Nicholas Gachassin, III is a partner in the Gachassin Law Firm. Mr. Gachassin is licensed to practice in Louisiana and Mississippi and is a member of several organizations, including the American Health Lawyers Association and the Louisiana Association of Hospital Attorneys. His area of practice is focused on assisting various types of health care providers and businesses with specific legal and regulatory issues applicable to the health care industry, including hospitals, physicians, nurses, physician staffing companies, diagnostic centers, federally qualified healthcare centers, rural health clinics, home health agencies and hospice organizations. In addition to his practice, Mr. Gachassin teaches a course on legal issues in healthcare administration for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette’s MBA program and is a frequent speaker on health law issues.

Education:

Loyola University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois

LL. M. in Health Care Law, 1996

Honors: Antitrust Symposium Fellow, 1995

Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana

J.D., 1994

Honors: Loyola Law Review and Moot Court, 1993-94

Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana

B.A., History, 1989

Christopher Johnston joined the corporate section of the Gachassin Law Firm in 2008. His practice includes health care law with an emphasis primarily in the areas of health care provider contracting, fraud and abuse, provider and/or practitioner licensing revocation and decertification appeals, Medicare overpayments and other corporate compliance issues. In addition, he assists providers with varied transactional matters, including acquisitions and mergers, as well as assisting with Medicare provider enrollment and state licensure transfer issues. Mr. Johnston is also a certified arbitrator/mediator for the American Health Lawyers’ Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Service.

Education:

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

LL.M., 1983

Universite de Geneve, Switzerland, 1982

Julie Savoy has been an associate with the Gachassin Law Firm since 2002. She is a registered nurse with over 17 years of experience in operating room nursing, health care infection control and epidemiology. Ms. Savoy was active on the local and national level in the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), having served as chair of APIC’s Governmental Affairs Committee and as a faculty member for APIC’s Basic Training Course. She lectures both statewide and nationally on infection control, litigation risk management and regulatory issues in the field.

Education:

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 2002

University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana

B.S., Nursing, 1982

In 2011, Brandon M. Rhodes joined the Gachassin Law Firm as an associate. Mr. Rhodes was born in New Orleans and raised in Houma, Louisiana. Upon completion of law school he moved to Florida wherein he served as a law clerk to the Judges of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Mr. Rhodes was later employed as a criminal prosecutor, working as an Assistant State Attorney in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Rhodes went on to become a member of the Georgia State Bar and worked at a large litigation firm in Atlanta specializing in product liability, premises liability and complex litigation. In 2010, Mr. Rhodes returned to Louisiana, became a member of the Louisiana State Bar and currently specializes in health care litigation.

Education:

Tulane University School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana

J.D., 1994, Cum Laude

University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana

B.A., Political Science, 1991

Daniel C. Palmintier joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2007, after having practiced primarily in the fields of health law, medical malpractice defense, general civil litigation, appellate advocacy, and succession law since 1992. From 1991 – 1992, he served as Law Clerk to the Honorable William Polk with the 9th Judicial District Court in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Over the years, Mr. Palmintier has prepared materials and given seminar presentations on numerous topics related to medical malpractice law including “A Comprehensive Overview of Constitutional Issues in Louisiana Medical Malpractice Cases”, “The ABC’s of MRP’s: A Basic Guide to the Medical Review Panel Process”, “Spoliation of Evidence under Louisiana Law”, and “Recent Developments in Hepatitis C Litigation”. He likewise was the President of the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association and on the Board of Directors of the Lafayette Parish Bar Association from 1997 to 1998.

Education:

Paul M. Hebert School of Law, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 1991

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

B.A., Journalism, 1986

Nicole Reynolds’ legal practice is dedicated to the defense of medical professionals, hospitals and oral surgeons. After being admitted to the bar in 2003, she served as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable James T. Genovese, of the 27th Judicial District in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Ms. Reynolds joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2007 and is admitted to practice in all State and District Courts for the State of the Louisiana, as well as the Western District of Louisiana.

Education:

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D. & B.S., Civil Law, 2003

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

B.A., Sociology, 1999

Gary Delahoussaye is a native of New Iberia, Louisiana. He received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in 1995 and attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, graduating in 1998. In law school, he was a Semi-Finalist in the Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition and a member of the Moot Court Board.

Following graduation, Gary was admitted to the bar and began practicing in Lafayette with a practice specializing in the defense of product liability, construction defect and general liability claims. Gary joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2011 where his practice involves the representation of physicians, hospitals, nurses, urgent care clinics, and other health care providers in the defense of medical malpractice and related professional and general liability claims.

Education:

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana B.A., Political Science, 1995

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La

J.D. 1998

Kerr Vidrine, an associate with the Gachassin Law Firm since 2011, is also a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience primarily in the Emergency Room and NICU. Since earning her Juris Doctorate in 1993, she has practiced medical malpractice defense exclusively. Over the years, she has participated in seminar presentations on various topics related to medical malpractice law, as well as serving on the Louisiana State Bar’s Medical/Legal Interprofessional Committee.

Education:

Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 1993, Cum Laude

College of St. Francis, Joliet, Illinois

B.S., Health Care Sciences, Magna Cum Laude, 1985

Charity Hospital School of Nursing, Registered Nurse, 1980

Barbara A. Olinde was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University, obtaining her undergraduate degree, a B.A. in Political Science, and received her J.D./B.C.L. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. She joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2012 after being admitted to the bar in 2006. Barbara practices in the areas of medical malpractice and professional liability, estate planning and successions, and is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Associations Medical/Legal Interprofessional Committee, is a Representative to the LSBA House of Delegates, and is on the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association Board.

Education:

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D./B.C.L., 2006

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

B.A., Political Science, 2001

Benjamin B. Gaines is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana and has been an associate with the Gachassin Law Firm since 2011. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Clemson University in financial management and his Master of Business Administration from Clemson University with an emphasis in finance. He then attended the Charleston School of Law, earning the CALI award in Estate and Gift Taxation and a Pro Bono Service Award for providing over 100 hours of legal services to the Charleston community. Mr. Gaines’ area of practice is focused on health care regulatory, compliance and transactional matters. He is licensed to practice in Louisiana.

Education:

Charleston School of Law, Charleston, South Carolina

J.D., 2010

Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

M.B.A., Finance, 2007

Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina

B.S., Financial Management, 2005

Berryl Thompson-Broussard is a native of Opelousas, Louisiana. After being admitted to the Bar in 2003, she served for three years as the Senior Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Terri F. Love of Louisiana's Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal. She joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2012 with six years of civil defense litigation experience in the areas of medical malpractice, admiralty, appellate advocacy, and regulatory compliance, and as an adjunct instructor of Criminal Law, Procedure, Evidence and Ethics. Ms. Thompson-Broussard is certified in health care compliance by the Compliance Certification Board. She is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and all federal, district and state courts in Louisiana. Mrs. Thompson-Broussard's practice areas focus on health care compliance, administrative and judicial appeals, and health care provider transactions.

Education:

Loyola University Chicago School of Law

LL.M., Health Law, 2012

Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 2003, Cum Laude

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

B.A., Sociology, 1999

Minor: Mass Communications in Public Relations

Lanzi Meyers, a native of New Iberia, Louisiana, received her undergraduate degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University and her law degree from Southern University Law Center. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and was a member of the Southern University Law Review and Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. Lanzi received CALI awards in Constitutional Law and Louisiana Civil Procedure and has had her legal writing featured in Social Science Research Network’s top ten download list. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana, and her area of practice is focused on health care regulatory, compliance, transactional matters, estate planning, and successions.

Education:

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Bachelor of Science in Accounting, 2009

Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 2012

Honors: Magna Cum Laude and Southern University Law Review

Richard L. Houghton, III is the son of a career U.S. Marine and prior to law school served in the U.S. Navy as a Government Contracting Officer, managing a $5 million annual pharmaceutical budget. He obtained his undergraduate degree, a B.A. in History, summa cum laude, in 2001 from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where he graduated first in his class in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2005. In law school, he was awarded for Outstanding Achievement in Criminal Law and Comparative Law and was certified in both Civil Law and Common Law traditions. Following graduation, he joined a commercial litigation firm in New Orleans, and specialized in contract litigation, bankruptcy, and white-collar criminal defense. He then moved his practice to Ohio in 2007, serving as Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Champaign County, Ohio. In 2012, Mr. Houghton returned to Louisiana, joining the Gachassin Law Firm in 2013.

Education:

Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana

J.D., 2005

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia

B.A., History, summa cum laude, 2001

Holly McKay Descant is a registered nurse and is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Mississippi. She attended Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, obtaining a B.S. in Nursing. After working as a registered nurse in various areas, she attended law school and graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 2008. She served as a judicial law clerk in the 4th Judicial District Court in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, then worked in the oil and gas industry. She joined Gachassin Law Firm in 2015 with a focus in the area of professional liability defense.

Education:

Mississippi College School of Law, Jackson, MS

J.D., 2008

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, New Orleans, LA

B.S., Nursing, 2002

Cynthia Schwartz was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana and obtained her B.S. in Nursing from Northwestern State University. As a nurse, she has over 20 years of experience in intensive care, hemodialysis, and research. She graduated Cum Laude from Southern University Law Center in 2013 where she received CALI awards in Legal Writing I, Contracts, and Commercial Paper. She joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2016 after being admitted to the bar in in 2013. Cindy practices in the areas of medical malpractice and professional liability defense.

Education:

Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA

B.S., Nursing, 1992

Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 2013

Honors: Cum Laude

Jade A. Forouzanfar obtained her undergraduate degree in Business Management from Louisiana State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude.  She remained at LSU, obtaining her Juris Doctor, as well as her Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law, from the Paul M. Hebert School of Law.  After being admitted to the Louisiana State Bar, Ms. Forouzanfar began practicing Professional Medical Malpractice Defense and Commercial Insurance Defense in New Orleans, Louisiana.  In 2014, she relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana where she continued to focus her practice in the area of defense of medical malpractice claims.  In 2016, Ms. Forouzanfar joined the Gachassin Firm.  Her practice areas include Health Law and Professional Liability Defense of Healthcare Providers, both before Medical Review Panels and District Courts.

Education:

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D.; D.C.L., 2012

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

B.S., Business Management, Summa Cum Laude, 2008

Cranay D. Murphy joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2017. A native of Opelousas, Louisiana, she received her undergraduate degree in English from University of Louisiana at Lafayette and her law degree from Southern University Law Center. Cranay served as Editor-in-Chief of the Southern University Law Review during the 2014-2015 academic year and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana, and her area of practice is focused on professional liability defense.

Education:

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana

Bachelor of Arts in English, 2012

Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 2015

Honors: Magna Cum Laude and Southern University Law Review

Ross Roubion is an associate with the Gachassin Law Firm. In 2015, Mr. Roubion received a distinguished pro bono service award from the Lafayette Bar Association for representing battered women in civil protective order hearings, and in 2016, he was awarded the LSBA's Pro Bono Century Award, as well as the LSBA's Pro Bono Publico Award, for his work. While attending Louisiana State University's Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Mr. Roubion served as the Senior Production Editor of the LSU Journal of Energy Law and Resources after joining the Journal through a "write-on" competition. Mr. Roubion also won the best oralist award at a national moot court competition in the fields of sports law and antitrust law. He was a four-year letter winner on the LSU Men's Track and Field Team as an undergraduate. Mr. Roubion joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2017 to concentrate his practice in the area of professional liability litigation.

Education:

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana J.D., 2014

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana B.A., History, 2010

Chelsea Carroll, native of Opelousas Louisiana, joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2018. She received her undergraduate degree from McNeese State University in Political Science where she was a four-year national finalist and regional champion on the McNeese State University Rodeo Team. Chelsea received her law degree from Southern University Law Center. She graduated Cum Laude and was a member of the Southern University Law Review, Southern University Law Center Trial Advocacy Team, and Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. Chelsea received CALI awards of excellence for Trial Advocacy and Commercial Paper. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Louisiana, and her area of practice is focused on professional liability defense.

Education:

McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 2014

Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

J.D., 2017

Honors: Cum Laude, Southern University Law Review, Roach Family Scholarship Recipient

Dawn M. Fuqua is an associate with the Gachassin Law Firm. Ms. Fuqua joined the Gachassin Law Firm in 2018, after working for a regional law firm handling malpractice panel review cases and litigation. Ms. Fuqua was born in New Orleans and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana. She graduated, cum laude, from University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1981, with a Bachelors of General Studies and Applied Sciences. Ms. Fuqua received a Juris Doctor from Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 1985. After completing law school, she was employed at a regional law firm headquartered in Lafayette, handling land use and regulatory matters, energy transactions. Ms. Fuqua specialized in commercial, corporate, construction, energy, environmental and mass-tort litigation in both State and Federal Courts.

From January 2009 to December 2013, Ms. Fuqua served as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of Louisiana Division of Administrative Law, hearing general jurisdiction cases in accordance with the Louisiana Administrative Procedure Act, and served as a panel judge of for the State of Louisiana Ethics Adjudicatory Board from January 2011 to December 2013.

Ms. Fuqua served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Patrick Michot, Fifteenth Judicial District Court, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana from December 2013 to August 2018.

Dawn M. Fuqua is actively involved in the community, currently serving on the Board of several non-profit agencies, including Junior Achievement of Acadiana, and the Early Head Start Policy Council, having previously served as the Chairperson for the United Way of Acadiana, Leadership Lafayette, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Acadiana.

Education:

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Juris Doctor, 1985

University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, Bachelors of General Studies, Applied Science 1981