Melissa L. Theriot (P.C.)

Born:

Lafayette, Louisiana, August 14, 1967

College:

Louisiana State University and A. and M. College, B.S., 1989

Law School:

University of Texas, J.D., 1993

Admissions:

1993, Louisiana and Texas

Membership:

Lafayette Parish and Louisiana State Bar Associations; State Bar of Texas

Biography:

Melissa L. Theriot is licensed to practice law in Texas and Louisiana, having graduated with honors from the University of Texas Law School at Austin. She was a law clerk to the Honorable John M. Duhé, United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and was a judicial intern to the Honorable Jimmy Carroll, Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeal, Third District. Missy is licensed to practice law in all Louisiana state and federal courts, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States Supreme Court. She is also licensed to practice in all state courts in Texas and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas.

Missy maintains a civil defense litigation practice, including appellate briefing and argument. Her primary substantive area has been admirality and maritime law, including Jones Act, general maritime, 905(b) longshoreman claims, maritime contracts, limitation of liability actions, and maritime liens. However, from 2003 to 2007, Missy led a team of six attorneys handling approximately four hundred asbestos cases including three thousand claimants. She has also handled other environmental claims for personal injury and property damage due to exposure to toxic environmental hazards. Beginning in 2007, Missy handled and settled over three hundred claims arising out of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Missy also represents a major credit card company defending a variety of claims ranging from Fair Credit Reporting, Truth in Lending and Billing Act claims.

Missy is also active in the community, having served as a past president of the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association, and past president of the Board of Directors for Stuller Place - A Child Advocacy Center and Sexual Abuse Response Center. Missy is in her third term of serving on a hearing committee for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and participated in Inns of Court and a United Way Allocation Committee.