Barbara L. Arras

Barbara Arras represents defendants in toxic tort litigation primarily involving pulmonary diseases allegedly caused by asbestos and other pulmonary irritants and hematopoietic diseases allegedly caused by benzene.

She is responsible for the medical defense in each case. Specifically, she analyzes the facts to formulate a theory of defense and identifies the correct scientific discipline needed to advance that theory.

She then identifies and retains the best expert in that discipline from her wide network of contacts, she deposes plaintiffs’ experts, defends defense experts at their depositions, prepares Motions to Exclude plaintiffs’ experts, and opposes plaintiffs’ Motions to Exclude defense experts.

She also has considerable expertise in management of complex toxic tort litigation nationwide, having spent nine years as in-house counsel with two Fortune 500 corporations.

EDUCATION:

• Loyola University of Chicago, J.D.
• Northwestern University, B.A.; Departmental Honors; Mortar Board

ADMISSIONS:

• U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Texas
• Illinois

Membership:

• International Association of Defense Counsel
• Defense Research Institute, Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee (Chair, 2005-2007; Program Chair, 2002-2003)
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
• Louisiana State Bar Association

Experience:

• Retained defense experts and deposed plaintiffs’ experts in multiple petroleum worker cases with alleged benzene related blood diseases.
• Provided the medical defense to vessel owner in a claim by an employee for alleged occupational asthma as a result of exposure to fumes during the BP oil clean up.
• Provided the medical causation defense in a rare pericardial mesothelioma case allegedly caused by asbestos but decedent had received massive therapeutic radiation while a teen for Hodgkin’s disease.
• Preparation of medical causation defense in cases involving allegations of injuries as a result of exposure to asbestos, benzene, solvents, paint fumes and excessive noise in the workplace with particular emphasis on selection and preparation of defense expert witnesses and discovery of plaintiffs’ experts.
• Possesses wide network of contacts among expert witnesses and consultants in many medical and scientific disciplines nationwide and maintains an extensive library of medical and chemical reference materials.
• Assisted in the selection of local experts and preparation of defense of class representatives’ medical claims for The Dow Chemical Company in Marilyn Spitzfaden, et al v. Dow Corning Corporation – the Louisiana class action breast implant case.