PERSONAL CV
RICK SIMMONS
PARTNER
BIO
Lifetime resident of New Orleans
Hailey McNamara Law Firm (1982-Present)·Managing Partner
U.S. Attorney's Office (1978-1982)
Federal Public Defender (1974-1978)
JAG Corp - U.S. Army (1970-1974)
EDUCATION
George Washington Univ. Law School; Master's of Law (L.L.M.) in Environmental Law - May 1974
Judge Advocate General's School (U.S. Army) at Univ. of Virginia Law School - Dec 1970; June 1984 (Advanced Course)
Louisiana State Univ. Law School: Juris Doctor - May 1970
Louisiana State Univ.: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - May 1967
LAW SCHOOL HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
Member of the Moot Court Board (1969, 1970)
Moot Court Finalist - presented written and oral argument to the Louisiana Supreme Court (1969-70)
Publication in the Louisiana Law Review (1970)
Graduate paper on the Lt. William Calley (My Lai, Vietnam) case (1973)
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Managing Partner, Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale (1982 to present)
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Criminal Defense representation of:
• New Orleans Police Officer, David Warren in connection with the post-Katrina shooting of Henry Glover (2010-2013)
• Dr. Anna Pou, doctor who was trapped at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and who was arrested and later cleared of murder charges during the Louisiana Attorney General’s investigation into patient deaths. (2005-2007)
• Co-defendant business partner of Governor Edwin Edwards indicted on racketeering charges; all defendants acquitted in 1986.
• Actor, Paul Burke, indicted along with New Orleans District Attorney, Harry Connick, on gambling, racketeering and perjury charges (both defendants acquitted July, 1990).
• Robert B. Evans, Jr., President of the Jefferson Parish Council and CEO of Enterprise Savings and Loan, indicted on charges of bank fraud and bribery. Despite testimony by a Greek fugitive (borrower), Evans was acquitted of all charges.
• Former State Senator Michael H. O'Keefe, Sr, indicted on charges of insurance fraud and money laundering. After a conviction, the district court granted a new trial based upon findings of perjury of a government witness and government misconduct. After a lengthy appellate battle (5 years), the conviction was re-instated.
• Plant manager of Marine Shale Processors; investigation as to environmental criminal matters; charges resolved by compromise.
• Secretary to Baton Rouge District Attorney on perjury charges; all charges dismissed.
Other Representations
Nationwide health care providers investigated by the Department of Justice.
Various medical professionals accused of Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
State District Judge indicted on false statement to bank:
Shipyard executive investigated on government contract fraud;
Vice President of State bank charged with bank fraud.
Internet user accused of possession of pornography.
CIVIL DEFENSE
Civil Defense representation of:
• Louisiana attorneys in legal malpractice lawsuits and bar complaints.
• Dr Anna Pou's medical malpractice case brought in connection with the Memorial Hospital investigation.
• BP’s Vice President of Gulf of Mexico drilling operations during governmental investigations of the BP oil spill.
• 24th JDC Judge Martha Sassone as to charges brought by the Judiciary Commission before the Louisiana Supreme Court.
• Civil RICO and other complex litigation.
• Insurance clients - CNA, Westport, AIG, Admiral, State Farm, Home/REM Insurance.
• Manufacturers - Hoyt Archery, John Deere, Black & Decker, Homelite, Tampax, Echo, Intermedics, Richards Manufacturing, Trailmobile, Chrysler.
• Directors and Officers.
• CEO and attorneys for failed financial institutions in lawsuits brought by FSLIC/FDIC after institution closures.
• Public officials (e.g. District Attorneys, Judiciary in civil rights cases).
• Government contractors - Avondale Shipyards, Martin Marietta, Windham Power Lifts
Assistant United States Attorney (1978 to 1982) - substantial expertise in jury trials and other federal litigation in the Eastern District of Louisiana under U.S. Attorney John Volz as:
Chief of Trials (1982) - Supervisor of all civil and criminal trial litigation.
Chief of Criminal Division (1979-81). Supervisor of 18 criminal attorneys in such areas as "white collar" crime, Federal program fraud, political corruption, bank fraud, environmental, and IRS violations.
Chief of Civil Division (1978-79) supervisor over 8 civil attorney.
BRILAB prosecutor (nationwide FBI undercover operation into Bribery in Labor).
Racketeering and political corruption prosecutor (former Congressman, school board president, police juror, French Quarter night club owners).
Assistant Federal Public Defender, Eastern District of Louisiana (1974-1978)
Legal counsel to indigent persons charged with federal crimes in the Eastern District.
Judge Advocate in the United States Army, Lt. Colonel JAG Corp (retired).
Active Duty (1970-74)
United States Army Reserves (1974-98)
Appellate representation of Lt. William Calley (My Lai, Vietnam incident) (1973-74)
Representation of Captain Derrick Robertson accused in the Aberdeen Proving Grounds sex scandals. (1996-97)
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
BEST LAWYERS 2011-PRESENT
SUPER LAWYERS 2007-PRESENT
MARTINDALE-HUBBELL - AV RATING 25 YEARS
NEW ORLEANS CITY BUSINESS, LEADERSHIP IN LAW (2014, 2010)
UNITED STATES ARMY MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, presented by Deputy Judge Advocate General upon retirement (June 1998).
DIRECTOR'S AWARD from the Department of Justice for U.S. Attorney prosecution activities. (1979-82) [Award Presented by Associate Attorney General Rudolph Guiliani in ceremonies in the Great Hall Department of Justice, 1982]
SPECIAL COMMENDATION from U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell for prosecution of "political scandal" prosecutions. [Award presented in ceremonies in the Great Hall, Department of Justice, Wash., 1979]
LETTER OF COMMENDATION from FBI Director William Webster for prosecution of the New Orleans "BRILAB" case, resulting in the conviction of a mafia leader and a high official in La. Government. (1981)
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL with Oak Leaf Cluster. (1973, 1974)
ADMISSIONS TO PRACTICE
U.S. Supreme Court, Louisiana Supreme Court, all Louisiana courts, U.S. Fifth Circuit and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Courts in Louisiana ( Eastern, Middle and Western Districts), U.S. Court of Military Appeals.