Partner
Bertrand M. Cass, Jr. is head of the firm's Marine and Energy Department. He is a jury trial litigator concentrating in the defense of bodily injury and death cases with emphasis in marine and offshore litigation claims.
Since joining the firm in 1970, Mr. Cass has concentrated his practice on defending vessel owners, oil and gas producers, exploration companies, facility operators, distributors, and offshore service contractors and their insurers against personal injury, wrongful death and survival claims. He is experienced in energy-related claims, including interpretation of indemnity and insurance requirements in vessel charters and Master Service Agreements as well as interpretation of the anti-indemnity acts of Louisiana and Texas.
Mr. Cass not only has over two decades' worth of experience in defending injury and death claims, he also has defended vessel owners and their insurers against property damage claims involving complex legal issues. In one such case involving damages to an underwater pipeline by one of our clients, his efforts resulted in a res nova ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that a vessel owner’s decision to plead limitation of liability as a defense in a single action with multiple claimants does not open it to greater total liability. Signal Oil & Gas Co. v. Barge W-701, 654 F.2d 1164, (CA 5th Cir. LA 1981).
Mr. Cass was a member of the DK&S litigation team that defended Pan American World Airways and its insurers against more than 180 civil lawsuits filed as a result of a July 1982 crash. He has been a speaker for the Insurance Defense Network, which focuses on defending brain injury claims, and has lectured at various legal and industry seminars on the subject of defending claims for personal injury and death. He has also participated, as ad hoc faculty, in Loyola University’s trial training seminars.
Mr. Cass has tried over 100 cases and is one of the more experienced civil litigators in the New Orleans defense bar.
Professional Activities and Honors
"Louisiana Super Lawyers" List, 2008, 2007
"The Best Lawyers in America" List, 2008, 2007
Federal Bar Association
Louisiana State Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association
Maritime Law Association of the United States, Proctor in Admiralty
Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
Offshore Marine Service Association
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
Education
J.D., Loyola University of the South, 1968
B.B.A., Loyola University of the South, 1965
Since joining the firm in 1970, Mr. Cass has concentrated his practice on defending vessel owners, oil and gas producers, exploration companies, facility operators, distributors, and offshore service contractors and their insurers against personal injury, wrongful death and survival claims. He is experienced in energy-related claims, including interpretation of indemnity and insurance requirements in vessel charters and Master Service Agreements as well as interpretation of the anti-indemnity acts of Louisiana and Texas.
Mr. Cass not only has over two decades' worth of experience in defending injury and death claims, he also has defended vessel owners and their insurers against property damage claims involving complex legal issues. In one such case involving damages to an underwater pipeline by one of our clients, his efforts resulted in a res nova ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that a vessel owner’s decision to plead limitation of liability as a defense in a single action with multiple claimants does not open it to greater total liability. Signal Oil & Gas Co. v. Barge W-701, 654 F.2d 1164, (CA 5th Cir. LA 1981).
Mr. Cass was a member of the DK&S litigation team that defended Pan American World Airways and its insurers against more than 180 civil lawsuits filed as a result of a July 1982 crash. He has been a speaker for the Insurance Defense Network, which focuses on defending brain injury claims, and has lectured at various legal and industry seminars on the subject of defending claims for personal injury and death. He has also participated, as ad hoc faculty, in Loyola University’s trial training seminars.
Mr. Cass has tried over 100 cases and is one of the more experienced civil litigators in the New Orleans defense bar.
Professional Activities and Honors
"Louisiana Super Lawyers" List, 2008, 2007
"The Best Lawyers in America" List, 2008, 2007
Federal Bar Association
Louisiana State Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association
Maritime Law Association of the United States, Proctor in Admiralty
Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
Offshore Marine Service Association
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
Education
J.D., Loyola University of the South, 1968
B.B.A., Loyola University of the South, 1965
