Abbott, Simses & Kuchler

Profile

Established in 1980, Abbott, Simses & Kuchler is afull-service firm that handles the gamut of corporate legal issues, with a primary focus on litigation. From its headquarters in New Orleans, and three additional offices located in the Gulf South region, the firm’s 40-plus attorneys represent numerous Fortune 500 companies in complex legal matters throughout the United States.

The firm proudly represents clients in a broad range of litigation, regulatory matters and administrative matters, which includes general business and commercial litigation, products liability litigation, mass tort actions, environmental cases, class action proceedings and employment claims.

Four Named to Super Lawyers®:

Larry Abbott is the firm’s managing director. He is a trial specialist, as he has tried more than 150 cases either to jury verdicts or bench-tried judgments throughout the United States. Abbott has been consistently recognized amongst his peers as a leader in the legal community. This year, he was named to The Best Lawyers in America. For two consecutive years, he was recognized as an Outstanding Lawyer of America. In 2005, he received the DuPont Legal Leaders’ Circle Award.

Debbie Kuchler also focuses on trial work. She was recognized in Litigation Management magazine’s article titled “Cajun Country’s Toughest Litigators.” She has tried high stakes, complex civil litigation cases with successful outcomes for her clients. She is an active member in the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and Lawyers for Civil Justice, and is often selected as a speaker. Kuchler received this year’s Themis Award from the DuPont Women Lawyers Network.

Monique Weiner has tried many diverse bench and jury trials to verdict. Her litigation specialties are toxic tort, products liability and employment discrimination trials. Weiner and Kuchler recently tried the claims of an 8-year-old girl who suffered from congenital heart defects and hepatoblastoma, a rare form of liver cancer. The jury returned a defense verdict. Plaintiffs had sought compensatory damages from the jury of up to $30 million. Previously, Weiner was lead trial counsel defending a class action arising as a result of an explosion at a chemical facility. After a full trial, the court rendered judgment in favor of her client.

At the recent Annual Meeting of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), Paul Lavelle was elected secretary treasurer of the 22,000-member organization. He has been a longtime member of DRI’s products liability committee, and has been actively involved in its specialized litigation groups on construction equipment, consumer products, juvenile products and toxic torts. Lavelle has extensive trial experience in the areas of commercial litigation, products liability, construction, environmental law, insurance and general civil litigation. As national coordinating counsel, he is also responsible for case management of a commercial litigation docket pending in numerous states throughout the country.