DeRidder Lawyers

S. Christie Smith IV is the senior partner of SmithBush, LLP, a regional Louisiana law firm originally established in 1911 to represent laborers--and too often their widows and children--who were harmed by the burgeoning and unregulated timber industry in the rural South. Mr. Smith's work today is the modern extension of that century-old practice, in a broader, litigation-based platform. As a consumer advocate and lawyer-in-the-trenches, he has spent his career representing regular people in the fight for safer working conditions, reliable products, civil rights, and fair access to the courts. His practice focuses on litigating wrongful...

Attorney J. Michael Veron is an active trial lawyer, litigating a variety of civil and criminal cases involving such diverse matters as personal injuries, securities fraud, toxic torts, breaches of trust, construction disputes, school board elections and civil rights claims.

James E. Sudduth, III is the founder and driving force behind Sudduth and Associates, LLC. As a Lake Charles native, he witnessed the lack of growth and direction present in his beloved city and decided to become the force of change the city needed. James knew that to accomplish this goal he would have to temporarily relocate to Baton Rouge. After law school, James returned home to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s office, and during his tenure he was promoted to Misdemeanor Section Chief. When offered a second promotion to the Felony Division,...

Personal Injury Attorney practicing in the areas of Offshore & Serious Personal Injury. Personal Injury - All Types; Offshore/Jones Act; Construction Accidents; Automobile Accidents; 18-Wheeler Accidents; Wrongful Death, Paralysis, Burns, Amputations, Electrocutions, Head Neck and Back Injuries; Free Consultation - No Fees, Costs, or Expenses if No Recovery. W. Taylor Hale was selected by Super Lawyer magazine as a Rising Star in 2015-2020. W. Taylor Hale is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum - The Top Trial Lawyers in America, which requires a settlement or verdict over one million dollars on behalf of...

(taken from firm website: RichardsonAndGuarisco.com):
Nick graduated from St. Paul’s High School in Covington, Louisiana, in 2008, before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, with a concentration on Public Relations and Journalism, as well as a minor in Business Administration, at Louisiana State University. He was a Cum Laude Honors Graduate who finished third in his graduating class at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication in December 2012.

While attending Tulane University Law School, Nick was elected as the Senior Managing Editor of The Sports Lawyers Journal, Vol. 23. He graduated in 2016 and was admitted to the...

In 1989, Jimmy began the firm of Simien & Simien, LLC with emphasis on Admiralty and Maritime, Class Actions, Constitutional Law, Criminal Defense, Mass Tort, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and other major litigation. Other areas in which the firm has extensive experience include Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Claims, Constitutional Law, Bankruptcy, Commercial Law and limited Criminal Defense matters. During his tenure with the firm, Jimmy was chosen by his peers to be section chief of the ATLA Litigation Committee involving CCA (Chromated Cooper Arsenate) Wood. The focus of that Committee was on litigation pertaining to CCA pressure treated wood,...

Linda S. Melancon is an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning,
Elder Law, Medicaid and VA benefit’s planning, Special Needs Planning, and Estate
Administration (Probate, Successions and Trust Administration).
Linda is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, certified by the
Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. She is also accredited by the Veterans Administration to
give advice regarding veterans’ benefits.

Linda graduated magna cum laude from Mercer University with a double major in business
administration and history and then attended Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law
Center where she graduated with her law degree in 1997.

While in law school, Linda received the Order...

Scott was recently selected as a 2018 Super Lawyers Rising Star, awarded to 2.5% of attorneys under 40. He was selected for the 2016 and 2017 “Top 10 under 40” award by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, as well as the 2016 and 2017 Louisiana “10 Best Attorneys” by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys for client satisfaction. He was also named as a Louisiana top 10 Attorney by Attorney and Practice Magazine for 2017.

Scott graduated cum laude from the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law center in 2015. During law school, Scott prepared for a career...

Upon leaving full-time status at the L.S.U Law Center, Eulis became a member of the Simien & Simien Law Firm. Eulis is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Fifth and Eleventh Circuit United States Courts of Appeals, all federal district courts in Louisiana, the Louisiana Supreme Court and all inferior state courts. Eulis Simien maintains a general trial and appellate practice with emphasis on the areas of Personal Injury, Admiralty and Maritime, Class Actions, Complex Litigation and Criminal Defense. Speaking Engagements & Literary Works: Starting Your Own Practice (Panel Discussion), LSU Law Center, August, 2006...

Mark Simien graduated from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He began working in the chemical industry as an Operator/Processor. During his tenure with the chemical industry, Mark worked as both a relief supervisor, being placed in charge of several plant improvement projects, as well as relief supervisor for plant operations. Mark also worked as relief supervisor for the plant’s laboratory and was in charge of maintaining the scheduled and special testing necessary to maintain operations and shipments of the plant. Mark took this valuable experience with him to law school and then into practice when he...

Allen Parish Wills & Successions Attorney

Erin Abrams is an associate attorney practicing domestic law. She was born and raised in southern California, where attended San Diego State University, played Division I water polo, and had the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Oxford. Erin finished her Juris Doctorate at the Paul M. Hebert School of Law at Louisiana State University, was an inaugural member of the Order of the Barristers, and a part of the Trial Advocacy Board. Erin is zealous about the courtroom, understanding the unique and emotional situations her clients face, and highly respects and protects the trust they place in her...

Rock graduated from LSU Law School in 1992 and from LSU with a bachelor's degree in 1987. While at LSU Law School he was selected to the Moot Court Board. He is a partner in the firm of Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson in Lake Charles. The firm handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases particularly in the areas of maritime, petrochemical, products liability, medical malpractice and automobile negligence. He is a member of the Judge Albert Tate American Inn of Court, American Board of Trial Advocates, LSU Law Center Chancellor's Council, and the Louisiana Association for Justice. ...

Randall is somewhat of a rarity among attorneys - one that brings a great deal of "real world" experience to the practice of law. Randall earned a living as a chemical engineer and a construction company owner before choosing the law as his third (and final) profession over 15 years ago. Randy graduated near the top of his chemical engineering class from Louisiana State University and worked as a process engineer with a major chemical company for several years. Randy's engineering background has proven valuable in the law practice time and time again, as having a firm grasp of mathematics...

John “Lee” Hoffoss founded Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers, in 2010. He focuses his practice primarily on commercial litigation, labor and employment litigation, and personal injury cases, including those involving the Jones Act and maritime law. He has successfully litigated cases ranging from 18-wheeler accidents, to wage and hour litigation, to faulty medical devices. Lee brings more than twenty years of legal experience to the table, and he utilizes his legal acumen to fight for his clients to ensure they receive the justice they deserve. His willingness to fight can be seen in the results he achieves. Lee has obtained multiple multi-million-dollar...

A former Louisiana Supreme Court clerk and practicing appellate attorney since 1992, Ms. Archer assists Louisiana trial attorneys with high stakes appeals. Visit her website at www.leeaarcher.com

Hello! My name is Tom Shea. I am a family law attorney practicing in Southwest Louisiana. In 2017, I started Tom Shea Family Law, LLC to help people with difficult family law issues. My practice is focused exclusively on family law: divorce, community property, child custody, child support, spousal support, relocations, modifications, contempt and other types of enforcement. I have handled several hundred family law cases at the district court level. I have also successfully litigated cases through the Third Circuit Court of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court. I...

Aaron is a life long resident of Sulphur, Louisiana. He graduated from Sulphur High School in 1998 and graduated from McNeese four years later. He attended Tulane Law School in New Orleans, and began practicing law at the age of 25. In law school, Aaron was a lead member of Tulane's National Moot Court Trial Team. He was also selected for Tulane's Law Clinic which allows senior students to represent real clients while still in school. Aaron dedicated his law clinic experience to assisting victims of domestic violence in New Orleans. He also graduated with a Certificate...

Originally from Oakdale, John graduated from Oakdale High School in 2008. He set off for New Orleans to study finance at Tulane University and, in 2012, graduated with his B.S.M.

After college, John attended Tulane University Law School. While at Tulane, John discovered his love for litigation and trial. He represented Tulane's American Association for Justice Mock Trial Team in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, his 2L year and coached the team in his 3L year. In addition to his participation in mock trial, John served as a student attorney for the Tulane Domestic Violence Clinic, where he fought for the rights of...

Over 20 years in general civil practice focusing primarily on real estate and business work but with experience in number of other legal fields including litigation , succession/probate, and oil and gas.