Kevin J. LaVie

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; insurance coverage disputes; oilfield indemnity actions; pollution matters; and various Coast Guard and immigration matters.

Litigation is a major focus of Mr. LaVie’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, Mr. LaVie has handled numerous appeals, including over two dozen appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

EDUCATION:

• Louisiana State University Law Center, J.D., 1984
• Louisiana State University, B.A., 1981

ADMISSIONS:

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

Membership:

• Louisiana State Bar Association
• New Orleans Bar Association
• Maritime Law Association of the United States

Experience:

• Thyssen v. M/V NOBILITY, 421 F.3d 295 (5th Cir. 2005)
• In re Endeavor Marine, Inc., 234 F.3d 287 (5th Cir. 2000)
• Chauvin v. Offshore Salvage, Inc., 868 F.2d 753 (5th Cir. 1989)
• Woods v. Sammisa Co. Ltd., 873 F.2d 842 (5th Cir. 1989)