Mr. Smith has been practicing law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for almost fifty (50) years. Labor and employment law is the principal focus of his practice. He is the President and the founder of the Baton Rouge affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, President of the Louisiana Employment Lawyers Association, and Chair of the Labor and Employment Section of the Louisiana Association for Justice..
As a seasoned and experienced trial and appellate attorney, he is licensed and practices in all Louisiana state and federal courts, as well as in the U.S. Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court.
Mr. Smith handles labor and employment matters throughout the state of Louisiana. He has successfully litigated numerous labor and employment cases, in the state courts and all the federal courts in the State of Louisiana and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Areas of Practice
Personal Injury
Criminal Law
Labor and Employment Law
Civil Rights Violations
Family Law
Environmental Law
Administrative Law
Litigation Percentage
80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
Louisiana, 1972
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1974
U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1972
U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1990
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2008
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1975
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
U. S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Supreme Court, 1979
Education
Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
J.D. - 1971
Honors: With Honors
Law Review: Louisiana Law Review, National 1st VP of the ABA Law Student Division, 1970 - 1971
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
B.S. - 1968
Honors: With Honors
Major: Business and Public Administration
Published Works
Possible Amicus Curiae Assistance for LAFJ Members in Employment Cases, Louisiana Association For Justice, 02/06/13
State Employees Should Not Be Required to Exhaust Administrative Remedies, If Any, by Filing Civil Service Appeals before Seeking Relief for Disability Discrimination in the District Courts under the Louisiana Employment Discrimination Law, Louisiana Association For Justice, 10/09/12
Hot Button Issues in Labor and Employment Law, Louisiana Association for Justice, 12/2011
Impairment of the Process Protections of Teachers and University Professors, Louisiana Association for Justice, 01/2012
United States Supreme Court Defines Causation Standard Entitled VII Cases, Louisiana Association for Justice, 09/2013
Representative Cases
95 0787 La.App. 1 Cir. 6/28/96, Varnado v. Department of Employment and Training, 687 So.2d 1013 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1996)
Richard v. Bd. of Super. of La. State Univ., 960 So.2d 953 (La. App. 2007)
Barringer v. Robertson,10/31/2008, 2007 CA 0802 (La. App. 2008)
Smith v. Board of Trustees of Louisiana School Emp. Retirement System, 398 So.2d 1045 (La. 1981)
Bass v. International Broth. of Boilermakers, 630 F.2d 1058 (C.A.5 (La.) 1980)
95 1367 La.App. 1 Cir. 4/4/96, Benton, Benton and Benton v. Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, 672 So.2d 720 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1996)
Hammons v. Adams, 783 F.2d 597 (C.A.5 (La.) 1986)
Morehouse v. Southern University, (3/27/2009), No. 2008 CA 1943 (La. App. 2009)
Kling v. Dep't of Revenue (La. App. 1 Cir. 2013)
Ecology Center of Louisiana Inc. v. Coleman, 515 F.2d 860 (C.A.5 (La.) 1975)
Classes/Seminars
Numerous Seminars and Conferences on All Aspects of Labor and Employment Law, National Employment Lawyers Association, 2005 - Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
Baton Rouge Affiliate of the National Employment Lawyers Association, President and Founder
Louisiana Employment Lawyers Association, President
Louisiana Association for Justice, Labor and Employment Section, Former Chair
American Bar Association
Louisiana State Bar Association
Baton Rouge Bar Association
Louisiana Association for Justice
Louisiana Law Institute, Committee Studying the Procedural Laws Governing the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Louisiana Association for Justice
Labor and Employment and Civil Rights Sections, Former Chair..
Languages
English
Fraternities/Sororities
Lambda Chi Alpha
