Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles LLP

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Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles is a premier regional law firm concentrating in legal counseling and complex, high-stakes litigation from offices in Louisiana and Mississippi. We are on the forefront of the industries we serve and pride ourselves on unwavering responsiveness to client needs.

Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles LLP
755 Magazine St
New Orleans LA 70130
Tel: 504 581-5141
Fax: 504 566-1201

Professional Liability

Deutsch, Kerrigan & Stiles has been a leader in professional liability defense for more than fifty years. We have successfully defended accountants; architects, engineers and design professionals; attorneys; directors and officers; employers in employment claims; insurance agents, brokers and adjusters; medical practitioners; non-profit entities; real estate brokers; and securities sales representatives. If you are a professional or insurer of professionals in Louisiana or Mississippi, let us partner with you today.

Accountants
DK&S has represented accountants and accounting firms in a number of contexts, including audits, tax, conflicts of interest, cost reporting, and securities fraud. In one auditing case, a favorable standard was established for the statute of limitations for accountants. The firm has also served as risk-prevention counsel for several carriers, assisting insureds in avoiding claims.

Architects, Engineers and Design Professionals
Several DK&S attorneys are trained in architecture or engineering and focus primarily on construction litigation and construction-related professional liability defense. The latter includes errors & omissions as well as the defense of personal injury and property damage claims resulting from the construction process or design error. The firm has been involved in several sentinel cases involving statute of limitations and statute of repose as they address claims against architects, engineers, and surveyors. Since many design professionals have contracts containing mandatory mediation and/or arbitration provisions, DK&S lawyers practicing in this field have extensive experience in ADR procedures and strategies.

Attorneys
DK&S has defended hundreds of legal malpractice claims through various carriers, including the endorsed insurers for the Louisiana State Bar. Our experience has covered a variety of situations, including claims against attorneys for the adverse party (e.g., defamation and malicious prosecution claims), conflicts of interest, failure to communicate settlement offers, negligent handling of bankruptcies, negligent handling of trials, settlement of a minor’s lawsuit, patent malpractice, RICO, and security fraud. Favorable rulings have generally been upheld by the appellate courts, creating beneficial jurisprudence in the area. We have also filed amicus briefs before the Louisiana Supreme Court, including the leading case on the statute of limitations applicable to attorneys.

Directors and Officers
DK&S defends business entities and their directors and officers against allegations of inappropriate action or lack of action, violations of securities laws, and breach of fiduciary duties.

Employment
DK&S has been helping clients resolve labor and employment issues since 1957. Some of the many Employment Practices Liability (EPL) claims we have defended include alleged discrimination and harassment based on race, sex, age, religion, and disability, as well as ERISA issues and other allegations of wrongful treatment or termination. The firm has also handled several class action employment cases.

Insurance Agents, Brokers, and Adjusters
DK&S has defended insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters against claims of errors and omissions. This is particularly true following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when numerous claims arose alleging failure to advise on or secure flood insurance, misrepresentation of coverage under property insurance policies, failure to alert as to any “concurrent causation clauses” in the homeowner policy, and failure to properly adjust and estimate property damage in a timely manner.

Medical Practitioners,
Medical Facilities and Nursing Homes
DK&S defends physicians and other medical professionals, as well as hospitals and medical facilities, against claims of medical malpractice and failure to properly treat and handle patients. We have experience in handling complex cases in front of juries that include issues of brain damage, quadriplegia, and death.

Non-Profit Entities
Non-profit entities are not immune to professional liability claims. DK&S has assisted non-profit entities with employment complaints and claims against directors or officers of the organization.

Real Estate Brokers
Real Estate Brokers owe a fiduciary duty to their clients. DK&S defends real estate brokers when allegations of a breach of that duty are made through errors and omissions or other circumstances.

Securities Sales Representatives
DK&S attorneys have extensive experience in representing stockbrokers and other sales representatives in connection with the sale of securities. This representation includes claims filed in federal and state courts, as well as arbitrations overseen by FINRA (formerly NASD).