Author Archives : ddonohue

Renee Melchiode inducted into the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel

MMK is proud to announce that Renée S. Melchiode has been inducted into the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, a professional trade association of peer-reviewed, premier defense and corporate counsel and industry executives, dedicated to leading the profession by advancing the principals of civil justice, actionable knowledge, and fostering the trust and value ofRead More

Jennifer Simmons and Ben Pri-Tal obtain summary judgment against claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, hostile work environment, constructive discharge, and retaliation.

Jennifer Simmons and Ben Pri-Tal successfully defended an industrial services employer against allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, hostile work environment, constructive discharge, and retaliation by a former employee against her then-supervisor. In granting summary judgment in favor of the employer, the Court ruled that the plaintiff could not meet the requisite burden of proof toRead More

Rich King and Renée Melchiode obtain summary judgment in trip-and-fall case

Rich King and Renée Melchiode successfully challenged a plaintiff’s trip and fall on behalf of The Kearney Company and its insurer. The plaintiff allegedly tripped and fell in a large hole on the premises.  MMK attorneys filed a summary judgment motion, arguing that the hole was an open and obvious condition. Pending in Orleans Parish,Read More

MMK proud to join LIGHT in addressing COVID-19

LIGHT (Lawyers Initiative Giving Hospitals Thanks) is a group of New Orleans law firms which has raised more than $100,000 to feed frontline healthcare workers while supporting New Orleans’ treasured food and music industries. The program supplies funding for the Krewe of Red Beans and its Feed the Frontline NOLA project, which serves thousands ofRead More

Richard King to give a seminar at the 2020 Inspection World Conference.

Richard King will be speaking at a seminar for the 2020 Inspection World Conference held at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans on Monday, January 20th, at 4:00 pm. He will be presenting on the expert panel on the Top 20 ways to Get Sued for Home Inspectors. Please see the below link for registration andRead More

Six MMK Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2020, with Three Attorneys Recognized as Rising Stars

MMK congratulates the following attorneys on being selected as Super Lawyers 2020: Gerald A. Melchiode (Construction Litigation) Kevin A. Marks (Employment Litigation) Richard E. King (Construction Litigation) Olivia Y. Truong (Insurance Coverage)* Scott R. Huete (Transportation & Maritime)* Benjamin M. Pri-Tal (Construction Litigation)* *Also recognized as a 2020 Super Lawyers Rising Star. Super Lawyers selects attorneys usingRead More

Congratulations to our Top Attorneys for 2019 as selected by New Orleans Magazine

In its November issue, New Orleans Magazine has recognized five MMK lawyers in its annual announcement of the city’s “Top Attorneys”. The lawyers receiving this honor were identified by their peers as being leading practitioners in various areas of practice. Jerry Melchiode was recognized for Construction Law; Richard King for Insurance Law; Kevin Marks forRead More

Remembering Pam Vaughn, a Dear Member of the MMK Family

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Pam Vaughn, who lost her brave battle with cancer on July 4, 2019 at the age of 62.  To paraphrase Pam’s loving husband John, it was only fitting that a firecracker such as Pam would pass away on Independence Day.  Pam was one ofRead More

Renée S. Melchiode successfully defends sanitation company against trip-and-fall lawsuit

Renée S. Melchiode successfully defended a sanitation company against trip-and-fall lawsuit, by obtaining a reversal of a denial of its Motion for Summary Judgement. A pedestrian, who tripped and fell over a hose connected to a sanitation truck and suspended across a sidewalk, brought a personal injury action against the sanitation company alleging negligence. TheRead More

Gerald A. Melchiode and Ben Pri-Tal prevail on summary judgment in a construction delay claim

Gerald A. Melchiode and Ben Pri-Tal prevail on summary judgment in a construction delay claim on behalf of a subcontractor on a Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (“CPRA”) public works project.  The court found that the general contractor’s surety was solidarily liable per La. R.S. 38:2241(A)(2) for the increased cost of construction proven at trialRead More

MMK Names New Member: Jeffery B. Struckhoff

We are pleased to announce that Jeffery B. Struckhoff has been named a Member of the firm, effective January 1, 2019. Jeff Struckhoff has litigated cases in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, and routinely defends clients in the areas of property and construction law, insurance coverage, bad faith, transportation, product liability, professional liability,Read More

Rich King & Olivia Y. Truong obtain a defense verdict against a $340,000.00 personal injury claim

After a jury trial in the 16th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Martin, State of Louisiana, Olivia Y. Truong and Rich King successfully obtained a defense verdict (11-1) in favor of a commercial hauling business, whose dump truck was broadsided by an 18-wheeler. The collision between the 18-wheeler and the dump truck resulted in both vehicles burstingRead More

Kevin Marks appointed to 41st Judicial District, House of Delegates of the Louisiana State Bar Association

Kevin Marks has been appointed by the Louisiana State Bar Association’s President, Barry H. Grodsky, to serve as a delegate for the Forty-First Judicial District to the House of Delegates of the Louisiana State Bar Association.  Kevin’s term will be from June 2019 through June 2021.