Rick J. Norman, Jr.

Of Counsel

About

Rick J. Norman, Jr. leads the Taylor Porter Lake Charles office and concentrates his practice in the areas of business transactions, commercial litigation, employment, and construction law.

Mr. Norman is past president of the Louisiana State Law Institute. He serves on the Law Institute committee that rewrote Louisiana’s corporation law in 2015 and that is currently rewriting Louisiana’s limited liability law. Mr. Norman also served on the Employment Law Advisory Commission for the Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Legal Specialization.

He is the co-author of a legal treatise on employment law used by both practitioners and in law schools: Louisiana Employment (Thomson Reuters, 1306 pages, updated annually) which is designed to help both employers and employees. It covers employment liability and contracts, discrimination, compensation and payment, employee benefits, leaves of absence, and safety issues, among other subjects.

For 37 years Mr. Norman co-authored a legal treatise on business entities: Louisiana Corporations (Thomson Reuters, 2051 pages, updated annually).

Mr. Norman has extensive litigation experience and was formerly a federal prosecutor for white collar crime. Mr. Norman has tried cases in many state and federal courts, including the United States Tax Court. Mr. Norman regularly serves as Special Master in the 14th Judicial District Court in matters involving business divorces. He also serves as mediator and arbitrator in commercial and employment disputes.

Mr. Norman enjoys an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Norman is a “Top Rated Lawyer” in the field of Litigation as determined by Martindale-Hubbell, and he was selected a “Top Rated Lawyer” in the field of Commercial Litigation by Acadiana Profile Magazine. Mr. Norman is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation.

About

Rick J. Norman, Jr. leads the Taylor Porter Lake Charles office and concentrates his practice in the areas of business transactions, commercial litigation, employment, and construction law.

Mr. Norman is past president of the Louisiana State Law Institute. He serves on the Law Institute committee that rewrote Louisiana’s corporation law in 2015 and that is currently rewriting Louisiana’s limited liability law. Mr. Norman also served on the Employment Law Advisory Commission for the Louisiana State Bar Association Board of Legal Specialization.

He is the co-author of a legal treatise on employment law used by both practitioners and in law schools: Louisiana Employment (Thomson Reuters, 1306 pages, updated annually) which is designed to help both employers and employees. It covers employment liability and contracts, discrimination, compensation and payment, employee benefits, leaves of absence, and safety issues, among other subjects.

For 37 years Mr. Norman co-authored a legal treatise on business entities: Louisiana Corporations (Thomson Reuters, 2051 pages, updated annually).

Mr. Norman has extensive litigation experience and was formerly a federal prosecutor for white collar crime. Mr. Norman has tried cases in many state and federal courts, including the United States Tax Court. Mr. Norman regularly serves as Special Master in the 14th Judicial District Court in matters involving business divorces. He also serves as mediator and arbitrator in commercial and employment disputes.

Mr. Norman enjoys an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Norman is a “Top Rated Lawyer” in the field of Litigation as determined by Martindale-Hubbell, and he was selected a “Top Rated Lawyer” in the field of Commercial Litigation by Acadiana Profile Magazine. Mr. Norman is listed in the Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation.

Practice Areas

Practice Areas

Education

  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1979
  • Louisiana State University, B.A., 1977
  • United States Department of Justice Criminal Advocacy Institute, 1984

Education
  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1979
  • Louisiana State University, B.A., 1977
  • United States Department of Justice Criminal Advocacy Institute, 1984

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Tax Court
  • Colorado

Bar Admissions
  • Louisiana
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Tax Court
  • Colorado

Professional Memberships & Associations

  • Louisiana State Law Institute

Professional Memberships & Associations
  • Louisiana State Law Institute

Awards & Distinctions

  • AV Peer Review Rated Martindale-Hubbell
  • Acadiana Profile Magazine “Top Lawyer” – Commercial Litigation
  • Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation

Awards & Distinctions
  • AV Peer Review Rated Martindale-Hubbell
  • Acadiana Profile Magazine “Top Lawyer” – Commercial Litigation
  • Best Lawyers in America – Commercial Litigation

Reported Cases

  • Albert K. Newlin, Inc. v. Iqbal Mohammed, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2009-5167. (construction dispute)
  • Allen v. IMTC, Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 87-2213. (employee ordered to pay employer’s attorney fees)
  • Arceneaux, Russell v. Chemical Waste Management, Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2011-1442. (chemical release)
  • Bourque v. National Union Fire Insurance Company, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 92-2532. (investment dispute)
  • Boyer v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co. of Kansas, Inc., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 89-72, 1990 WL 88873. (car sale dispute)
  • Broussard v. Stutes Farms, LLC, 38th Judicial District Court, Cameron Parish, 10-18885. (dispute over partition of property)
  • DP Concrete Products, LLC v. American Spring Wire Corp., United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, Lake Charles Division, 2:08 CV 571, 2008 WL 4082997. (manufacturing dispute)
  • Dunham Price Inc. v. LA Machinery Company, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2001-4109. (truck fleet defects)
  • Fireman’s Ins. Co. Of N v. Bourque, et al, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:1987-cv-01050. (investment dispute)
  • Fireman’s Insurance v. Bourque, et al, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:1989-cv-00373. (investment dispute)
  • Guillory v. Foster, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 86,6192. (landlord liability)
  • Gulf Rice Milling, Inc. v. Sonnier, 31st Judicial District Court, Jefferson Davis Parish, C-206-04. (rice contract dispute)
  • Hijazi, Fouad and Rimi Elsabeh Hijazi v. Anne Schaefer Dentler, et al, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2009-5348. (zoning dispute)
  • Hood v. Lake Charles Am Pres, et al, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:2003-cv-01920. (FMLA claim)
  • IFG Port Holdings, LLC v. Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal Dist., United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:16-CV-146 (dredging dispute)
  • Jones Environmental Inc. v. Lake Street Texaco Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2009-2046. (environmental dispute)
  • Louisiana Alligator Wholesale, Inc. v. Prairie Cajun Seafood Wholesale Distributors, Inc., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 07-1590, 2008 WL 1886791. (alligator meat dispute)
  • Masonite Corp. v. Service Door & Millwork, LLC, Louisiana 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2008-5435. (forged guarantee dispute)
  • Moilanen, Thomas A. v. Four Seasons Equipment of LA, LLC, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2012-1228. (business divorce)
  • Occidental Chemical Corporation v. Elliott Turbomachinery Co. Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 91-6723. (defective machinery)
  • Porché Premier Painting & Specialty v. McInnis Brothers Construction Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2005-5063. (construction dispute)
  • Smith v. State, Dept. of Transp. & Development, Louisiana 33rd Judicial District Court, Allen Parish, C-99-671. (expropriation)
  • Thomas A. Moilanen v. Four Seasons Equipment of La, LLC, George S. Nevins, Four Seasons Equipment, Inc., Nevco Equipment, Ltd., Mitchell W. Nevins, and Robert Carpenter, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2012-1228. (business divorce)
  • Universal Research and Development Partnership No. 1 v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States Tax Court, 9893-88, 9894-88, 1729-89, 4329-89, 1991 WL 169197. (tax dispute)

Reported Cases
  • Albert K. Newlin, Inc. v. Iqbal Mohammed, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2009-5167. (construction dispute)
  • Allen v. IMTC, Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 87-2213. (employee ordered to pay employer’s attorney fees)
  • Arceneaux, Russell v. Chemical Waste Management, Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2011-1442. (chemical release)
  • Bourque v. National Union Fire Insurance Company, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 92-2532. (investment dispute)
  • Boyer v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co. of Kansas, Inc., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 89-72, 1990 WL 88873. (car sale dispute)
  • Broussard v. Stutes Farms, LLC, 38th Judicial District Court, Cameron Parish, 10-18885. (dispute over partition of property)
  • DP Concrete Products, LLC v. American Spring Wire Corp., United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, Lake Charles Division, 2:08 CV 571, 2008 WL 4082997. (manufacturing dispute)
  • Dunham Price Inc. v. LA Machinery Company, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2001-4109. (truck fleet defects)
  • Fireman’s Ins. Co. Of N v. Bourque, et al, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:1987-cv-01050. (investment dispute)
  • Fireman’s Insurance v. Bourque, et al, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:1989-cv-00373. (investment dispute)
  • Guillory v. Foster, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 86,6192. (landlord liability)
  • Gulf Rice Milling, Inc. v. Sonnier, 31st Judicial District Court, Jefferson Davis Parish, C-206-04. (rice contract dispute)
  • Hijazi, Fouad and Rimi Elsabeh Hijazi v. Anne Schaefer Dentler, et al, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2009-5348. (zoning dispute)
  • Hood v. Lake Charles Am Pres, et al, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:2003-cv-01920. (FMLA claim)
  • IFG Port Holdings, LLC v. Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal Dist., United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, 2:16-CV-146 (dredging dispute)
  • Jones Environmental Inc. v. Lake Street Texaco Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2009-2046. (environmental dispute)
  • Louisiana Alligator Wholesale, Inc. v. Prairie Cajun Seafood Wholesale Distributors, Inc., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 07-1590, 2008 WL 1886791. (alligator meat dispute)
  • Masonite Corp. v. Service Door & Millwork, LLC, Louisiana 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2008-5435. (forged guarantee dispute)
  • Moilanen, Thomas A. v. Four Seasons Equipment of LA, LLC, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2012-1228. (business divorce)
  • Occidental Chemical Corporation v. Elliott Turbomachinery Co. Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 91-6723. (defective machinery)
  • Porché Premier Painting & Specialty v. McInnis Brothers Construction Inc., 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2005-5063. (construction dispute)
  • Smith v. State, Dept. of Transp. & Development, Louisiana 33rd Judicial District Court, Allen Parish, C-99-671. (expropriation)
  • Thomas A. Moilanen v. Four Seasons Equipment of La, LLC, George S. Nevins, Four Seasons Equipment, Inc., Nevco Equipment, Ltd., Mitchell W. Nevins, and Robert Carpenter, 14th Judicial District Court, Calcasieu Parish, 2012-1228. (business divorce)
  • Universal Research and Development Partnership No. 1 v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States Tax Court, 9893-88, 9894-88, 1729-89, 4329-89, 1991 WL 169197. (tax dispute)

Commercial Appellate Decisions of Note:

  • Allen v. IMTC, Inc., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 89-469, 567 So.2d 1155. (employee ordered to pay employer’s attorney’s fees)
  • Antoine v. U.S. Postal Service, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 85-3120, 781 F.2d 433. (employment discrimination case)
  • Boyer v. Trinity Universal Ins. Co. of Kansas, Inc., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 89-72, 564 So.2d 384. (car sale dispute)
  • Broussard v. Stutes Farms, LLC, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 13-1122, 134 So.3d 226. (partition of property)
  • Crabtree v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States District Court, M.D. Louisiana, 56 A.F.T.R.2d, 85-5714, 613 F.Supp. 257. (tax refund case)
  • Davon Group Ltd. v. Dyer, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 08-30857, 337 Fed.Appx. 436. (business divorce)
  • DP Concrete Products, LLC v. American Spring Wire Corp., United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, Lake Charles Division, 2:08 CV 571, 2008 WL 4082997. (manufacturer dispute)
  • Foster v. Blackwell, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 98-1654, 747 So.2d 1203. (business divorce)
  • Garber v. Badon & Ranier, Court of Appeals of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 07-1497, 981 So.2d 92. (law firm divorce)
  • Green v. Plantation of Louisiana, LLC, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, CIV. 2:10-0364, 2010 WL 5256348. (FLSA collective action)
  • Guillory v. Foster, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 634 So.2d 1372. (landlord liability)
  • Gulf Rice Milling, Inc. v. Sonnier, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 05-1432, 930 So.2d 256. (rice contract dispute)
  • Hijazi v. Dentler, Court of Appeals of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 13-268, 125 So.3d 1280. (zoning dispute) Ieyoub ex rel. State v. W.R. Grace & Company-Conn., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 708 So.2d 1227. (attorney fee dispute)
  • JM Tull Metals Co. Inc. v. Cline, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 07-30351, 306 Fed.Appx. 34. (liability of guarantor)
  • Levy v. Billeaud, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 8226, 399 So.2d 775. (business divorce)
  • Levy v. Billeaud, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Supreme Court of Louisiana, 83-C-118, 83-C-0150, 443 So.2d 539 (business divorce).
  • Louisiana Alligator Wholesale, Inc. v. Prairie Cajun Seafood Wholesale Distributors, Inc., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 981 So.2d 929. (alligator meat dispute)
  • Martinez v. Rivet, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 16-100, 190 So.3d 461. (real estate dispute)
  • Masonite Corp. v. Service Door & Millwork, LLC, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 14-1035, 162 So.3d 702. (forged guarantee dispute)
  • Matthews-McCracken Rutland Corp. v. The City of Plaquemine, Supreme Court of Louisiana, 81-C-2953, 414 So.2d 756. (construction arbitration issue)
  • Miller v. Louisiana Farm Bureau Cas. Ins. Co., Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 670 So.2d 622. (recoupment of worker’s compensation benefits for employee)
  • Occidental Chemical Corp. v. Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc., United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 95-30662, 84 F.3d 172. (validity of release of liability)
  • Quinn Properties Inc. v. Sabine River Realty, Inc., 676 So.2d 639. (lease dispute) Roger Boc, L.L.C. v. Weigel, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 99-570, 744 So.2d 731.
  • Shareholders of R.E. Heidt Const. Co., Inc. v. Price, United States District Court, W.D. Louisiana, Lake Charles Division, 2:10 CV1260, 2011 WL 4591860. (business divorce)
  • Smith v. State, Dept. of Transp. & Development, Supreme Court of Louisiana, 899 So.2d 516. (expropriation)
  • Southwest Rice Mill Co., Inc. v. Smith, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 2008 WL 597197. (rice contract dispute)
  • Succession of Chambers v. Chambers, Court of Appeals of Louisiana, Third Circuit, 98-937, 729 So.2d 608.
  • Universal Research and Development Partnership No. 1 v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, United States Tax Court, 9893-88, 9894-88, 1729-89, 4329-89, 1991 WL 169197. (tax dispute)
  • Louisiana Employment Law, Thomson Reuters, 2005-present (One volume treatise (1306 pages) [co-author] updated annually)