Baton Rouge Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Lawyer

Mass Torts/Class Actions

John J. Pace has extensive experience handling and litigating class action and mass tort lawsuits. A class action is a lawsuit where a large group of people who have suffered similar harm collectively bring a claim to court. A single person who has been injured may bring a class action on behalf of everyone who has been harmed. Usually, once the action has been filed, many other people who have been injured join the class action.

There are many different kinds of class actions, such as:

  • Securities class action by disgruntled shareholders
  • Consumer class action
  • Class action against an employer for employment discrimination
  • Class action seeking relief from violations of antitrust law (price-fixing conspiracies and monopolizing markets)
  • Class action alleging civil rights violations
  • Class action based on environmental damage
  • Class action involving mass torts (wrongs affecting many people, such as oil spills and defective drugs and medical devices).

A lawsuit becomes a class action when one or more plaintiffs, often called Lead Plaintiffs, file a lawsuit claiming some kind of harm. The plaintiff(s) can then ask the court to certify the case as a class action.

To have the case certified, the Lead Plaintiff and class action attorneys must show that the case meets several criteria:

  • There is a legal claim against the defendant(s).
  • There is a significantly large group of people who have been injured in a similar way and the cases of members of the class involve similar issues of fact and law as the case of the Lead Plaintiff(s). Class certification might be denied, for example, if people have suffered different kinds of side effects from a defective drug. The differences in injury would require different evidence for many class members.
  • The Lead Plaintiff is typical of the class members and has a reasonable plan and the ability to adequately represent the class. The Lead Plaintiff must also have no conflict with other class members. A Lead Plaintiff who seeks money damages for him or herself, but is willing to agree to coupons for all the rest of the class, is probably not adequately representing the class.

John J. Pace has the experience necessary to handle the sophisticated legal matters and procedures involved in this practice area and he will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation provided by law.

Personal Injury

When you suffer an accident that causes a serious injury, you and your family will have to deal with the physical and legal aftermath for an extended period of time. John J. Pace is committed to providing representation and advocacy for those who have been severely injured or the families of victims of wrongful death caused by errors, omissions, carelessness or inattention of others. His dedication will allow you and your family to focus on the physical and emotional recovery from your injuries while assuring that your case is handled effectively. We accept a variety of personal injury cases from:

  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Brain Injury
  • Car Accidents
  • Construction Accidents
  • Dog Bites
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Premises Liability
  • Slip and Fall
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Truck Accidents
  • Under-insured or Uninsured Motorists
  • Wrongful Death

John J. Pace will guide you in determining whether a settlement or a trial would be the best strategy for your particular case. He will stand up for your rights, delving into all the possible causes of your injury and helping to bring the guilty party to justice.

Compensation for Injuries Caused by Defective Products

Companies and businesses that create and sell products have a responsibility to ensure that those products are designed and manufactured safely. Unfortunately, defective products harm millions of people every year, as the desire to maximize profits too often trumps the responsibility to keep consumers safe. These companies should be held responsible for defective products through personal injury litigation.

Products liability cases often stem from three things: design defects, manufacturing defects or a failure to warn consumers of possible dangers. Our firm will do everything in our power to help you if you have been injured due to a defective product.

We have handled cases involving defective products that include, but are not limited to:

  • Medical devices
    • Transvaginal Mesh Complications and Dangers
    • Zimmer Durom Cup Defective Hip Implant
    • Depuy Hip Recall
    • Stryker Rejuvenate and ABG II Hip
    • Wright Profemur Z Hip Implant
    • Biomet’s M2a Magnum Hip Implant
  • Pharmaceutical drugs
    • Ammonia
    • Avandia
    • Baycol
    • Darvocet
    • Ephedra
    • Fentanyl patch
    • GranuFlo and NaturaLyte
    • Meridia
    • Paxil
    • Phenylpropanolamine
    • Pradaxa
    • Vioxx
    • Yasmin/YAZ or generic Ocella
    • Zoloft
  • Auto parts and SUV rollovers
  • Industrial equipment
  • Toys and playground equipment
  • Gas and propane tanks
  • Farm equipment
  • Grocery carts

After any accident involving a defective product, it is important to keep the responsible product as evidence, whenever possible. This way, we are able to quickly investigate the evidence and build a strong case regarding your claim.

Criminal Defense

Drug charges

The lawoffice of John J. Pace can help you fight for your future after a serious drug possession, distribution, drug trafficking or drug manufacturing charge in Louisiana.

He offers knowledgeable legal advice and dedicated defense to men, women and juveniles charged with serious drug crimes, including:

  • Simple drug possession of marijuana, crack, ecstasy and other illegal substances
  • Felony drug possession or possession with intent to distribute
  • Importation, transportation, distribution or trafficking of cocaine, marijuana, heroin, methamphetamines and other illegal drugs
  • Illegal possession or distribution of prescription drugs including Zanax and OxyContin
  • Manufacturing or cultivation with intent to distribute drugs

You need the immediate assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer who knows the system and what the courts need to hear to help your case reach the best possible outcome.

Sex crimes

John J Pace’s trial experience and personal dedication to producing results for his clients enables him to provide high quality representation to men and women facing charges for any type of sex crime in Louisiana, including:

  • Rape or sexual assault
  • Date rape or acquaintance rape
  • Rape charges involving alcohol or drugs such as GHB or Rohypnol (sometimes called roofies)
  • Child sexual abuse or molestation
  • Indecency with a child
  • Pedophilia
  • Prostitution and solicitation
  • Internet sex crimes such as child pornography and online solicitation of a minor

White Collar Crimes

There are many reasons why good people wind up charged with fraud or another serious white collar crime. Honorable men and women can find themselves accused of laundering money or embezzlement. John J. Pace represents individuals and businesses in Louisiana that are under investigation or facing formal state or federal charges for a wide range of white collar crimes including:

  • Banking fraud
  • Mortgage fraud
  • Mail fraud
  • Internet fraud
  • Embezzlement
  • Forgery
  • Identity theft
  • Health care fraud

Environmental Fraud

As the nation continues to increase environmental awareness and protection, prosecution efforts against violators of environmental laws are also increasing. When a business engages in practices that violate state or federal environmental laws, the corporate officers, business owners or other key employees may be held civilly and criminally responsible for:

  • Illegal dumping of hazardous waste
  • Violation of pollutant emission standards
  • Illegal groundwater contamination
  • Operating with falsified permits
  • Other violations of state or federal environmental laws

Assault and Battery

Louisiana law enforcement takes violent crime very seriously. It is not unheard of for a prosecutor to charge a simple bar fight as an aggravated assault. Aside from the police custody, prosecution and trial, and jail time that you are facing, a conviction for these types of crimes can leave a mark on your record that can haunt you. We can help you aggressively fight for your rights and ensure that your voice is heard. John J Pace has experience in handling a diverse range of assault, battery and other violent crime cases including:

  • Bar fights
  • Second degree battery and aggravated battery
  • Domestic violence and child abuse
  • Stalking and making threats
  • Simple assault and aggravated assault (assault with a deadly weapon)
  • Kidnapping
  • Armed robbery

Manslaughter and Murder

When you are accused of causing the death of another person, either through reckless disregard for their safety or through an intentional act, you need the immediate assistance of an experienced attorney with the skills and resources to defend your rights. A conviction for second degree murder means a life sentence, and in Louisiana, life means life. John J. Pace can offer insistent defense representation in the most serious violent crime cases including:

  • Manslaughter
  • Second degree murder (i.e. crime of passion)
  • First degree murder (i.e. premeditated murder)
  • Drug overdose death charged as murder
  • Vehicular negligent homicide and vehicular manslaughter charges in a fatal drunk driving accidents

Juvenile Crimes

A conviction for a juvenile offense can have lasting consequences. John J Pace can help you fight for your child’s future against charges of juvenile crimes such as:

  • Fighting
  • Battery or assault
  • Theft
  • Robbery
  • Shoplifting
  • Vandalism
  • Home invasion
  • Drug charges such as possession of marijuana or prescription pills
  • Underage drinking
  • Underage DWI (minor charged with drunk driving)

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)

When a driver registers .08 or greater in a breath or blood test, fails a field sobriety test, or refuses to take the test, they will be charged with DWI. The consequences of a Louisiana DWI conviction are too serious to ignore. A skilled attorney can mean the difference between a conviction and a dismissed charge. John J Pace helps clients fight toward favorable results like dismissed charges, restored driving privileges, and reduced fines.

If you’re pulled over for drunk driving it’s important to know that you have several rights:

  • Once stopped by the police , you are not free to walk or drive away, you have the right to an attorney. You should request to speak to one as soon as possible.
  • Never admit to having consumed alcohol or drugs.
  • Do not answer any questions or make any statements without a DWI lawyer being present.
  • Politely refuse any field sobriety tests such as an HGN or pen test, reciting your ABCs, or any balance tests.
  • You can choose to refuse or submit to a breath test. If you submit to the breath test because you think you can pass it, but fail, demand an independent blood test as soon as possible.

Sound Legal Advice and Effective Representation from a Dedicated and Experienced Baton Rouge Attorney

We offer a free, confidential consultation where we can evaluate your situation and let you know how we can help you. Personal injury cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you do not pay any legal fees unless and until we obtain a verdict or settlement on your behalf. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, workplace accident, slip and fall, or due to a defective product, or if you have been charged in a Louisiana or federal criminal matter, contact the law office of John J. Pace in Baton Rouge for immediate assistance.