Mr. Wilson serves as both lead trial counsel and appellate counsel in all stages of federal and state civil litigation as well as in administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies. These matters often involve complex issues of law in many diverse fields. His experience includes litigation related to personal injury and death claims; pipeline ruptures, failures and explosions; oil & gas well blow-outs; major environmental disasters; ship collisions, groundings and sinkings; insurance coverage and defense; yacht collisions, fires and damage; charter party disputes; natural resource damage claims; eminent domain matters including expropriation, inverse condemnation/“takings” and consequential damages; and, oilfield and environmental remediation matters. His involvement has extended from the original accident or field investigation through the final appeal if necessary. His most significant achievement to date involves the defense of the State of Louisiana and the outright dismissal of a class action and several other related suits seeking billions of dollars in alleged damages to oyster leases in Louisiana resulting from coastal restoration projects. He has served as a consultant to the State on coastal restoration issues, and has been involved with government relations such as permitting, drafting legislation and regulations, and has testified on several occasions before Louisiana Legislative Committees. He is also an External Advisory Board Member for the LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio. In addition to these legal and professional activities, he also serves as Chancellor to All Saints Episcopal Church of River Ridge, LA; as a referee in the Louisiana High School Lacrosse League after playing amateur lacrosse for 27 years; and, is an active member of Fleet 7 of the National Rhodes 19 Class Association sailboat racing organization.
Andrew C. Wilson
EDUCATION
Tulane University Law School, L.L.M., Energy and Environmental Law, 1993
Tulane University Law School, J.D., 1982
Pushkin Institute Russian Language Studies [Moscow, St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Kyiv] 1977
St. Lawrence University, B.A., History, 1977
BAR ADMISSIONS
Louisiana (All State Courts)
U.S. District Court, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; Third Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
PUBLICATIONS
LSU Mineral Law Institute Journal, “Avenal and Related Oyster Cases,” 2005
Tulane Environmental Law Journal “Tracking Spills and Releases: High-Tech in the Courtroom,” 1997
SPEECHES
“Coastal Law in Louisiana-Oyster Leasing” (The Seminar Group, New Orleans April 22, 2022)
“Oyster management in a Changing Climate: Legal Issues” (25th Annual Tulane Environmental Law & Policy Summit (March 6, 2020)
“The Future Fontainebleau State Park: Natural Area or Tourist Resort” (25th Annual Tulane Environmental Law & Policy Summit (March 7, 2020)
“Oysters and the Future of Our Coast: Managing Oysters, Restoration and Relationships”– Fourth Annual Downriver Fest
(U. S. Mint, New Orleans, September 10, 2016)
“Oyster Leasing in Louisiana”-Diversions Workshop for Mississippi River Delta Restoration Coalition (University of New Orleans, April 13, 2016)
“La. Oyster Law & Policy/Freshwater Diversions:”No Good Deed Goes Unpunished,’”– State of the Coast Summit (New Orleans Convention Center, June 1 – 3, 2016)
“The Law of the Coast: Oyster Leasing in Louisiana,”-Mississippi River Delta Restoration Coalition (University of Southeastern Louisiana, August 13, 2014)
National Business Institute: “Property Taking Through Eminent Domain in Louisiana” (November 2012) “Expropriations From Start to Finish” (March, 2011)
The Louisiana Governor’s Advisory Committee on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation, “The Law of the Coast: Oyster Leasing in Louisiana” (2009)
Louisiana Land Law for Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors, “Eminent Domain and Takings Law”, (2007)
MLA Marine Insurance Committee: “Oyster Rockefellas and Louisiana Issues” (Scottsdale, AZ 2005)
CLE: “Louisiana Wetlands: Katrina Leaves Behind a Perfect Storm of Takings Issues” (2005)
LSU Mineral Law Institute: “Avenal and Related Oyster ” (Baton Rouge, 2005)
Tulane Law School: “Law Science and the Public Interest” Speaker (1998, 2000, 2005).
Association of Average Adjusters of the United States: Speaker, “Employer’s Liability Under P&I Forms”(2002)/ “Unrepaired Damages” (1997)
N.Y. Marine Claims Managers Group Speaker: ”Computer Graphics in Litigation” (1996)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor status), Member of MLA Board of Directors (2017-2020); Chairman of the MLA Marine Insurance and General Average Committee (2015-2017)
Orleans Audubon Society Chapter, Orleans Audubon Society Chapter, Member-Board of Directors (2014-present)
Association of Average Adjusters of the United States
Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
Mariners Club of the Port of New Orleans
The Coastal Society- Member -Board of Directors 2021-Present
Defense Research Institute
Loyola University Center for Environmental Communications (Fellow 2001)
Chancellor/Vestry Member for the All Saints Episcopal Church, River Ridge, LA.
External Advisory Board Member for the LSU Coastal Sustainability Studio (2013-present)
National Rhodes 19 (One-Design Sailboat) Class Association
US Lacrosse Association/Mid-South Lacrosse Officials’ Association: Official for Louisiana High Schools, Middle Schools and Charter Schools
American Bar Association
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
Malta v. Herbert S. Hiller Corp., 2021-00209 (La. 10/10/21); 333 So.3d 384 (Reversal of $1.6 million jury verdict for personal injuries in Louisiana Supreme Court)
Melerine v. Tom’s Marine & Salvage, LLC, 2020-00571 (La. 03/24/21); 315 So.3d 806 (Reversal of $6 million jury verdict for oyster lease damage, as well as exclusion of Plaintiffs’ expert and Plaintiffs’ damage formulas in Louisiana Supreme Court)
In re: In the Matter of the Complaint of C. F. Bean, LLC, 841 F. 3d 365 (5th Cir. 11/4/16) Reversal of District Court’s dismissal of products liability claim against outboard engine manufacturer in death case.
In re White Tail Oilfield Service, LLC, 2012 WL 2952439 (E.D.La. 7/19/12) Summary dismissal of all claims for contractual indemnity and property damage following sinking of self-propelled lift boat in offshore waters.
Big Bucks Preserve, LLC v. Col. Gulf Trans. Co., 2009 WL 5173929 (W.D.La. 2009) Summary dismissal of all claims for economic loss following pipeline explosion.
Slavich v. La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, 994 So.2d 85 (La.App. 8/21/08) Summary dismissal of all contractual claims based on warranty of water quality associated with damages to multiple oyster leases allegedly resulting from freshwater diversion projects located in several areas of Louisiana.
Continental Insurance Company, Boat Owners Association of the U.S. , et al. v. Board of Commissioners for the Orleans Levee District, et al. (CA No. 536908 19th JDC / EBR 10/5/05) Successful TRO in favor of yacht insurers preventing a local Levee Board from charging excessive salvage fees for preferred contractor in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Avenal v. State, 886 So.2d 1085 ( La. 10/19/04 ), cert. den., 544 U.S.1049 (2005) Successful defense of State and reversal of $1,300,000,000 judgment on appeal before Louisiana Supreme Court related to claims for damages to multiple oyster leases allegedly resulting from freshwater diversion structure.
Alonzo v. State, 884 So.2d 634 (La.App. 4th Cir. 9/8/04 ) Successful defense of State and reversal of second $1,000,000,000 judgment related to claims for damages to multiple oyster leases allegedly resulting from freshwater diversion structure.
Boston Old Colony Ins. Co. v. Tiner Assocs., 288 F.3d 222 (5th Cir. 2002) Successful subrogation recovery of $6,000,000 for television tower damage and business interruption despite coverage defense.
In re M/V DANIELLE BOUCHARD, 164 F.Supp.2d 794 ( E.D. La. 2001) $10,300,000 (100%) recovery for offshore pipeline damage without trial.
Adams v. Marathon Oil Co., 688 So.2d 75 (La.App. 5 th Cir. 1/15/97 ) Defense of class action due to chemical release with substantial reduction of claims.
Marathon Pipe Line Co. v. LaRoche Indus., 944 F.Supp. 476 ( E.D. La. 1996) Successful prosecution of OPA claim resulting from pipeline damage.
H.C. Drew Estate v. Reunion Energy Co., 689 So.2d 457 (La.App. 3 rd Cir. 2/23/96) Successful assertion of doctrine of primary jurisdiction in oilfield remediation litigation.
New York Marine & General Insurance Company v. Gulf Marine Towing, Inc. and Maitland Bros. Co., 1994 AMC 976 (E.D. La. 1993) Successful assertion of coverage defense on hull policy for $1,000,000 total loss of vessel.
SECKO Energy, Inc. v. M/V MARGARET CHOUEST, M/V EDISON CHOUEST, and M/V CAPE RACE, 820 F. Supp. 1008 (E.D.La. 1993) Successful motion practice establishing precedential exception to admiralty rule of Robins Dry Dock as well as OPA claim.
Gulf Atlantic Transport Company, et al. v. Offshore Tugs, Inc. and Bruce Brothers Towing Company, Inc., 1992 AMC 2082 (E.D. La. 1992) Successful establishment of additional assured status and defense of negligent towage claim for $6,000,000 total loss of vessel.
Deutsche Shell Tanker-Gesellschaft mbH v. Placid Refining Co., 767 F.Supp. 762 (E.D. La. 1991) aff’d, 993 F.2d 466 (5 th Cir. 1993). Successful defense of cargo interest in $3,000,000 general average claim.
Pennzoil Producing Company v. Offshore Express, Inc., 943 F.2d 1465 (5 th Cir. 1991) 90% reduction of $1,100,000 loss of production claim following pipeline allision.
McGehee v. Panama Canal Com., 872 F.2d 1213 (5th Cir. 1989) Successful recovery for yacht damage outside the Panama Canal.