balhoff@pbmbllc.com

Over  19 years of practice in federal and state trial and appellate litigation, including complex litigation, mass torts, and class actions. Served as or assisted special master or mediator in matters involving:

• Case management
• Pretrial discovery
• Resolution of privilege issues
• Testing protocols
• Computer modeling
• Daubert issues
• Allocation of attorney’s fees

Multidistrict Litigation

• In re: FEMA Trailer Formaldehyde Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 1873 (E.D. La. J.P.M.L.) (appointed Special Master to allocate multiple settlement funds to tens of thousands of claimants who alleged chemical exposure while occupying temporary housing after Hurricane Katrina; served as Court-Appointed Mediator)
• In re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon” in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010, MDL No. 2179 (E.D. La. J.P.M.L.) (served as chief assistant to Court-Appointed Neutral; developed methodology for allocating $2.3 billion settlement fund to thousands of Gulf of Mexico seafood harvesters who alleged economic damage as a result of the BP oil rig disaster; served as Court-Appointed Mediator)
• In re: Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2047 (E.D. La. J.P.M.L.) (served as Court-Appointed Mediator for case in which homeowners alleged defendants were responsible for installation of defective drywall; secured commitments from more than 500 defendants to global settlement)
• In re: Denture Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2051 (S.D. Fla. J.P.M.L.) (selected to allocate aggregate settlement fund to plaintiffs who were allegedly injured by defective denture products)

Other Federal Court Litigation

• John Burford, et al. v. Cargill, Inc., 05-0283 (W.D. La.) (appointed Special Master to disburse nationwide class settlement funds to thousands of farmers who used allegedly defective dairy feed product)
• Junior Cerdes, et al. v. Cummins Diesel Sales Corp., et al., 06-922 (E.D. La.) (served as chief assistant to Special Master responsible for determining reasonableness of attorneys’ fee request in products liability class action case)

State Court Litigation

• In re: Honeywell, July 20, 2003 Chlorine Release, 511,626 (La. 19th J.D.C.) (appointed Special Master to allocate class settlement funds to several thousand persons allegedly affected by two separate releases from chemical plant; appointed Special Master to allocate attorneys’ fees)
• Arthur Schexnayder, Jr., et al. v. Entergy Louisiana, Inc., et al., 28,907 (La. 23rd J.D.C.) (appointed Special Master to allocate class settlement funds to property owners in more than 20 parishes against utility company for alleged trespass claims)
• Noretta Thomas, et al. v. A. Wilbert & Sons, L.L.C., et al., 55,127 (La. 18th J.D.C.) (appointed Special Master to allocate class settlement funds to several thousand of residents of and visitors to trailer park alleging ground water contamination; appointed Special Master to allocate attorneys’ fees; appointed joint Special Master to allocate class settlement funds to several thousand landowners alleging chemical pollution claims)
• Toussaint Battley, Sr., et al. v. Pointe Coupee Parish Police Jury, et al., 41,792 (La. 18th J.D.C.) (appointed Special Master to allocate class settlement funds to property owners damaged by flood)
• Kristen M. Rhodes v. BG Estate Servs., Inc., et al., 2001-18355 (La. C.D.C.) (appointed Special Master to allocate class settlement funds to mold exposure claimants)
•  Mark S. Creech, et al. v. Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc., 61,236 (La. 18th J.D.C.) (appointed joint Special Master to allocate settlement funds to insurance policyholders in class action requesting payment reimbursement)
• Carey C. Abbott, et al. v. Waste Management, Inc., et al., 87,182 (La. 21st J.D.C.) (appointed joint Special Master for allocating settlement funds to residents allegedly affected by environmental contamination)
• Rita H. Holzenthal, et al. v. Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans, 2001-16969 (La. C.D.C.) (appointed joint Special Master to allocate settlement to residents allegedly affected by New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board project)
• Ivan Guidry, et al. v. City of Denham Springs, 28,907 (La. 21st J.D.C.) (named Court-Appointed Arbitrator to allocate settlement funds among claimants who were allegedly affected by waste water contamination)
• In re: Vulcan Litigation – April 2001 Incidents, 69,388 (La. 23rd J.D.C.) (served as chief assistant to Special Master with responsibility of allocating common benefit fund among attorneys)
• Terry Giaque, et al. v. Clean Harbors Plaquemine, LLC, et al., 60,195 (La. 18th J.D.C.) (served as chief assistant to Special Master with responsibilities of case management and resolution of discovery issues, including privilege claims)

Other Federal Court Litigation

• John Burford, et al. v. Cargill, Inc., 05-0283 (W.D. La.) (appointed Special Master to disburse nationwide class settlement funds to thousands of farmers who used allegedly defective dairy feed product)
• Junior Cerdes, et al. v. Cummins Diesel Sales Corp., et al., 06-922 (E.D. La.) (served as chief assistant to Special Master responsible for determining reasonableness of attorneys’ fee request in products liability class action case)