Michael G. Stag serves as the firm’s managing member. Mike is involved in all practice areas at Stag Liuzza, with a particular passion for achieving justice for those who have been harmed by large corporations and oil companies.
Mike pioneered the field of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (TENORM or NORM) litigation. Over the years, Mike has recovered awards of more than $300 million in settlements and in excess of $1 billion in jury verdicts for his clients.
Mike was recognized in the Lawyers Weekly Top 10 Jury Verdicts of 2001 related to the $1.056 Billion verdict Grefer v. Exxon, et al. He was also an executive committee member for the class action in the Patrick Joseph Turner, et al. v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., which resulted in monetary compensation and cleanup settlement valued in excess of $300 million. Prior to his work at Stag Liuzza, Mike worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Ronald J. Sholes at Civil District Court in New Orleans. Currently, Mike’s practice focuses on toxic torts, environmental and royalty litigation, as well as harmful pharmaceuticals and defective medical devices. Mike directs a passionate ensemble of attorneys and staff who are driven to persistently advocate for their clients and to remain steadfast in the pursuit of justice.
Michael G. Stag was born in Japan. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1985 to attend Loyola University where he also obtained his Masters in Business Administration as well as his Juris Doctorate. Mike lives in the New Orleans Garden District with his wife and three children. Mike enjoys white water rafting, skiing, camping, and coaching little league baseball.
Over the years, Mike has recovered awards of more than $300 million in settlements and in excess of $1 billion in jury verdicts for his clients.
Education
- B.A. Finance, Minor Psychology, Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Masters in Business Administration, Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Juris Doctorate, Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Admissions
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
Professional Organizations
- American Bar Association
- American Trial Lawyers Association, Member of Section on Toxic, Environmental and Pharmaceutical Torts Litigation
- American Association for Justice
- Louisiana Association for Justice (Council Director 2006 – 2007, Executive Committee 2007 – 2008, Council of Directors 2008 – present, Section Chair, Business Torts 2011 – 2012)
Recognitions
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating with Martindale Hubbell; AV Preeminent® is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
- Lawyers Weekly Top 10 Jury Verdicts of 2001: 2nd Highest, Grefer v. Alpha Technical. A six-week trial resulted in a $1.056 billion verdict against Exxon Mobil in favor of four property owners who leased property to an oil field services company, which performed services for Exxon Mobil. The plaintiffs proved that Exxon had knowingly sent radioactive contaminated pipe and equipment to the property for service and storage, which resulted in extensive contamination of the property. This is the highest jury award on record for an individual property owner.
Notable Cases
- IN RE: OIL SPILL by the OIL RIG “DEEPWATER HORIZON” in the GULF OF MEXICO, on April 20, 2010: Represented 4,000+ clients for economic, property, and toxic exposure damages. The majority of the claims have settled.
- Craft v. Intracoastal Tubular Services, Inc., et al.: Concerned survivors of a former pipeyard worker who contracted lung cancer from exposure to Radium-226 and other radioactive materials. A four-week trial resulted in a $15 million verdict.
- Patrick Joseph Turner, et al. v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc.: Executive Committee Member of a class action that resulted in a monetary compensation and cleanup settlement valued in excess of $300 million.
- Sandra Wilson v. Jani-King, Inc.: The law firm represented an employee at trial for a serious personal injury caused by a fall while at work. The jury awarded a verdict of $1.5 million.
- Rathborne Properties, LLC v. Exxon Mobil, et al.: The law firm represented a property company concerning radioactive materials (TENORM) contamination and successfully negotiated a settlement that resulted in significant cash payment to the client and full remediation of the property.
- Hazelwood Farm v. Chevron, et al.: This civil action concerned property polluted by oil field exploration and production operations. A four-week jury trial resulted in a verdict in excess of $2 million.
- Benoit v. Exxon Mobil, Inc., et al.: The law firm represented 100+ former workers and their survivors for cancer and other disease claims related to on-the-job exposure to radioactive and other toxic materials. The matter settled for a confidential amount before trial.
- Texaco Exploration and Production, Inc. v. Hilcorp Energy Company: The law firm was hired by property owners to address environmental contamination of family property by ChevronTexaco in Erath, Louisiana. ChevronTexaco operated a gas processing plant on a portion of the property and oil and gas wells on other portions of the property. A pit area and the associated drainage ditches were highly contaminated with radium, arsenic, hexavalent chromium, dioxins, lead, and other heavy metals as well as salts. The shallow aquifers underlying the property were also polluted putting the deeper Chicot aquifer at risk. The matter settled for a confidential amount before trial.
- Henry Leon Sarpy and Robert Henry Sarpy, Jr. et al. v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, et al.: The law firm was hired by a family to address pollution of family property by historic oil and gas operations. Exxon installed and improperly closed over 50 pits on the property located in a cypress swamp. The matter settled for a confidential amount before trial.
- Lakeshore Estates: The law firm represented over 100 households totaling over 240 individuals in the Lakeshore Estates Subdivision to litigate damages caused by concrete crushing operations. The firm secured an injunction requiring the defendants to implement measures to reduce noise and vibrations, alleviate airborne dust, and implement other measures to improve air and water quality in the area. The law firm later negotiated a settlement with several defendants to compensate the residents for damages caused.
Multi-District Litigations
- MDL 2004: In re: Mentor Corp. ObTape Transobturator Sling (U.S.D.C M.D. GA)
- MDL 2179: In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig Deepwater Horizon (U.S.D.C. E.D. LA)
- MDL 2187: In re: C.R. Bard, Inc. Pelvic Repair System (U.S.D.C. S.D. WV)
- MDL 2197: In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. ASR Hip Implant (U.S.D.C. N.D. OH)
- MDL 2244: In re: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., Pinnacle Hip Implant (U.S.D.C. N.D. TX)
- MDL 2299: In re: Actos (Pioglitazone) (U.S.D.C. W.D. LA)
- MDL 2325: In re: American Medical Systems, Inc. Pelvic Repair System (U.S.D.C. S.D. WV)
- MDL 2326: In re: Boston Scientific Corp. Pelvic Repair System (U.S.D.C. S.D. WV)
- MDL 2327: In re: Ethicon, Inc. Pelvic Repair System (U.S.D.C. S.D. WV)
- MDL 2385: In re: Pradaxa (U.S.D.C. S.D. IL)
- MDL 2387: In re: Coloplast Corp. Pelvic Repair System (U.S.D.C. S.D. WV)
- MDL 2391: In re: Biomet M2A Magnum Hip Implant (U.S.D.C. N.D. IN)
- MDL 2428: In re: Fresenius Granuflo/ Naturalyte Dialysate (U.S.D.C. N.D. MA)
- MDL 2441: In re: Stryker Rejuvenate & ABGII Implant (U.S.D.C. D. MN)
- MDL 2592: In re: Xarelto (U.S.D.C. E.D. LA)
- MDL 2740: In re: Taxotere (Docetaxel) (U.S.D.C. E.D. LA)
- MDL 2641: In re: Bard IVC Filters (U.S.D.C. D. AZ)
- MDL 2741: In re: Roundup (U.S.D.C. N.D. CA)
MDL 3014: In re: Philips Recalled CPAP, Bi-Level Pap, and Mechanical Ventilator Products (U.S.D.C. W.D. PA)
- MDL 2846: In re: Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh (U.S.D.C. S.D. OH)
- MDL 2782: In re: Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Hernia Mesh (U.S.D.C. N.D. GA)
- MDL 2873: In re: Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (U.S.D.C. D. SC)
Practice Areas
- Environmental Pollution
- Mineral Royalty Disputes
- Toxic and Radioactive Materials Exposure
- Defective Drugs and Medical Devices
- Personal Injury and Wrongful Death
OUR team
We prefer doing to talking (except in court), we take the bull by the horns and give you clear and practical advice. Personal, to the point and in plain language. Any questions? Feel free to call or to drop by.
$1.056 billion verdict against Exxon Mobil
$1.056 billion verdict against Exxon Mobil
Stag Liuzza fights industry giants across the country and holds them accountable for their actions. We strive to ensure that communities have access to safe drinking water, clean air, and a healthy environment.
- One Canal Place 365 Canal Street Suite 2850 New Orleans, LA 70130
- 504-593-9600
stagliuzza.com is operated and provided by Stag Liuzza, LLC responsible attorneys Michael G. Stag and Ashley M. Liuzza. Stag Liuzza, LLC is officed in New Orleans, LA, and our attorneys are licensed in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Nothing on this site should be taken to establish an attorney-client relationship with us unless and until a contract for representation is signed. The attorneys of Stag Liuzza are licensed in Louisiana and Mississippi and may associate counsel licensed in other jurisdictions as necessary.
Past results do not guarantee any similar result or outcome in your claim. Each claim is different.