Articles Posted in Pain And Suffering Claims

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Flames and smoke rise from the Smitty’s Supply chemical plant explosion in Roseland, Louisiana.

The Berniard Law Firm was featured in Legal Newsline’s Louisiana Record for representing Roseland residents after the Smitty’s Supply chemical plant fire.

Legal Newsline’s Louisiana Record recently featured the Berniard Law Firm for filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of more than 100 Roseland residents affected by the Smitty’s Supply chemical plant explosion and fire in Tangipahoa Parish Legal Newsline.

The firm’s complaint alleges that class members suffered a range of injuries—including headaches, respiratory problems, skin and eye irritation, people who own property that was covered in oil, clean up costs, and many other claims—as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals and soot from the explosion Legal Newsline.

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Attorney Jeff Berniard, founder of the Berniard Law Firm, was recently featured on WGNO News for his leadership in filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of families affected by the Smitty’s Supply explosion and fire in Tangipahoa Parish. Watch the full news story here.

Berniard was asked to provide his perspective on the lawsuit because of his extensive background in complex litigation and class actions. Over the course of his career, he has represented thousands of clients in large-scale cases, including litigation related to Hurricane Katrina insurance disputes, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and Chinese drywall contamination.

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Image of the Smitty’s Supply explosion and fire in Roseland, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, showing thick smoke and flames after the lubricant plant accident that led to evacuations.On August 22, 2025, the Tangipahoa Parish community was shaken by the massive explosion and fire at Smitty’s Supply, Inc. The incident released thick, black smoke, ash, and oily residue across nearby neighborhoods and waterways, forcing residents to evacuate and leaving families with property damage, health concerns, and lingering uncertainty about long-term effects.

In response, the Berniard Law Firm has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of affected residents and property owners. The suit alleges that Smitty’s Supply failed to properly maintain its facility and negligently stored hazardous petroleum and chemical products, creating conditions that led directly to the explosion and fire.

The lawsuit seeks damages for:

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mma_fight_maza_maza-1024x683This case delves into a courtroom clash that spilled over into a legal battle, raising questions about the appropriateness of summary judgment when factual disputes remain at the heart of the matter.

Case Background

Felix DeJean, an attorney, got into a physical altercation with District Attorney Bradley Burget while discussing a case in a judge’s chambers. DeJean was later convicted of simple battery in a criminal trial. He then filed a civil lawsuit against Burget, seeking damages for injuries sustained in the altercation. Burget claimed he acted in self-defense, arguing that DeJean was the aggressor. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Burget, dismissing DeJean’s case.

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pexels-brett-sayles-1756957-1024x683A celebratory night out turned into a nightmare for Reuben Ellis when he was shot in a parking lot after attending a friend’s wedding reception at Bella Noche nightclub. Ellis’s quest for justice led him to sue not only the nightclub but also the property owner, Plaza Holdings, LLC. This legal battle highlights the complexities of premises liability and the extent to which property owners are responsible for the safety of their tenants’ patrons.

The Incident & Ensuing Legal Battle:

In the early hours of July 27, 2015, gunfire erupted in the parking lot outside Bella Noche, leaving Ellis with a gunshot wound to the neck. He sued several parties, including Plaza Holdings, the owner of the shopping center where the nightclub was located.

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pexels-adrien-olichon-1257089-5230094-683x1024In the world of industrial contracts, the devil often lies in the details – especially when it comes to indemnity clauses. These clauses determine who bears the financial responsibility if something goes wrong, and they can be a source of heated legal battles. This is precisely what happened in the case of Godfrey T. Fagot v. Dow Chemical Company, et al., where Turner Industries and Honeywell International clashed over the interpretation of their contracts.

The Underlying Lawsuit:

Godfrey Fagot, a former pipefitter/welder, sued several companies, including Turner Industries and Honeywell, claiming he developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure while working at Honeywell’s facility. Turner, a contractor for Honeywell, had signed contracts in 1978 and 1985 containing indemnity provisions.

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pexels-pixabay-532001-2-1024x683Emergency responders have a critical job, often requiring them to speed and navigate through traffic to reach those in need. But what happens when those actions result in an accident? Who’s at fault when an officer responding to an emergency collides with another vehicle? A recent Louisiana Court of Appeal case, Karonda Washington v. OneBeacon America Insurance Company, et al., sheds light on these complex issues.

The Collision

Late one night in Baton Rouge, Karonda Washington was a passenger in a car driven by her daughter, Shankeyshia Jones. Two sheriff’s deputies, Brad Manuel and Tyler Comeaux, were rushing to a disturbance call with their lights and sirens activated. Jones moved her vehicle into the left lane to make a turn, and Deputy Manuel stopped behind her. As Deputy Comeaux attempted to pass, he rear-ended Manuel’s cruiser, pushing it into Jones’ vehicle and injuring Washington.

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pexels-cadomaestro-3677150-722x1024A slip and fall accident in a nursing home can lead to devastating injuries, especially for elderly residents or those with underlying health conditions. But what happens when a lawsuit filed due to such an accident is dismissed because it was filed too late? That’s precisely what happened in the case of Penny Micken, whose legal battle against Heritage Manor of Napoleonville nursing home highlights the critical importance of adhering to legal deadlines.

In September 2015, Penny Micken, working as a sitter at Heritage Manor, slipped and fell on a liquid substance on the floor. The fall allegedly resulted in severe injuries. A year later, Micken filed a lawsuit, but she mistakenly named the wrong defendant, leading to a series of legal complications.

The Wrong Defendant and the Ticking Clock:

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pexels-rdne-6669103-1024x683In a heart-wrenching incident, Dr. Alan Sandifer, an avid bow hunter, tragically lost his life in a freak accident involving his Hoyt compound bow. The Sandifer family’s quest for answers led them to the courtroom, seeking justice through a lawsuit against the bow’s manufacturer, Hoyt Archery, Inc. This blog post delves into the complexities of the case, the legal arguments presented, and the ultimate ruling that brought the Sandifers’ pursuit to a close.

The Unforeseen Tragedy:

Dr. Sandifer was at home, engrossed in his passion for bow hunting. While his wife was in another room, he was examining his Hoyt Vulcan XT500 compound bow, possibly making some modifications. A loud noise startled his wife, and she rushed to find her husband unconscious, the bow’s metal cable guard tragically embedded in his head. Dr. Sandifer succumbed to his injuries the following day.

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pexels-kelly-1179532-3794777-1024x683In a recent decision, the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit, overturned a summary judgment in favor of the City of Kenner and Veolia Water North America-South, LLC, in a personal injury case. The case, Candido Perdomo v. City of Kenner and Veolia Water, involved a garbage collector, Candido Perdomo, who was injured when a portion of the street collapsed under his garbage truck.

Mr. Perdomo, employed by Ramelli Janitorial Service, was collecting garbage for the City of Kenner when a section of 27th Street near the intersection of Salem Street crumbled beneath the weight of the garbage truck he was riding in. The collapse was attributed to a leaking sewer line.

Kenner and Veolia, the company contracted to operate and maintain the Kenner sewer system, moved for summary judgment, arguing that Mr. Perdomo could not prove they had prior knowledge (or ‘notice’) of the defect in the road, a crucial element in such cases. The trial court agreed and dismissed Mr. Perdomo’s claims.

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