Wilton E. Bland, III
Will graduated from Tulane University School of Law in 1975. Following graduation, he served as an Assistant District Attorney for Orleans Parish. In 1978, Will entered private practice and has been actively engaged in litigation in the state and federal courts for over 30 years. His practice includes maritime personal injury defense, maritime collision and property damage insurance coverage, contractual indemnity, longshore matters and general litigation. Will regularly represents the interests of vessel operators, both brown water and offshore, oilfield operators, and their insurors in matters involving personal injury, collisions, sinkings, products liability, toxic torts, and contractual disputes. Will has been awarded the “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which is the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards. He is admitted in all Louisiana state and federal courts, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He has handled numerous jury and bench trials to verdict in the the state and federal courts across Louisiana. Will is a memberof the Defense Counsel. Will currently writes the legal news column for the Ports Association of Louisiana’s monthly newsletter. Will has spoken at various maritime industry, workers’ compendation, insurance and casulaty seminars on a variety of subjects.
Position: Member
Admitted:
Louisiana, 1975
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1986
U.S. Supreme Court, 1986
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1978
U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1979
U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1984
Contact Numbers:
Cellular: (504) 494-9321
Home: (504) 484-7095
Born: December 2, 1950, New Orleans, Louisiana
Education:
Tulane Law School, New Orleans, LA, 1975
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1973
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Major: English
Published Works:
“Fifth Circuit Symposium-Admiralty”, 34 Loyola Law Review 599, 1989
Representative Cases:
Aintrainer v. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., 712 So.2d 590 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1998)
Port Arthur Towing Co. v. John W. Towing, Inc., 42 F.3d 312 (5th Circuit 1995)
Dehart v. Ferruzzi U.S.A., Inc., 663 So.2d 466 (4th Cir.1995)
Reed v. Iowa Marine and Repair Corp., 16 F.3d 82 (5th Cir. 1994)
Pichon v. Ocean Drilling and Exploration Co., 617 So.2d 38 (4th Cir. 1993)
Fortenberry v. ODECO, Inc., 607 So.2d 950 (4th Cir. 1992)
Lee v. Mississippi River Grain Elevator, Inc., 591 So.2d 1371 (4th Cir. 1992)
O’Bryan v. Folk Construction Co., 594 So.2d 900 (4th Cir. 1991)
Anderson v. St. Bernard Parish, 543 So.2d 537 (4th Cir. 1989)
Williams v. Hollywood Marine, Inc., 717 F.Supp. 437 (E.D. La. 1989)
White v. Cooper/T.Smith Corp., 690 F.Supp. 534 (E.D. La. 1988)
Kattleman v. Otis Engineering Corp., 696 F. Supp. 1111, 701 F.Supp. 560 (E.D. La. 1988)
Touchstone v. Land & Marine Applicators, Inc., 628 F.Supp. 1202 (E.D. La. 1986)
Philips v. Equitable Life Assurance Co., 413 So.2d 969 (4th Cir. 1982)
Seminars:
Combating Fraud Under The Act, Loyola Law School Annual Longshore Conference, 1999
Dealing With Workers’ Compensation Fraud, Industrial Safety And Rehabilitation Institute Seminar, 1998
Ethics Of The Fraudulent Compensation Claim, Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar, 1998
The Compulsory River Pilot, Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar, 1993
Punitive Damages, Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar, 1987
The Barge Sinking, A Panel Discussion, Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar, 1984
Affiliations:
Louisiana State Bar Association
Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor Member)
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel