{"id":1423,"date":"2021-06-21T21:37:35","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T21:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.semmlaw.com\/?page_id=1423"},"modified":"2024-07-10T13:43:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-10T13:43:50","slug":"kyleschonekas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/semmlaw.com\/staging\/attorneys\/kyleschonekas\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyle Schonekas"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>
\"Kyle<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Our Attorneys<\/span><\/div>

Kyle Schonekas<\/span><\/span><\/h1>
Partner 504.680.6052<\/div><\/header>
email<\/span><\/a><\/div>
vCard<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Kyle is a founding member of the firm and its managing member.\u00a0 Kyle has extensive trial experience in both the state and federal court systems, having tried hundreds of cases including over fifty jury trials.\u00a0 Kyle has also served as an arbitrator and as legal expert witness.<\/p>\n

Kyle is regarded as a \u201cgo to guy\u201d for complex and high-stakes litigation, whether it\u2019s the future of a company or one\u2019s liberty that is at stake.\u00a0 With over his forty-four years of practice, he has tried hundreds of jury and bench trials in Louisiana and other parts of the country.\u00a0 He relishes the opportunity to cross-examine a witness or give a closing argument.\u00a0 According to Kyle, you have to love what you do.\u00a0 For him, trying cases is one of his passions.<\/p>\n

Kyle is a life-long New Orleanian.\u00a0 He has five children and twelve grandchildren.\u00a0 He and his wife, Patricia, live in Metairie.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

\u3009NOTABLE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE<\/div>
<\/p>\n

CIVIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

LafargeHolcim, Hard Rock Hotel Collapse litigation
\nElias Membreno et al v. 1031 Canal Investments, LLC, et al<\/em>, CDC, No. 19-10819
\n(defending concrete manufacturer in over 40 lawsuits related to hotel collapse)<\/p>\n

Brad Pitt
\nLloyd Francis, et al v. Make It Right-New Orleans, LLC, et al<\/em>, CDC, No. 18-8977;
\n(defending celebrity in class action suit over alleged defects to Make It Right homes)<\/p>\n

Robert Rosenthal, trustee for Tom Benson trusts
\nThomas Benson, Jr. v. Robert A. Rosenthal, Trustee<\/em>, EDLA, Civil No. 15-782
\n(represented owners of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans in litigation concerning ownership of over a $1 billion in stock)<\/p>\n

Sofia Vergara
\nNick Loeb, Human Embryo #3 HB-A, and Human Embryo #4 HB-A v. Sofia Vergara<\/em>, 25th JDC No. 64217; 313 So. 3d 346 (La. Ct. App. 2021)
\n(defending client in lawsuits filed to obtain custody and control of frozen embryos, against client\u2019s wishes and in violation of contract signed by the parties)<\/p>\n

Curt Kuchta \u2013 Captain, Deepwater Horizon
\nIn the Matter of the Fire and Explosion on the Deepwater Horizon<\/em>, U.S. Coast Guard and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Joint Investigation
\n(defended Captain of the Deepwater Horizon in federal investigation into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill)<\/p>\n

George Rodrigue
\nGeorge Godfrey Rodrigue v. Veronica Hildalgo Rodrigue<\/em>, EDLA, Civil No. 95-2862
\n(defended Louisiana artist over ownership of the copyright of the famous \u201cBlue Dog\u201d)<\/p>\n

Taxpayers lawsuit against tobacco lawyers
\nFrederick W. Swaim, Jr. v. Richard F. Ieyoub and Badon & Ranier<\/em>, 19th JDC, No. 471238
\n(brought class action lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana taxpayers against Louisiana tobacco lawyers for illegal contingency fee contract)<\/p>\n

Taxpayers lawsuit regarding Ogden Museum of Southern Art
\nRobert Marrero, et al v. Robert Houston Ogden, et al<\/em>, 19th JDC, No. 519,881
\n(brought class action lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana taxpayers related to funding of private museum with public money)<\/p>\n

City of New Orleans
\nHill v. City of New Orleans<\/em>, EDLA, Civil No. 13-2463
\n(defended City of New Orleans in wrongful conviction claim)<\/p>\n

CRIMINAL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Judge Thomas Porteous
\nIn Re Grand Jury Subpoena<\/em>, EDLA, Misc. No. 04-29
\n(defended sitting federal judge in Federal Criminal Investigation)<\/p>\n

Fred Heebe, River Birch
\nHeebe v. Henry L. Mencken1951<\/em>, EDLA, Civil No. 12-928
\n(unmasked Assistant U.S. Attorney as online commenter, resulting in closing of a criminal investigation and dismissal of charges)<\/p>\n

Dr. Howard Lippton
\nUnited States v. Howard Lippton, M.D.<\/em>, EDLA, Crim. No. 01-136
\n(defended doctor in New Orleans brothel investigation)<\/p>\n

Darren Sharper
\nUnited States v. Darren Sharper<\/em>, EDLA, Criminal No. 14-284
\n(defended former Saints player against rape charges)<\/p>\n

EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY
\n<\/strong>Retained and testified as a legal expert in numerous matters in state and federal court.<\/p>\n

Lourdes T. Archbold-Garrett, wife of\/and David L. Garrett v. Bisso & Miller, LLC at al.<\/em>
\n24th Judicial District Court, No. 803-469<\/p>\n

Catherine Sylve, et al v. Charles Thomas, Vincent P. Scallan, et al<\/em>
\nCivil District Court, No. 2016-10358<\/p>\n

Guilbeau Marine, Inc., Formosa Plantation, LLC, at al. v. George J. Ledet, Jr.<\/em>
\n17th Judicial District Court, No. 131186<\/p>\n

Merlyn Cousins, Sr. v. Samuel Richard Exnicios, et al.,<\/em>
\nCivil District Court, No. 1999-10502<\/p>\n

Edward George, et al v. Borden Chemicals and Plastics, et al.,<\/em>
\nTwenty Third Judicial District Court, No. 57,534 c\/w No. 59,820<\/p>\n

Walk Haydel & Associates, LLC v. Coastal Power and Production Company, et al.,<\/em>
\nUSDC, EDLA No. 05-1618<\/p>\n

Lang v. Ward,<\/em>
\nTwenty Second Judicial District Court, No. 2000-12436<\/p>\n

Charles Ragusa & Son, Inc. and Charles Ragusa, Individually v. Paul McMahon, III,<\/em>
\nNineteenth Judicial District Court, No. 434,199<\/p>\n

Brennan\u2019s, Inc. v. Edward Truck Colbert, et al.,<\/em>
\nCivil District Court No. 2005-8471<\/p>\n

Shannon Jones, et al. v. ABC Insurance Co. et al.,<\/em>
\nTwenty Fourth Judicial District Court, No. 535-525<\/p>\n

Tara House Condominium, et al. v. James River Insurance Company<\/em>
\nCivil District Court, No. 2006-9840 c\/w 2009-1665<\/p>\n

Donald Tucker, et al. v. Richard Tonry, II, et al.<\/em>
\nCivil District Court, No. 2011-11237<\/p>\n

Magnificent Eight, et al. v. First NBC, et al.<\/em>
\nUSDC, EDLA, 13:5713 c\/w 13:5714<\/p>\n

ARBITRATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Evans Industries, Inc. and J.D. Edward World Solutions Company,<\/em>
\nAmerican Arbitration Association (Arbitrator)<\/p>\n

SPECIAL MASTER<\/strong>
\nCourt appointed special master.<\/p>\n

William W. Scott, et al. v. Historic Restoration, Inc., et al.,<\/em>
\nCivil District Court No. 2002-1431<\/p>\n

\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\u232a HONORS AND RECOGNITION<\/div>
<\/p>\n