Overview

Mary Reed is an associate in MG+M’s New Orleans, Louisiana Office. Her practice is focused on toxic tort, products liability and environmental claims.

A dedicated advocate for her clients, Mary strives to ascertain every angle of a client’s case to provide optimal results. She regularly works a variety of complex cases including those involving environmental contamination from oil and gas activities, as well as a variety of toxic tort claims. Mary has experience representing premises owners, employers, contractors, product manufacturers, and product suppliers, both as part of local, regional, and national counsel teams.

Mary has significant experience in fact and expert discovery in chemical contamination litigation, oil and gas litigation and legacy matters among other complex toxic tort litigation, having conducted extensive interviews, scientific research and ground-based investigation. Mary works alongside the firm’s senior trial attorneys in regional and national environmental matters, and is involved in all aspects of the litigation, including preparation for depositions, investigation as to documentary evidence and analysis of the impact of same of her clients, in addition to the preparation of all pre-trial motions from the inception of a case until the time of trial. Further, Mary is experienced in the preparation of client reporting and recommendations as to potential resolution of matters and finalization of settlements.

Mary received her J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2016. She received her B.A. in International Studies with a focus in Middle Eastern relations from the University of South Florida in 2013. Prior to joining MG+M, Mary worked as a mass tort attorney with another Greater New Orleans Area law firm where she worked representing clients in a range of products liability, toxic tort, chemical contamination and personal injury actions.

Practices

Asbestos Litigation Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Products Liability Toxic Tort Liability

Experience

Successfully defended a streaming service in a class action matter brought under the Consumer Choice in Television Act in Louisiana trial and appellate courts. The initial case was dismissed outright, and the appellate court affirmed the dismissal with prejudice. This result is expected to impact similar litigation in other jurisdictions.
Successfully drafted two interlocutory writs within a remarkable 72-hour timeframe in an Orleans Parish mesothelioma case at the Fourth Circuit. The first writ secured a remand to the trial court for a thorough evidentiary hearing, while the second, though partially granted, effectively stayed the ongoing trial, although ultimately denied as to substance.
Successfully obtained summary judgment in a mesothelioma case for a supplier in East Baton Rouge. The initial denial led to a writ at the state First Circuit, where two panel members were initially reluctant to grant relief, while a dissenting third member favored reversing the trial court. Subsequently, re-urging the motion before the state court led to the ultimate grant of summary judgment.