Kevin LaVie practices in the area of admiralty and tort law. He has a very broad-based practice involving nearly all aspects of maritime law including personal injury and death claims; cargo damage claims; dock damage and collision claims; Limitation of Liability matters; charter party and related commercial disputes (including ship arrests and Rule B attachments); insurance coverage disputes; oilfield indemnity actions; pollution matters; and various Coast Guard and immigration matters. His practice covers both the offshore energy or “brownwater” industry and traditional “bluewater” shipping.
Litigation is a major focus of Kevin’s practice, and he has tried personal injury and death cases (including Jones Act and 905(b) cases) in all federal courts in Louisiana, many state courts, and in federal courts in other states on a pro hac vice basis. He has also tried a number of cargo damage claims. A subspecialty of his litigation practice involves maritime products liability claims, including machinery and equipment failures. Due to the number of cases he has tried, Kevin has handled numerous appeals, including over two dozen appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Experience
- Obtained summary judgment at the District Court and an affirmance of same at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for insurer on an alleged Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices claim arising out of property insurance claim for a fire at a commercial building.
- In litigation over a silo fire, obtained a dismissal with prejudice of alleged negligence/negligent misrepresentation claims, bad faith (refusal to settle) claims, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing claims, and unfair and deceptive trade practices claims for a commercial property insurer.
- Represented insurers in a property insurance dispute and purported extra-contractual claims over fires at spec houses. Won a dismissal with prejudice of alleged unfair and deceptive trade practices claim and alleged punitive damages claim against insurers.
- Thyssen v. M/V NOBILITY, 421 F.3d 295 (5th Cir. 2005)
- In re Endeavor Marine, Inc., 234 F.3d 287 (5th Cir. 2000)