Mediation

The attorneys of Degan, Blanchard & Nash are highly experienced litigators, who act as strategic advisors to our clients to implement alternative dispute measures when appropriate, including mediation. Mediation involves negotiation with the assistance of a trained facilitator, a neutral party who guides the mediation process by advising and listening to all sides, and who helps the parties arrive at a mutually agreeable settlement.

Mediation is sometimes the quickest and most cost-effective way to bring a dispute to resolution, either before any lawsuit is filed or during the course of litigation. The firm's attorneys consistently perform early investigation and evaluation, enabling the client to make strategic decisions which allow early settlement where practical, and defense of the case through trial when necessary.

The attorneys of Degan, Blanchard & Nash work closely with our clients to come to the best possible solution to implement alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, where practicable, settle cases upon economic ground if appropriate, and ardently defend its clients though litigation where warranted. Our goal is to provide comprehensive legal advice to our clients while presenting strategies for alternative dispute resolution to achieve the most positive outcome possible. We discuss each claim with our clients and listen to their concerns and questions to ensure that we address all current issues and any issues that may arise in the future.

Our attorneys are well-practiced in mediation with private mediators, in settlement conferences before judges, and within state and federal administrative law systems and where warranted can work toward bringing cases to settlement on terms favorable to its clients. We have successfully mediated cases involving numerous areas of law including insurance, maritime, construction, employment, transportation, workers’ compensation, professional malpractice, and products liability, among many others.

Degan, Blanchard & Nash’s attorneys are extremely mindful of the costs associated with the defense of litigation and strive to minimize costs to the greatest extent possible considering the potential economic exposure for the clients, while maximizing our results. In exploring alternative approaches to dispute resolution, such as mediation, it is our firm’s goal to assist our clients in resolving claims, both in litigation and before a dispute arises, by giving our clients the information they need to avoid unnecessary legal costs and bring claims to an effective and efficient resolution.

Practice Area Spotlight

Admiralty and Maritime

Degan, Blanchard & Nash employs dedicated attorneys with proficiency in admiralty and maritime law. The practice of Admiralty and Maritime law is a highly focused area of law that is not widely practiced throughout the United States. As one of the oldest branches of law, harkening back to ancient times, maritime law today covers a broad area of issues, ranging from injuries and working conditions at sea to shipping and commerce, navigation, collisions, ….

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Construction

Navigating a complex construction project requires assistance from an experienced legal team well-prepared to tackle the issues that regularly arise on the construction site. During any phase of a construction project, disagreements can turn into bitter disputes over insurability, schedule, cost, and quality of the end product.

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Professional Liability

Our professional liability defense group is comprised of attorneys with unsurpassed expertise in defending professionals from a variety of industries, including claims involving medical/healthcare providers, the legal/accounting industries, real estate agents/brokers, insurance agents/brokers, design professionals/architects and engineers, financial planners, investment advisors, and other professional disciplines.

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Property and Casualty

Through its many years of experience, Degan, Blanchard & Nash's property litigation section attorneys has developed a technical expertise in handling a wide array of property cases involving both commercial and residential properties. With offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this includes defense of claims due to the weather - e.g., for damage occurring as a result of storms or extreme temperatures.

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Trucking and Commercial Vehicle

In short, we know the commercial vehicle and trucking business. We recognize the integral role commercial trucking plays in the economy and can help clients navigate the myriad of federal and state laws that may apply.

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Workers' Compensation Defense

Employers spend millions of dollars every year settling workers' compensation claims that might otherwise have been reduced or dismissed. At Degan, Blanchard & Nash, our attorneys defend cases involving work-related injury or disease, from the most minor to the most severe. While the workers' compensation courts prefer to settle disputes through mediation, there are cases which require litigation. This is when a work-related legal dispute moves to the courts and a workers' compensation lawyer is required.

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Longshore and Harbor
Workers' Compensation Act
and Defense Base Act

Originally began as a maritime defense law firm, Degan, Blanchard & Nash has diversified from its traditional role primarily in the Louisiana and Texas maritime area into, among other areas, the "blue water" and international marine fields. The firm's approach is to consistently reflect our attorneys' broad knowledge and deep understanding of admiralty and insurance coverage law together with effective representation of the clients, the cornerstone of our longstanding client relationships.

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Insurance Coverage and Litigation

Degan, Blanchard & Nash's insurance coverage practice has many decades of combined experience in providing insurance coverage advice and in defending insurers in coverage litigation. The coverage group maintains its national expertise and handles claims and litigation arising in all fifty states. Although the insurance coverage group focuses exclusively on the coverage advice and litigation needs of insurers, our coverage lawyers are also skilled in defending liability issues, especially in Louisiana where, due to the state's Direct Action Statute, insurers are most often sued directly by plaintiffs.

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