Member Bio
Practice Description
David’s general civil litigation practice concentrates on the defense of personal injury and property damage claims. His experience includes the defense of a wide variety of casualty claims including premises liability, automotive, nursing home and industrial accidents. David’s general practice also includes the defense of products liability, pharmaceutical and medical device, and environmental and toxic torts claims. He is a founding contributor to the Firm’s Louisiana Premises Liability Blog. His practice also includes an emphasis on Medicare compliance and lien resolution issues in the context of individual and global settlements. David’s Martindale-Hubbell rating is AV®.*
David’s mass tort, complex litigation, and class action experience includes Wood Destroying Organisms: Regional Counsel; Insecticides: Louisiana Trial Counsel; Termiticides: Louisiana Trial Counsel; and Welding Rod Litigation: Louisiana Trial Counsel.
Activities, Affiliations, and Accomplishments
David is a member of the Federal Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Texas State Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, Jefferson Parish Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, and New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel. He is admitted to practice before all Louisiana and Texas state courts, the United States Court of Appeal for the Fifth District, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana. He has served as a speaker for the New Orleans Bar Association on the topic of the Medicare Set Aside Arrangements in the context of workers’ compensation settlements.
David is an active volunteer with the New Orleans Bar Association, Habitat for Humanity and other local charitable organizations.
Education
David received his B.A. (1990) from Louisiana State University where he majored in English Literature and Political Science. He received his J.D. (1994) from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
Military Service
David served in the Louisiana Army National Guard from 1986 to1992.
Honors
David was selected for inclusion in the 2014 and 2015 Louisiana Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters for his work in the field of Personal Injury Products: Defense.
In addition to serving as a member and officer in local fraternal and charitable organizations, David was selected as a New Orleans City Business 2013 Leadership in Law Honoree.
David was nominated by clients to be a Member of the prestigious Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM).
David has been selected as onle of only three Trustees for the Estate of Thomy Lafon. Lafon was a self-educated, freeperson of color in New Orleans, who in the 1800s built his fortune from real estate and businesses. Revenues generated by Lafon's Estate continue to this day to support the care of the elderly and disadvantaged children in New Orleans.
Publications & Presentations
David M. Melancon & Kelly Brilleaux, The Collateral Source Rule and Gratuitous Payments or Services, DRI For the Defense, November 2012.
David M. Melancon, Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Recoveries, Rx for the Defense, DRI Drug and Medical Device Committee, July 2012.
David M. Melancon, Practical Considerations: Mediating a Case Involving a Medicare Beneficiary, DRI For the Defense, June 2012.
David M. Melancon, Ali A. Spindler, & Quentin F. Urquhart, Jr., Pre-Service Removal Exception to the Forum Defendant Rule Post Amendment of the Federal Jurisdictional Statutes, IADC Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee, March 2012.
Speaker: The Basics of Termite Contractor Liability and the Importance of Documentation and Witness Preparation in Termite Damage Claims, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry AES Inspector Training, Grant Walker 4-H Education Center, Pollack, Louisiana, February 29, 2012.
Speaker: Best Practices for Compliance with the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Statute and the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act (MMSEA), CLE Presented by the New Orleans Bar Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 14, 2010.
*CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies.