F. Charles “Chip” Marionneaux is a partner of our firm. Since being admitted to the Louisiana bar in 1987, his practice has focused on civil and criminal litigation. During his career, Chip has been lead counsel and co-counsel in state and federal litigation representing clients ranging from Fortune 50 companies to local businesses, governmental agencies, and individuals. His practice areas include toxic torts, mass torts, class action defense, business litigation, complex litigation, property disputes, wrongful termination, corporate and individual criminal defense (white-collar and heavy felony), wrongful death, civil and criminal appeals, and state and federal grand jury matters.

Before joining our firm, Chip was a partner at Marionneaux & Marionneaux, APLC, in his hometown of Plaquemine, LA. He has always been active within the 18th JDC (comprised of Iberville, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge Parishes) and was a long time president of the 18th Judicial District Bar Association.

From 2014 - 2017, Chip was in-house litigation counsel for one of his longstanding clients, Axiall Corporation (an international chemical manufacturer). In that role, he crafted litigation strategy and managed cases and investigations across the United States and Canada, as well as directly representing the company and its subsidiaries in federal and state civil and administrative matters.

After three years as an in-house counsel, Chip returned to private practice. He chose Bienvenu, Foco & Viator because of our firm’s philosophy of treating clients as partners and our innovative approach to litigation.

Litigation Experience:

• Succ’n of Doucet, cons’d w/ Brown v. Doucet – Successfully defeated attempts to interdict and disqualify trustee and succession executor (No. 2007567, consolidated with No. 1045085, 18th Judicial District Court, Parish of West Baton Rouge, Nov. 2019).
• Ayers, et al. v. Packaging Corporation of America, et al. – Successfully defeated remand attempts in multiple wrongful death, survival, and other actions removed to federal Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana and arising out of February 2017 explosion at a Deridder, Louisiana paper mill, obtaining dismissals without prejudice of claims against all non-diverse defendants (No. 18-00289, 2018 WL 4473889 (W.D. La. Aug. 30, 2018), report and recommendation adopted by, 2018 WL 4473822 (W.D. La. Sept. 18, 2018)), and related cases:
• Delarosa v. Packaging Corporation of America, et al., No. 18-186, 2018 WL 4869420 (W.D. La. Aug. 30, 2018), report and recommendation adopted by, 2018 WL 5987019 (W.D. La. Nov. 13, 2018)
• Gooch, et al. v. Packaging Corporation of America, et al., No. 18-00279, 2018 WL 4869425 (W.D. La. Aug. 30, 2018), report and recommendation adopted by, 2018 WL 6036550 (W.D. La. Nov. 14, 2018)
• McDaniel, et al. v. Packaging Corporation of America, et al., No. 18-792, 2018 WL 6626597 (W.D. La. Oct. 31, 2018), report and recommendation adopted by, 2018 WL 6626581(W.D. La. Dec. 18, 2018)
• Rolls, et al. v. Packaging Corporation of America, et al., No. 18-188, 2018 WL 4869417 (W.D. La. Aug. 30, 2018), report and recommendation adopted by, 2018 WL6174169 (W.D. La. Nov. 26, 2018)
• Stallworth, et al. v. Packaging Corporation of America, et al., No. 18-440, 2018 WL 4869198 (W.D. La. Aug. 30, 2018), report and recommendation adopted by, 2018 WL 6532988 (W.D. La. Dec. 10, 2018)
• Johnson, et al. v. Packaging Corporation of America, et al., No. 18-613, 2019 WL 1271053 (M.D. La. Feb. 27, 2019), report and recommendation adopted by, 2019 WL 1271009 (M.D. La. Mar. 18, 2019)
• Sanchez v. Shintech Louisiana, LLC – Lead counsel for an international chemical manufacturer in action based on the death of contract worker during construction of manufacturing facility (2013 WL 1296526 (M.D. La. March 27, 2013), denying a motion to remand the action to state court).
• Sims v. American Ins. Co. – Lead counsel for insurers in occupational exposure brain cancer case (101 So.3d 1 (La. 2012), reversing appellate court and reinstating district court ruling dismissing the claim as prescribed, holding that earlier, voluntarily dismissed federal court suit could not interrupt prescription on estate's subsequent survival claims).
• Spanish Lake Wildlife Refuge & Botanical Gardens, Inc. v. Parish of Ascension ex rel. Martinez – Counsel for Iberville Parish in action for injunction and damages allegedly resulting from Parish’s opening Alligator Bayou floodgate (2012 WL 1580760 (La. Ct.App. 1 Cir. 5/4/2012) affirming partial summary judgment in favor of Iberville Parish).
• Guidry v. Georgia Gulf Lake Charles, LLC – Co-lead counsel for a chemical manufacturer in mass tort litigation arising from facility fire (2011 WL 6169418 (W.D. La., Lake Charles Div. 6/16/2011) adopting Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that summary judgment is granted in favor of chemical manufacturer).
• Martinez v. Caldwell – Lead counsel in federal habeas corpus proceeding brought on behalf of state criminal defendant accused of second-degree murder (2010 WL 1385024 (M.D. La. 3/29/2010), district court ruling granting a writ of habeas corpus on grounds of double jeopardy and rejecting the recommendation of Magistrate Judge).
• Distefano v. Tunica-Biloxi Indian Tribe of Louisiana – Lead counsel for plaintiff in wrongful death action against Indian tribe (2009 WL 2777164 (W.D. La., Alexandria Div. 8/28/2009) district court decision granting plaintiff’s motion to remand).
• Crafton v. River West Medical Center – Co-counsel for hospital sued after revoking physician’s privileges (2008 WL 4764337 (La. Ct.App. 1 Cir. 10/31/2008) (affirming summary judgment in favor of hospital).
• Francois v. Georgia Gulf Lake Charles, LLC – Co-Lead counsel for chemical manufacturer sued in class and mass actions brought by community members arising from facility fire (2007 WL 5208856 (W.D. La., Lake Charles Div., 11/30/2007), district court decision adopting Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that motion remand be denied).
• Molden v. Georgia Gulf Corp. – Co-Lead counsel for chemical manufacturer sued by more than 5,000 community members on account of the fire in phenol unit (465 F.Supp.2d 606 (M.D. La. 11/14/2006), granting summary judgment in favor of the chemical company and dismissing plaintiffs’ claims).
• Sanchez v. Georgia Gulf Corp. – Lead counsel for chemical manufacture sued for wrongful termination based on employee’s failed drug test (860 So.2d 277 (La. Ct.App. 1 Cir. 11/12/2003) reversing summary judgment granted in favor of the employee and rendering summary judgment in favor of the employer, holding that drug-testing statute did not prohibit an employer from discharging at-will employee, even though employer failed to comply with statutory procedures for conducting a drug test) writ denied, 869 So.2d 877 (La. 2004).
• Greene v. Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. – Lead counsel for chemical manufacture sued by former employee seeking continuation of disability benefits (207 F.Supp.2d 537 (M.D. La. 6/7/2002), decision granting summary judgment in favor of the company.
• Keller v. City of Plaquemine – Co-Lead counsel for sheriff’s deputy injured during a traffic stop (700 So.2d 1285 (La. Ct.App. 1 Cir. 9/23/1997), affirming trial court judgment in favor of deputy and against a police officer and employing municipality), writ denied, 706 So.2d 977 (La. 1998).

Education/Background:

• Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D. (1987)
• Partner – Marionneaux & Marionneaux, APLC (1992 – 2014)
• Senior In-House Counsel – Axiall Corporation and Westlake Chemical Corporation (2014-2017)

Admissions:

• Louisiana
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
• United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
• United States Supreme Court
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Associations:

• Bar Association of the 18th Judicial District (Past President)
• Baton Rouge Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Lifetime Member)
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
• Louisiana Bar Association
• LUBA Workers’ Comp, Baton Rouge, LA – President and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Member 1998 – Present [President and Chairman since 2006])

Lecturer:

• Defending Against Today’s Most Significant Trial Threat: “Toxic Soup” – Panel Presentation at DRI Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Seminar, New Orleans, LA (March 23, 2017).
• IN-HOUSE PERSPECTIVES: Managing the Continuing Evolution Towards the Virtual Law Firm in Complex Litigation – Panel Presentation at the 5th Annual Chemical Products Liability and Environmental Litigation, Chicago, IL (April 29, 2014).

Community Involvement:

• Baton Rouge Assembly
• Episcopal School of Baton Rouge – Coach of Mock Trial Team
• LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center’s Vinson-Elkins Trial Advocacy Program – Instructor
• St. Aloysius Church
• The Peoples’ Court (Criminal Law Section) in Iberville Parish, LA – Presenter

Recognition & Awards:

• Martindale-Hubbell – AV Rated