Valeria “Valerie” Sercovich joined Adams and Reese in 1996 and focuses her practice on the litigation of class actions and mass tort actions. She primarily represents environmental issues and toxic torts cases for major oil and chemical companies. Valerie has substantial experience in mass joinder and class action cases involving naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), asbestos, silica, chemical exposure and pesticides.
Valerie handles complex litigation cases involving thousands of plaintiffs and the unique issues that arise from organizing, supervising, coordinating and managing large files. Her class action experience also involves cases of products liability, pharmaceutical litigation and insurance claims.
She has defended premises owners, employers and executive officers in occupational exposure cases. These have included claims of fear of cancer, increased risk of cancer, medical monitoring, ultra hazardous materials, and continuing tort. Valerie also has valuable experience in appellate advocacy.
Her other significant contributions include:
- Representing a governmental entity in areas involving levee design and flood elevations, including a class action in which the plaintiffs are seeking damages from levee breaches during Hurricane Katrina.
- Developing an understanding of federal removal issues, including removals under the Class Action Fairness Act. This includes involvement in a case that went to the United States Supreme Court on a grant of certiorari involving removal jurisdiction under the All Writs Act.
- Leading cases that involve large groups of co-defendants and joint defense initiatives that require high level skills in communication and consensus building.
While in law school, Valerie was a member of the Loyola Law Review, and the only student to have both her casenote and comment published. She has also coauthored a published law review article on class actions.
She grew up on the bayous of Plaquemines Parish in south Louisiana and enjoys anything to do with the water, including fishing, skiing and scuba diving. Valerie loves to cook and entertain large groups of people and admits to making a mean gumbo. Her background in the commercial fishing industry, as well as growing up in Plaquemines Parish, has led her to develop an interest in coastal erosion as she has seen firsthand its devastating effects on the marshes of south Louisiana.
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