsel, Lead Trial Counsel]; Judgment for plaintiffs (Value: $3 million).

Casey Billieson versus Housing Authority of New Orleans, Civil District Court, Parish of

Orleans, No. 94-19231 [Class Action involving lead poisoning of children from paint in properties owned and operated by the Housing Authority of New Orleans; Involvement: Class Counsel] (Settled for $65 million dollars – lead negotiator)

Terri Davis, et al. v. American Home Products Corporation, Civil District Court, Parish of Orleans, [Class Action involving the Norplant Birth Control Device; Involvement: Associate of Stephen B. Murray, Class Counsel – responsible for pre-class certification discovery and selecting class representatives] (Settled)

Gail Clement, et al. v. Occidental Chemical Corporation, et al., Parish of St. Charles, 29th Judicial District Court, Div. "E", No. 42,624 [Class Action involving chemical plant release; Involvement: Associate of Stephen B. Murray, Class Counsel – responsible for disbursement of settlement proceeds to class and working at claims office] (Settled)

Erin Elizabeth Boh, et al. v. James Industrial Contractors, et al., Orleans Parish, Civil

Action No. 2000-6995, Division “J” [Mass consolidation involving property damages;

Involvement: Associate of Stephen B. Murray, Class Counsel – responsible for

disbursement of settlement proceeds to class and working at claims office] (Settled)

Dianne Castano, et al. vs. The American Tobacco Company, et al., Orleans Parish, Civil

Action No. 96-8461 [Class Action involving injury claims against Tobacco companies;

Involvement: Associate of Stephen B. Murray, Class Counsel – responsible for various research and writing assignments and attendance of PLC meetings in Mr. Murray’s absence] (Settled)

Lois Adams, et al. vs. Marathon Oil Company, et al., St. John the Baptist Parish, Civil

Action No. 29,843 c/w 29, 863, 29,857, Division “C” [Class Action involving injury

claims against Tobacco companies; Involvement: Associate of Stephen B. Murray, Class Counsel – responsible for settlement disbursement to class members] (Settled)

In re: New Orleans Train Car Leak and Fire Litigation, Orleans Parish, Civil Action No.

87-16374 [Class Action Litigation involving tank car leak in Gentilly; Involvement:

Associate at Fine & Associates – responsible for managing individual claims] (Settled)

Mavie M. Aikens, et al. v. Chemi-Trol Chemical Co., et al., 22nd Judicial District Court

for the Parish of Washington, Civil Action No. 69828 c/w 69837 and other matters [Environmental Mass Tort Action tried in Washington Parish in August 1996]

MEDIA PERSONALITY:

Suzette is a weekly co-host on WBOK Radio where she discusses issues affecting our community.

OTHER BUSINESSES:

Suzette is the co-owner of Heaven’s Gate Realty, LLC and StartUP Nola, LLC

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Skills course lecturer at Loyola University School of Law in courses related to trial

practice and class action

Continuing Legal Education Lecturer for attorneys and judges sponsored by the Louis A.

Martinet Society, New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association and

National Business Institute

Suzette Peychaud Bagneris

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