Contact
Areas of Practice
Products Liability DefenseAviation Litigation
Oil and Gas Litigation
Environmental Litigation
Mass Tort Litigation
Admiralty and Maritime Litigation
Kenneth H. Laborde
Member
During Ken’s 40 years as a trial lawyer he has tried cases in a broad range of areas, including product liability defense, aviation, oil and gas, environmental litigation, mass tort, commercial and admiralty and maritime litigation. Ken has acted as lead trial counsel on behalf of his clients, including product manufacturers, technology companies, oil and gas companies and industrial contractors in connection with personal injury litigation and commercial disputes. Ken has served as lead counsel in more than 75 multi-party jury trials in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Pennsylvania courts, both state and federal, and in numerous other bench trials and arbitrations. He has also litigated complex cases to a successful conclusion in Arizona, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Hawaii. He has represented over 20 different Part 135 helicopter operators, as well as numerous fixed wing operators and FBO’s.
Ken’s career as a trial lawyer and success as an advocate was acknowledged by his peers through his election to Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2003, the most prestigious professional organization for attorneys in North America. Fellowship in the College is by invitation only, extended after careful and lengthy investigation.
The following cases are representative of the types of cases regularly tried by Ken:
- GE Betz, Inc. v. Moffitt-Johnson, Southern District Texas federal court: Represented GE in commercial claim asserting breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and unfair competition. After a three day jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of GE on those counts.
- Brazos River Authority v. Ionics, Western District Texas federal court in Waco, Texas: Commercial contract and warranty claim against client for damage to an Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR) desalination water treatment facility along the Brazos River. Defense verdict following a three week jury trial.
- Bice v. General Electric Co., Harris County, Texas: Defended GE against general product liability claims arising out of the death of a worker during the testing of a wind turbine generator. After a lengthy jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of GE.
- Anderson v. Bredero Shaw, Mobile County, Alabama District Court: Multi-plaintiff property damage and personal injury claims against client arising from environmental pollution allegedly emanating from a cement pipe coating facility. Defense verdict.
- Republic Petroleum v. Dynnamic Offshore Resources, NS, Harris County, Texas: Oil & gas breach of contract action against client arising out of a Production Handling Agreement. Plaintiff sought to recover in excess of $10,000,000. However, the jury awarded damages for less than 10% of that amount.
In three of the above occasions Ken was brought into the technical litigation as lead trial counsel shortly before the trial. This has occurred frequently and most often occurs 60 to 120 days prior to trial and therefore requires significant focus and preparation to lead a trial team on such short notice.
Ken received his Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University in 1975. Before entering law school, he pursued a graduate degree from Tulane University in the field of biomechanical engineering. He thereafter attended Loyola School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review (1978-1979). He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1979. He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Texas and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of Louisiana and Texas, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 11th Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court. Ken has been rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell since 1989.
Kenneth H. Laborde
Member
Contact
During Ken’s 40 years as a trial lawyer he has tried cases in a broad range of areas, including product liability defense, aviation, oil and gas, environmental litigation, mass tort, commercial and admiralty and maritime litigation. Ken has acted as lead trial counsel on behalf of his clients, including product manufacturers, technology companies, oil and gas companies and industrial contractors in connection with personal injury litigation and commercial disputes. Ken has served as lead counsel in more than 75 multi-party jury trials in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida and Pennsylvania courts, both state and federal, and in numerous other bench trials and arbitrations. He has also litigated complex cases to a successful conclusion in Arizona, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Hawaii. He has represented over 20 different Part 135 helicopter operators, as well as numerous fixed wing operators and FBO’s.
Ken’s career as a trial lawyer and success as an advocate was acknowledged by his peers through his election to Fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2003, the most prestigious professional organization for attorneys in North America. Fellowship in the College is by invitation only, extended after careful and lengthy investigation.
Areas of Practice
Products Liability DefenseAviation Litigation
Oil and Gas Litigation
Environmental Litigation
Mass Tort Litigation
Admiralty and Maritime Litigation
Curriculum Vitae
The following cases are representative of the types of cases regularly tried by Ken:
- GE Betz, Inc. v. Moffitt-Johnson, Southern District Texas federal court: Represented GE in commercial claim asserting breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and unfair competition. After a three day jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of GE on those counts.
- Brazos River Authority v. Ionics, Western District Texas federal court in Waco, Texas: Commercial contract and warranty claim against client for damage to an Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR) desalination water treatment facility along the Brazos River. Defense verdict following a three week jury trial.
- Bice v. General Electric Co., Harris County, Texas: Defended GE against general product liability claims arising out of the death of a worker during the testing of a wind turbine generator. After a lengthy jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict in favor of GE.
- Anderson v. Bredero Shaw, Mobile County, Alabama District Court: Multi-plaintiff property damage and personal injury claims against client arising from environmental pollution allegedly emanating from a cement pipe coating facility. Defense verdict.
- Republic Petroleum v. Dynnamic Offshore Resources, NS, Harris County, Texas: Oil & gas breach of contract action against client arising out of a Production Handling Agreement. Plaintiff sought to recover in excess of $10,000,000. However, the jury awarded damages for less than 10% of that amount.
In three of the above occasions Ken was brought into the technical litigation as lead trial counsel shortly before the trial. This has occurred frequently and most often occurs 60 to 120 days prior to trial and therefore requires significant focus and preparation to lead a trial team on such short notice.
Ken received his Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University in 1975. Before entering law school, he pursued a graduate degree from Tulane University in the field of biomechanical engineering. He thereafter attended Loyola School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review (1978-1979). He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1979. He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Texas and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts of Louisiana and Texas, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 11th Circuits and the U.S. Supreme Court. Ken has been rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell since 1989.