Bert Cass, Jr.: Representative Works

Jones Act Personal Injury Defense

Mr. Cass and Mr. Hale obtained a defense judgment in a Jones Act case in which their client was sued for damages due to a severe hand injury requiring seven surgeries. The plaintiff, a tugboat captain, injured his right hand when he slipped and fell aboard the defendant's vessel. He claimed that his accident was caused because his employer was negligent and the vessel unseaworthy; however, Mr. Cass and Mr. Hale argued that the accident was the plaintiff's sole fault. The judge agreed with the defense and the plaintiff was denied any damages.
Amos Chauvin v. Antill Pipeline Construction Company, et al., USDC EDLA #09-5923 "K" (2).

Jones Act Personal Injury Defense

Mr. Cass and Mr. Hale obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Transocean, owner of the Deepwater Horizon drill ship, in March 2010. The plaintiff claimed to have been seriously injured while climbing an allegedly defective ladder aboard the drill ship and sued Transocean for damages under general maritime law and his employer under the Jones Act. Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles obtained a summary judgment dismissal of the Jones Act claim. The damages case was tried in Plaquemine Parish against Transocean, where the defense team of Mr. Cass and Mr. Hale convinced the court that Transocean was free of fault and the suit was dismissed with prejudice.
Jerry Hankins v Preheat Inc and Transocean Deepwater Drilling Inc., 25th Judicial Court for the Parish of Plaquemines, No. 54,965, Div A.

Personal Injury

Mr. Cass obtained a defense verdict for his client, a general contractor, who was being sued for millions in a serious personal injury suit. The sheet metal worker plaintiff alleged that the contractor had improperly placed and installed a safety gate, which he was opening from atop a ladder, when he fell eighteen feet, crushing his left heel, ankle, and left elbow. Four other defendants settled a week before the trial, leaving Mr. Cass to face three plaintiff's attorneys, their experts, and the plaintiff's co-workers, who testified that opening the safety gate while standing on the ladder was dangerous and who were critical of the gate's placement. After a jury trial that lasted from May 5-14, 2008, the jury found in the defendant's favor. The case was tried in Civil District Court for Orleans Parish, which is a notoriously unfriendly forum for defendants.
Joseph Vitari v Lou Con et. al, New Orleans, Civil District Court

Other Reported Cases

In re Complaint of Danos & Curole Marine Contractors, Inc., 2003 WL 20021839 (E.D.La. 2003).

Tubos de Acero de Mexico, S.A. v. American Intern. Inv. Corp., Inc., 292 F.3d 471, 63 U.S.P.B.2d 1340 ( La. App. 5th Cir. 2002).

Curran v. Fisherman Marine Products, Inc., 773 So.2d 285, 2001 A.M.C. 1392, 2000-0099 (La. App. 4th Cir. 2000).

Gautreaux v. Scurlock Marine, Inc., 84 F.3d. 776, 1997 A.M.C. 1534 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1996).

Creppel v. American Tugs, Inc., 668 So.2d 374, 95-696 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1996).

U.S. v. M/V Mandan, 774 F.Supp. 410, 1993 A..M.C. 2996 (E.D. La. 1991).

Legros v. Norcen Explorations, Inc., 583 So.2d. 859 (La. App.1 Cir. 1991).

Robertson v. Arco Oil and Gas Co., 766 F.Supp. 535, 1993 A.M.C. 1215 (W.D. La. 1991).

U.S. v. M/V MANDAN, 1991 WL 148211, 1991 A.M.C. 1340 (E.D. La. 1991).

Stevenson v. Point Marine, Inc., 697 F.Supp. 285 (E.D. La. 1988).

Schoonmaker v. Capital Towing Co., 512 So.2d. 480 (La. App.1 Cir. 1987).

Wilson v. Arthur Levy Enterprises, Inc., 491 So.2d. 76 (La. App.1 Cir. 1986).

Greenslate v. Tenneco Oil Co., 623 F.Supp. 573 (E.D. La. 1985).

Hebert v. Kerr-McGee Corp., 618 F.Supp. 767 (W.D. La. 1985).

Baum v. Transworld Drilling Co., 612 F.Supp. 1555 (W.D. La. 1985).

Mayor and Council of City of Morgan City v. Jesse J. Fontenot, Inc., 460 So.2d. 685 (La. App.1 Cir. 1984).

Collier v. Williams-McWilliams Co., Inc., 459 So.2d. 719 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1984).

Hails v. Atlantic Richfield Co., 595 F. Supp. 948, 40 Fed.R.Serv.2d. 328 (W.D. La. 1984).

Morris v. Schlumberger, Ltd., 445 So.2d. 1242 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1984).

Scarborough v. Travelers Ins. Co., 718 F.2d. 702 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1983).

Morris v. Schlumberger, Ltd., 436 So.2d. 1178 (La. App. 3 Cir. 1983).

Smith v. Hurd, 408 So.2d. 357 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1981).

Signal Oil & Gas Co. v. Barge W-701, 654 F.2d. 1164 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1981).

Roberts v. Willaims-McWilliams Co., Inc., 648 F.2d. 255 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1981).

Mayfield v. Wall Shipyards, Inc., 510 F.Supp. 605 (E.D. La. 1981).

City of New Orleans for Use and Benefit of Sewerage and Water Bd. of New Orleans v. U.S. Through Dept. of Army, 501 F.Supp. 164, 1982 A.M.C. 605 (D. La. 1980).

Signal Oil & Gas v. Barge W-701, 468 F.Supp. 802, 1980 A.M.C. 1445 (E.D. La. 1979).

Koesler v. Harvey Applicators, Inc., 416 F.Supp. 872 (E.D. La. 1976).

Verrett v. Offshore Crews, Inc., 332 So.2d. 292 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1976).

Bonura v. Sea Land Service, Inc., 505 F.2d. 665, 1975 A.M.C. 462, 1975 A.M.C. 1220 (La. App. 5 Cir 1974).

Glapion v. MS Journalist, 487 F.2d. 1252, 1974 A.M.C. 1338 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1973).

May v. Lease Services, Inc., 487 F.2d. 915 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1973).

Blanchard v. Cheramie, 485 F.2d. 328, 1973 A.M.C. 2366 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1973).

Slan v. A/S Det Danske-Franske D/S, 479 F.2d. 288, 1973 A.M.C. 1675 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1973).

Powell v. Hellenic Lines, Ltd., 347 F.Supp. 855, 1972 A.M.C. 2554 (E.D. La. 1972).

Debose v. MS Loppersum, 438 F.2d 642, 1971 A.M.C. 742 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1971).