Mr. Brett Bajon Named a 2019 “Rising Star” Attorney by American Institute of Legal Advocates

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Russell Law Firm is proud to announce that Mr. Brett Bajon was recently recognized as a 2019 “Rising Star” attorney in family law by the American Institute of Legal Advocates (AIOLA). This achievement is based on Mr. Bajon’s client satisfaction, work in the family law field, and recommendations from legal peers.

As a Rising Star in family law, Mr. Bajon has shown exceptional work and commitment to attaining the highest degree of professional achievement in his field. In addition to family law, Mr. Bajon practices law in the areas of DWI defense, Oil and Gas Law, and Personal Injury.

Mr. Bajon’s previous experience prior to joining Russell Law Firm includes practicing in Oil and Gas Law while serving as General Counsel for a FC Tech; and Mr. Bajon continues to be active in the Baton Rouge Bar Association’s largest charity event, “Belly Up with the Bar;” serving on the board of the Baton Rouge Association for Professional Landmen; and serving on the Legislative Committee for the American Association of Professional Landmen.

Click here to learn more about Brett Bajon’s background and achievements.

Russell Law Firm Files Toxic Tort Class Action vs. Dupont & Denka Elastomers – LaPlace, LA

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On May 31, 2018, the Russell Law Firm filed a Class Action Petition on behalf of Juanea L. Butler and others similarly situated, against Denka Performance Elastomer, LLC, E.I. Dupont De Nemours and Company, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (“Defendants”). Mrs. Butler’s class action lawsuit alleges that she and others residing and present in St. John the Baptist Parish, were continually exposed to chloroprene, a substance emitted into the air by the Defendants at the Pontchartrain Works Facility in LaPlace, LA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has classified chloroprene as a “likely carcinogen.” In addition to risk of cancer from exposure to chloroprene, the EPA has also noted that symptoms reported from human exposure to high concentrations of chloroprene, include those suffered by the the proposed class members/Plaintiffs, namely: headache, irritability, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, respiratory irritation, cardiac palpitations, chest pains, nausea, gastrointestinal disorders, dermatitis, temporary hair loss, conjunctivitis, corneal necrosis; liver, kidneys, and lung damage; circulatory system and immune system; depress of the central nervous system (CNS); skin and mucous membrane irritation; dermatitis and respiratory difficulties in humans.

In 2015, air samples taken from 6 different locations surrounding the Pontchartrain Works Facility, including schools and hospitals, rendered findings that individuals present in those locations were being exposed to chloroprene, at concentrations 700 times above what is considered to be safe. As such, the EPA has declared LaPlace, Louisiana to be the area with the highest risk of cancer in the country.

The lawsuit alleges that the Defendants have exposed generations of LaPlace residents to harmful levels of chloroprene, causing chronic sicknesses and cancers, after having full knowledge of the dangers. If you believe that you have suffered physical injuries from exposure to chloroprene emitted from the Pontchartrain Works Facility in LaPlace, Louisiana and want to find out whether you fall under the proposed class definition of the class action lawsuit, call the Russell Law Firm now at 225-307-0088.

By: Danny Russell

By: Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area personal injury attorney, licensed in Louisiana and admitted in the following courts:

**Information furnished herein is only general and not a substitute for personalized legal advice. The photographs are not depictions of any actual even or scenes, but merely dramatizations.

 

 

New Attorney Joins Russell Law Firm – Mr. Brett Bajon

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Brett Bajon, Esq. 

Our firm is pleased to announce that Mr. Brett Bajon recently joined the Russell Law Firm, bringing a variety of experience in Oil & Gas Law, Business Transactions & Formations Law; Family Law; and DWI Defense Law. Mr. Bajon is a meticulousness practitioner whose attention to detail sets him apart in those practice areas.

Mr. Bajon has worked as an independent landman in the oil and gas field; and has ran and updated surface and mineral titles for purposes of leasing and abstracting. He also has experience in abstract assembly, leasing negotiations with landowners, and all aspects of Pipeline Right-of- Ways, including: route formations, initial negotiations, and landowner relations.

Prior to joining the Russell Law Firm, Mr. Bajon practiced in the oil and gas industry as General Counsel for FC Tech.

Auto Accidents: Deadline to File a Lawsuit

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Someone who sustains bodily injuries and/or property damages (“damage”) resulting from a motor vehicle accident has one (1) year under Louisiana law, from the date the damage was sustained, to file a lawsuit against the party or parties responsible for causing the damage. The date the damage was sustained is usually the date that the automobile accident occurred.

Too often I speak to individuals having a hard time getting the other driver’s insurance company to pay for medical bills incurred for treatment of their injuries or property damages. The insurance company is either not willing to pay the full costs or the insurance adjuster will not return their calls. By the time I am contacted, the individual is either nearing the one year deadline to file a lawsuit or the deadline has already passed.

That is why it is important to make early contact with a personal injury law firm like the Russell Law Firm, if you suffer damages from an automobile wreck. Not only can such a law firm address any questions that you may have, but they may also assist you in dealing with the insurance companies and making sure that you don’t lose your rights forever by failing to file a lawsuit within the one year deadline.

By:       Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area personal injury attorney, licensed in Louisiana.

Danny Russell is a Baton Rouge car accident and personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with the insurance companies and working towards getting you the proper medical treatment so that you can get back on your feet and maximize your recovery. If you have been involved in a car accident in Baton Rouge or anywhere else in Louisiana, contact a car accident attorney at the Russell Law Firm in Baton Rouge. We will immediately begin scheduling treatment for you and dealing with the insurance companies for your vehicle repairs and personal injury claims.

****INFORMATION FURNISHED HEREIN IS ONLY GENERAL AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONALIZED LEGAL ADVICE.

****The photograph above is not a depiction of any actual event or scene, but merely a dramatization. 

 

What To Do Following a Flood

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1.     Report Your Loss to Your Insurance Company:

If a flood caused damage to your property, you need to immediately call your homeowner’s insurance company to report your losses. You will need to have the following information available:

  1. Your policy number and
  2. A phone number and/or email where you can be reached at all times.

It is important that you make immediate contact with your insurance company as most, if not all, flood insurance policies require that you make prompt written notice of your loss. Once you get an agent on the phone, he/she will tell you how to file your notice of loss. If you are not provided with that information, you must send a written notice of loss to your insurance company referencing your policy number.  

Within a few days, you should be contacted by an insurance adjuster. If not, contact your insurance agent or an insurance representative. While you have that person on the phone, ask for his/her name and contact information, then request an entire copy of your insurance policy, along with your declaration of coverage.

2.     Account for All Damaged Property/Losses

The person adjusting your claim will need evidence of your losses, so you need to do the following:

  1. Make a list of all damaged or lost items with their values, serial numbers (if any), brand names, model, where they were purchased, and their costs.
  2. Make a list of all items that were not damaged.
  3. Take photographs of each damaged item on your list.
  4. Take photographs of the standing floodwater levels.  
  5. Gather receipts or other documentation establishing the values and dates of purchase for each damaged item.

Don’t throw away any of the damaged items before an adjuster has evaluated it, unless officials require you to do so. If you are required to do so, take any samples of the damages items that you can, such as carpet, wood from the structure, sheetrock, and others.  

3.     Complete & File a “Proof of Loss”

Your adjuster should be able to provide you with the appropriate proof of loss document to be completed. The proof of loss must be filed within 60 days of the flood, which is required before any claim can be paid out. Once that is filed, you should receive a settlement offer for the payment of your losses. If you accept the offer, the insurance company will send you a check in the amount of the offer you accepted. If you reject the offer and cannot form an agreement with the insurance company, you may need to hire an attorney as there are certain time limitations for filing property damage claims with the courts.

What If I Don’t Have Flood Insurance?

If you don’t have flood insurance, you should immediately file an application for assistance with FEMA by visiting https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or calling 1-800-621-3362.

Selecting a Contractor to Rebuild or Perform Repairs

Before hiring and paying a contractor to rebuild or perform repairs, I strongly suggest that you research whether the contractor is properly qualified, licensed, and insured. You can perform a search by visiting the following website, which provides some of that information: http://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/contractor-search/. Additionally, ask the contractor to provide you with proof of insurance and addresses to properties that he/she performed work on in the past. If the owner of the properties allows, you may want to take a look at that property before hiring the contract to examine the quality of his/her work.

By:       Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area insurance litigation attorney, licensed in Louisiana.

Danny Russell is a Baton Rouge lawyer who has experience dealing with the insurance companies and evaluating his clients’ damages. If you have suffered property damage as a result from the recent floods in Louisiana, call the Russell Law Firm. We will contact your insurance company and demand that they make payment for your damages.

****INFORMATION FURNISHED HEREIN IS ONLY GENERAL AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONALIZED LEGAL ADVICE.

****The photograph above is not a depiction of any actual event or scene, but merely a dramatization. 

Flood Insurance Policies – Know Yours

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I believe that I speak for most in the Baton Rouge and Acadiana areas when I say that these recent storms and the resulting flooding has completely taken me by surprise. The photos on Facebook of flooding are devastating.

If your property has been damaged due to these floods, I highly suggest that you call your insurance company and ask for a copy of your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy so that you can determine whether you have the appropriate flood coverage. You are only covered up to the policy limits that you selected for your policy, and, unfortunately, if any losses exceed those limits, you may have to pay out-of-pocket for the repairs to your home and replacement of your belongings. Therefore, it is very important to immediately review the terms of your policy so that you can begin to plan how to repair whatever damages you have sustained.

Many flood insurance policies provide the following coverage limits/maximum amounts that you can claim for payment of whatever flood-related damages you have sustained:

Coverage Type                                                          Coverage Limit

One to four-family structure                                       $250,000

One to four-family home contents                              $100,000

Other residential structures                                         $500,000

Other residential contents                                           $100,000

Business structure                                                       $500,000

Business contents                                                        $500,000

Renter contents                                                           $100,000

Flood insurance protects two types of insurable property: building and contents. The first covers your building, while the latter covers your possessions; neither covers the land they occupy. Building and contents coverage usually includes the following, but you need to see what your particular policy provides:

Building coverage usually includes:

  • The insured building and its foundation
  • The electrical and plumbing system
  • Central air conditioning equipment, furnaces, and water heaters
  • Refrigerators, cooking stoves, and built-in appliances such as dishwashers
  • Permanently installed carpeting over unfinished flooring

Contents coverage usually includes

  • Clothing, furniture, and electronic equipment
  •  Curtains
  • Portable and window air conditioners
  • Portable microwaves and dishwashers
  • Carpeting that is not already included in property coverage
  • Clothing washers and dryers

If you purchased your flood insurance policy through the National Flood Insurance Program, you may have a maximum coverage of $250,000 for property damage to the home and $100,000 for contents/personal belongings in the home. However, those coverages must have been purchased separately, and any excess coverage has to have been purchased by private insurance providers.

Lastly, it is important to note that most policies do not go into effect until 30 days after you purchase them. If you are unsure about whether or not your policy is active, call your local agent.

If you have any additional questions related to this topic and your circumstances, please feel free to contact the Russell Law Firm.

By:       Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area insurance litigation attorney, licensed in Louisiana.

Danny Russell is a Baton Rouge lawyer who has experience dealing with the insurance companies and evaluating his clients’ damages. If you have suffered property damage as a result from the recent floods in Louisiana, call the Russell Law Firm. We will contact your insurance company and demand that they make payment for your damages.

****INFORMATION FURNISHED HEREIN IS ONLY GENERAL AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONALIZED LEGAL ADVICE.

****The photograph above is not a depiction of any actual event or scene, but merely a dramatization. 

7 Steps to Take After a Car Accident

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  1. Remain at the Scene: You should remain at the scene until it is appropriate to do so. If you leave, you may face criminal charges for “hit-and-run” or other penalties, especially if someone sustained injuries or was killed.
  2. Check Everyone Involved: Make sure everyone involved in the accident is okay. If you or someone else has been injured, call 911 or a local emergency medical service (EMS). If someone is unconscious or is in pain, do not move them unless an imminent emergency or hazard requires doing so.
  3. Assess Property Damage: Assess and take pictures of all property damage to all vehicles involved in the crash.
  4. Speak to Witnesses: Ask all witnesses what he/she saw, then get their names and contact information.
  5. Call the Police: Call the local or state police if physical or property damage has been sustained. Upon arrival, obtain the name and badge number of the responding officer. Also, request an incident number and ask that a police report be filed.
  6. Exchange Information: Get the names, phone numbers, email address, physical and mailing addresses, drivers’ license numbers, license plate numbers, insurance information, and make and model of the vehicles from all drivers and passengers involved in the automobile crash. In talking to the other drivers, try to be cordial and cooperative.
  7. Consult an Attorney: Once you have been allowed to leave the scene and/or have sought medical attention, it is best to consult with an experience attorney. The attorney will inform you of your rights and will relieve you of dealing with insurance companies. The attorney will also help you maximize your recovery if you have suffered damages.

By: Danny Russell, Baton Rouge area personal injury attorney, licensed in Louisiana.

Danny Russell is a Baton Rouge car accident lawyer who has experience dealing with insurance companies and handling personal injury claims. If you have been involved in a car accident in Baton Rouge or anywhere else in Louisiana, contact a car accident attorney at the Russell Law Firm in Baton Rouge. We will help you schedule the proper treatment and deal with the insurance companies for your vehicle repairs and personal injury claims.

****INFORMATION FURNISHED HEREIN IS ONLY GENERAL AND NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONALIZED LEGAL ADVICE.
****The photograph above is not a depiction of any actual event or scene, but merely a dramatization.