Patterson Personal Injury Lawyers

Our firm specializes in taking the stress and worry away from our clients. When clients sign up with our firm, they can meet their medical appointments and eventually get back to their lives knowing that we will take care of them.

Attorney Walter Gabriel has recently been selected Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association and is peer-rated AV Preeminent for highest level of professional excellence. Millions of dollars have been recovered for clients of the Law Firm of Walter Gabriel.

Steve Harrelson is licensed to practice law in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, and his practice areas include catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. Steve practices throughout the three state region in state and federal courts. In addition to litigating complex issues inside the courtroom, Steve is also experienced in private negotiations, mediations, and seeking remedies at the administrative level. While Steve enjoys many areas of the legal arena, his passion is preparing for and engaging in the trial by jury. Steve believes in the constitutional right to trial by jury and is willing to protect and preserve this...

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...

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,...

The truth is, no lawyers win all their cases because legal matters vary on the merits. However, you deserve a lawyer you can trust who knows the law inside and out. We do not claim to be better than other law firms. It is your job to determine which lawyer is best for you and your case.

Joseph's practice primarily focuses on civil litigation and personal injury. Joseph has worked at various large firms across the state of Louisiana. Joseph received his Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana Tech University and his Juris Doctorate and Graduate Degree in Comparative Law from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. Joseph honorably served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and completed two combat tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning the rank of a Sergeant while serving in the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment. Along with all Louisiana state courts, Joseph...

As a sole practitioner, our firm's founder, Carl Henry Franklin, dedicates his practice to working one-on-one with each client. Although there are thousands of lawyers and law firms throughout Louisiana, few can match the personalized attention, access to resources, wealth of local knowledge and decades of experience our firm offers.

Marshall Rice is a personal injury trial attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Texas. Growing up, Marshall witnessed his father practice law and knew from a young age that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Marshall received a Bachelor of Science degree from Centenary College of Louisiana, followed by his law degree from Paul M. Herbert Law School at LSU. Marshall believes that everyone deserves quality representation and access to the courts. Not only does he exemplify the values of integrity, empathy, and diligence, but he instills these values in his staff as well. He has...

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.