Current Litigation

Trial lawyers serving clients in Louisiana and nationwide

The New Orleans law firm of Smith Stag, LLC represents clients in mass tort and class action lawsuits. The current investigations, mass tort and on-going class actions our firm is pursuing are as follows:

BP  Oil Spill

If you have been affected by the BP Oil Spill visit this page for more information or contact Smith Stag Attorneys at Law to discuss your case.

Toxic Exposure

Pipeyard Worker Litigation: We currently represent pipe yard workers who contracted cancer as a result of their exposure to radioactive scale at several pipe yards throughout Louisiana and Texas. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality issued a notification concerning a potential health hazard associated with handling pipes used in oil and gas production that may be contaminated with radioactive scale from naturally-occurring radioactive materials (NORM).  Cancers caused by this exposure include but are not limited to lung, brain, sinus, thyroid, bone, leukemia, lymphoma, and others.

Oilfield Worker Litigation:   The firm currently represents workers who were exposed to hazardous and toxic materials including radioactive scale, while working at oil and gas production rigs on both on and offshore.  Many of these workers contracted cancer and other diseases from this exposure.

Asbestos Exposure Litigation: We are accepting claims by workers who suffer mesothelioma and lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos.

Refinery Exposures: The firm currently represents former workers at the Alliance Refinery in Plaquemines Parish for claims related to toxic exposure at this refinery.  This includes claims of toxic encepholopathy and other neurologic injury.

West Virgina Rawls Sales and Processing: This litigation concerns the improper disposal of coal sludge by pumping it into abandoned coal mine shafts.  This resulted in the contamination of ground water being used by the local residents.  We represent residents that claim injury as a result of bathing and drinking contaminated well water.

Please review this article www.washingtonpost.com/business/ap-newsbreak-letter-reveals-massey-offering-35m-to-settle-coal-slurry-lawsuit-in-wva

Phosphate Barge Litigation: The firm represents phosphate barge workers who were exposed to radiation while shipping phosphate rock and coal aboard barges between Florida and Texas.  These radiationexposures are known to cause various forms of cancer.

Property Damage

Lakeshore Estates Concrete Crushing Case: Smith Stag represents more than 60 property owners in the Lakeshore Estates Subdivision, which is located in Slidell, Louisiana. Residents of Lakeshore Village PUD, Pirate's harbor Sudivision, Treasure Isle Subdivision, Rigolets Estate Subdivision, and the Salt Bayou Area allege that an illegal concrete dump and crushing operation of the old Twin Spans, which was was the previous I-10 bridge that was heavily damaged as a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, is threatening their property values, and harming the well-being of their families.

For more information click here, and for the latest news click here.

Erath, LA Oil Spill: Suit has been filed on behalf of numerous landowners against several tank and pipeline facilities, which leaked crude oil following Hurricane Rita, causing damages to homes and property.

Henry Hub Litigation: The firm represents numerous owners of property who claim environmental damages as a result of oil and gas exploration and processing activities in and around the Henry Hub.   The Henry Hub is an important site as the price point for natural gas as listed by the Chicago Board of Trade.  Many of these lands have been owned by the family for centuries and passed down from generation to generation.  The surface and groundwater has been extensively contaminated.

Arkansas NORM Property Damage: We represent several land owners in Arkansas related to damages caused by oil and gas exploration and production.  This includes surface damages from the creation of pits oilfield sludge contained therein.  Radioactive materials brought to the surface of the property and pollution of the ground water.

Gas Well Blow Out Litigation: We represent owners of property contaminated as a result of an oil and gas well blow out.  The blow out also killed several rig workers.

Hydrofracking Litigation: This litigation concerns groundwater and surface contamination caused by the process of hydrofracking.  This is a gas extraction method that employs the pumping of chemicals underground to fracture the rock formations causing the release of gas trapped within the rock.  We currently accept claims by property owners who suffer damages caused by this pollution.

Product Liability

Avandia Litigation: We represent individuals who suffered heart attacks and strokes as a result of taking the medication Avandia which the FDA deemed to be unsafe.

Artificial Hip Litigation: We represent individuals who are experiencing failures in their artificial hips which often requires that the help be surgically removed and replaced.  Many metal on metal artificial hips are defective and have been recalled by the manufacturers.

Business Litigation 

Royalty Interest Litigation: We represent numerous royalty owners who have either been underpaid or have had their royalties misappropriated by oil companies.  Often oil and gas mineral leases provide that the lease lapses if production ceases for a certain period of time.  We represent clients who are owed additional mineral royalties due to a lapse in the mineral lease by failing to produce oil and gas within the time required by the lease.  We also represent landowners in disputes with oil companies about the ownership of royalties.