Kyle Schonekas

CIVIL

LafargeHolcim, Hard Rock Hotel Collapse litigation
Elias Membreno et al v. 1031 Canal Investments, LLC, et al, CDC, No. 19-10819
(defending concrete manufacturer in over 40 lawsuits related to hotel collapse)

Brad Pitt
Lloyd Francis, et al v. Make It Right-New Orleans, LLC, et al, CDC, No. 18-8977;
(defending celebrity in class action suit over alleged defects to Make It Right homes)

Robert Rosenthal, trustee for Tom Benson trusts
Thomas Benson, Jr. v. Robert A. Rosenthal, Trustee, EDLA, Civil No. 15-782
(represented owners of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans in litigation concerning ownership of over a $1 billion in stock)

Sofia Vergara
Nick Loeb, Human Embryo #3 HB-A, and Human Embryo #4 HB-A v. Sofia Vergara, 25th JDC No. 64217; 313 So. 3d 346 (La. Ct. App. 2021)
(defending client in lawsuits filed to obtain custody and control of frozen embryos, against client’s wishes and in violation of contract signed by the parties)

Curt Kuchta – Captain, Deepwater Horizon
In the Matter of the Fire and Explosion on the Deepwater Horizon, U.S. Coast Guard and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Joint Investigation
(defended Captain of the Deepwater Horizon in federal investigation into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill)

George Rodrigue
George Godfrey Rodrigue v. Veronica Hildalgo Rodrigue, EDLA, Civil No. 95-2862
(defended Louisiana artist over ownership of the copyright of the famous “Blue Dog”)

Taxpayers lawsuit against tobacco lawyers
Frederick W. Swaim, Jr. v. Richard F. Ieyoub and Badon & Ranier, 19th JDC, No. 471238
(brought class action lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana taxpayers against Louisiana tobacco lawyers for illegal contingency fee contract)

Taxpayers lawsuit regarding Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Robert Marrero, et al v. Robert Houston Ogden, et al, 19th JDC, No. 519,881
(brought class action lawsuit on behalf of Louisiana taxpayers related to funding of private museum with public money)

City of New Orleans
Hill v. City of New Orleans, EDLA, Civil No. 13-2463
(defended City of New Orleans in wrongful conviction claim)

CRIMINAL

Judge Thomas Porteous
In Re Grand Jury Subpoena, EDLA, Misc. No. 04-29
(defended sitting federal judge in Federal Criminal Investigation)

Fred Heebe, River Birch
Heebe v. Henry L. Mencken1951, EDLA, Civil No. 12-928
(unmasked Assistant U.S. Attorney as online commenter, resulting in closing of a criminal investigation and dismissal of charges)

Dr. Howard Lippton
United States v. Howard Lippton, M.D., EDLA, Crim. No. 01-136
(defended doctor in New Orleans brothel investigation)

Darren Sharper
United States v. Darren Sharper, EDLA, Criminal No. 14-284
(defended former Saints player against rape charges)

EXPERT WITNESS TESTIMONY
Retained and testified as a legal expert in numerous matters in state and federal court.

Lourdes T. Archbold-Garrett, wife of/and David L. Garrett v. Bisso & Miller, LLC at al.
24th Judicial District Court, No. 803-469

Catherine Sylve, et al v. Charles Thomas, Vincent P. Scallan, et al
Civil District Court, No. 2016-10358

Guilbeau Marine, Inc., Formosa Plantation, LLC, at al. v. George J. Ledet, Jr.
17th Judicial District Court, No. 131186

Merlyn Cousins, Sr. v. Samuel Richard Exnicios, et al.,
Civil District Court, No. 1999-10502

Edward George, et al v. Borden Chemicals and Plastics, et al.,
Twenty Third Judicial District Court, No. 57,534 c/w No. 59,820

Walk Haydel & Associates, LLC v. Coastal Power and Production Company, et al.,
USDC, EDLA No. 05-1618

Lang v. Ward,
Twenty Second Judicial District Court, No. 2000-12436

Charles Ragusa & Son, Inc. and Charles Ragusa, Individually v. Paul McMahon, III,
Nineteenth Judicial District Court, No. 434,199

Brennan’s, Inc. v. Edward Truck Colbert, et al.,
Civil District Court No. 2005-8471

Shannon Jones, et al. v. ABC Insurance Co. et al.,
Twenty Fourth Judicial District Court, No. 535-525

Tara House Condominium, et al. v. James River Insurance Company
Civil District Court, No. 2006-9840 c/w 2009-1665

Donald Tucker, et al. v. Richard Tonry, II, et al.
Civil District Court, No. 2011-11237

Magnificent Eight, et al. v. First NBC, et al.
USDC, EDLA, 13:5713 c/w 13:5714

ARBITRATION

Evans Industries, Inc. and J.D. Edward World Solutions Company,
American Arbitration Association (Arbitrator)

SPECIAL MASTER
Court appointed special master.

William W. Scott, et al. v. Historic Restoration, Inc., et al.,
Civil District Court No. 2002-1431

• Leadership in Law Award
  Chamber and Partners, Band 1 Litigation: White Collar Criminal and Government Investigations

• Louisiana Super Lawyers

• New Orleans Magazine, Top White Collar Criminal Defense, Top Rated “Bet the Company” Litigator and Top Commercial Litigator

• Marquis’ Who’s Who

• AV Rated Continuously Since First Year of Eligibility

• Frequent Lecturer on Trial Practice and Handling of High Profile Litigation

• Instructor – Trial Advocacy – Tulane Law School

• Arbitrator for AAA and NASD

• Winner:  Flory Trial Competition two consecutive years

• Member:  National Moot Court Team

• Joffroin v. Tufaro, 606 F.3d 235 (5th Cir. 2010)
• Rauch-Milliken Intern., Inc. v. Halprin, 30 So.3d 879 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/29/09)
• Neal Auction Co., Inc. v. Lafayette Ins. Co., 13 So.3d 1135, (La. App. 4 Cir. 4/29/09)
• Omega Center for Pain Management, L.L.C. v. Omega Institute of Health, Inc., 975 So. 2d 48 (La. App. 5th Cir. 12/27/07)
• Boutin v. Rodrigue, 969 So. 2d 713 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 10/31/07)
• Garza v. Louisiana State Racing Com’n, 961 So. 2d 1283 (La. App. 4th Cir. 06/20/07)
• Jesco Const. Corp. v. Nationsbank Corp., 830 So.2d 989 (La. 2002).
• Rodrigue v. Rodrigue, 218 F.3d 432 (La. App. 5th Cir. 2000).
• Byers v. Edmondson, 712 So.2d 681 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1998).
• Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc. v. Flatt, 670 So.2d 537 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1996).
• Dye v. Schwegmann Bros. Giant Supermarkets, Inc. 627 So.2d 688 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1993)
• Dutton & Vaughan, Inc. v. Spurney, 600 So.2d 693 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1992).
• Palmisano v. Mascaro, 611 So.2d 632 (La. App. 4th Cir. 1992).
• Abell v. Potomac Ins. Co. of Illinois, 946 F.2d 1160 (5th Cir. 1991).

• Schonekas, Evans, McGoey & McEachin, L.L.C.
  New Orleans, Louisiana
  Managing Member
  1999 – Present
• Stone, Pigman, Walther, Wittmann & Hutchinson, L.L.P.
  New Orleans, Louisiana
  Partner , 1984-1998
• Stone, Pigman, Walther, Wittmann & Hutchinson, L.L.P.
  New Orleans, Louisiana
  Litigation Associate
  1979-1984
• United States District Court
  Law Clerk to the Honorable Frederick J.R. Heebe, Chief Judge
  New Orleans, Louisiana
  1978-1979

• Arbitrator for American Arbitration Association
• Member: New Orleans, Louisiana State, Federal and American Bar Associations