Louisiana Lawyer Blog

J. Derek Aswell, jury trial results in successful client representation

May 22, 2024 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

I was fortunate and honored to represent my clients. Due to the negligence of a truck driver that failed to stop after losing a tire on Interstate 10, my client’s life changed forever, as a loose tire struck the front of his truck sending it airborne.

My client was forced to make a difficult choice that is all too common with our clients: undergo the recommended neck surgery, or continue to provide for his family while working in horrible pain. My client showed toughness and dedication by choosing the latter so that his family had financial security.

Further, my client’s treating physicians and family played a vital role in the jury’s verdict through their testimony. His doctors described in detail the severity of my client’s injuries, while his family testified how this horrible accident completely changed how my client lived his life. The dancing, dirt bike and fishing enthusiasts no longer performed those activities because of his injuries he sustained in the September 1 , 2020 accident.

Jerome Moroux obtains $23-million-dollar settlement

May 6, 2024 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Jerome H. Moroux, partner at Broussard, David & Moroux, recently obtained a $23-million-dollar settlement for personal injury claims stemming from a motorcycle accident. The settlement was one of the largest in the firm’s history, and a career high for Moroux.

The accident was caused by a delivery driver who, while driving on Interstate 49, suddenly changed lanes into the plaintiff’s motorcycle. The plaintiff was thrown nearly 250 feet before finally landing in a ditch near the highway. The plaintiff suffered numerous severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. Before trial, Moroux successfully moved the trial court to find that the defendant driver was 100% at fault in the crash.

The plaintiff’s physicians determined that he would need treatment for the rest of his life, including eventual inpatient care due to the likely progression of his brain injury. Though the defendant worked to minimize the severity of the client’s injuries, Moroux fought for his client’s treatment needs.

Where We Stand: Louisiana Updated DWI Bill to Prevent Impaired Driving

March 1, 2024 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Last Thursday, great strides were made in Louisiana towards preventing impaired drivers and ensuring better road safety in our area. Senate members unanimously approved a new bill requiring the use of ignition breathalyzers in vehicles for six months following a person’s first DWI conviction.

The Interlock devices work by requiring drivers to breathe into them in order to start the vehicle’s ignition and can detect BAC below a pre-set limit of 0.02—the equivalent to one alcoholic beverage. In Louisiana, the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is 0.8, meaning that any driver with a BAC over the limit is considered intoxicated under the law. If properly set up, the Interlock devices will prevent driving before the legal limit is reached, making it improbable to drive drunk.

According to the CDC, Ignition breathalyzers or interlock devices reduce repeat offenses by 70%.

Stay Safe as the Bons Temps Rouler

February 13, 2024 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

With the fun and exciting energy of Mardi Gras, there are far busier streets with large crowds of moving pedestrians and jam-packed traffic that can lead to terrible accidents if you are not well equipped to handle them. As experts in personal injury practice, we would like to offer our best advice to keeping yourself and others safe during the season.

Mardi Gras Safety Tips:

Stay behind barricades.

Navigating the Bar Exam: Insights from Our Team

February 8, 2024 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

As we enter the month of February, law students across the state find themselves in the final stages of preparing for the Louisiana Bar Exam. Undoubtedly, this pivotal moment marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. At Broussard, David & Moroux, we understand the weight of this challenge and are committed to supporting aspiring lawyers on their journey to success.

We have reached out to our experienced attorneys for their invaluable insights. Below are five of the most important tips from our expert attorneys at Broussard, David & Moroux aimed at providing you with the confidence and preparation needed to conquer the Bar Exam. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the collective wisdom of our legal team.

Tips for Bar Exam Success:

Founding Partner Richard C. Broussard Celebrates 50th Year of Practicing Law

January 30, 2024 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of practicing law for one of Broussard, David & Moroux’s founding partners, Richard C. Broussard.

Broussard graduated from law school at LSU in 1974, and he has spent 50 years tirelessly engaged as a trail lawyer working to repair the harms and losses to good people injured by no fault of their own. He is a past president of the Lafayette Bar Association, and he was chosen by the Louisiana State Bar Association to receive its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Broussard was certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is the current Chairman of the Aviation Section for the Louisiana Association for Justice. He also served as the city judge in Youngsville for 20 years.

Broussard and Blake R. David formed the firm of Broussard & David in 2003 with a focus on personal injury. Together, they built a reputation of professionalism and gained respect from others in the area. In the last year, the firm rebranded and changed its name to add longtime partner Jerome Moroux, added five attorneys and expanded to Covington and New Orleans.

Our Guide to Safe Driving This Season

December 21, 2023 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

Our firm stands firmly as an advocate against impaired driving to keep our friends and family out of harm’s way. We are proud to have partnered with KLFY, a local news station, to bring safety tips to you as a reminder to be aware of your surroundings and keep help keep you and your family safe.

According to the CDC, more than 10,000 people in the United States die each year in crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Though a devastatingly high statistic, dedicated efforts have helped to bring that number down significantly since 1980.

December is National Drunk Driving Prevention month, so we have utilized our platform on KLFY to remind you of ways to stay safe throughout the year using some basic tips.

National School Bus Safety Week

October 24, 2023 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

The third week of October is National School Bus Safety Week. Every year, communities across the country gather to bring light to school bus safety. The National School Bus Safety Week reminds students, parents, teachers, and the community to keep school bus safety at the forefront of our priorities. While the initiative started as a letter-writing campaign to President Nixon in 1969, it has evolved into an impactful national movement for school bus safety.

Broussard, David & Moroux desires to bring that same impact into our local Louisiana communities because every student deserves the right to safe transportation. The KLFY News 10 Safety Tips, which reminds the community of measures we can all take for school bus safety and general road awareness, is sponsored by Broussard, David & Moroux.

In light of the 2023 National School Bus Safety Week, it is especially important to remember these safety tips while driving around school buses:

40 Car Pile Up on I-55

October 24, 2023 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A massive chain reaction car crash on I-55 early Monday morning last left 2 dead, 30 people injured, and over 100 people stranded on the interstate. There was a total of 25 crashes in three different areas of 1-55. Involved in the crash were three 18-wheelers, two of which were fully engulfed in flames. Because of the massive pile up, deputies had to run along the roadway just to get to the crash sites.

The crashes occurred due to extremely dense fog. In light of this incident, here are a few tips to keep in mind when traveling in foggy conditions:

Use headlights if you are unable to see 500 feet in front of you

Are You Covered by the Jones Act?

August 23, 2023 | by Broussard, David & Moroux

A person can suffer injuries just about anywhere. However, if you suffer injuries while performing work, you may be entitled to (or restricted to) certain forms of recovery depending on where those injuries occur and your relationship with the location. For example, a person who is injured as a result of work they are performing may be limited to recovery under the Worker’s Compensation Act. The same is true for a person who is injured on the high seas.

When a seaman suffers personal injury or death while on a vessel, the Jones Act provides an expansive remedy for him. The Act mandates that “any seaman who shall suffer personal injury in the court of his employment may, at his election, maintain an action for damages at law.” However, coverage under the Jones Act is dependent on one thing: whether or not the employee constitutes as a “seaman.” Unfortunately, because the Act does not directly define who qualifies as a “seaman,” it is often difficult to know whether you meet the requirements of a Jones Act seaman.

In order to qualify as a Jones Act seaman, one must show: (1) the employees duties contribute to the function of the vessel or to the accomplishment of its mission; and (2) there is a connection to a vessel in navigation that is substantial in terms of both duration and its nature.