Adams and Reese attorney Diana Surprenant has been selected to participate in the Leadership Jefferson program class of 2019. Surprenant continues a long list of Adams and Reese alumni who have participated in Leadership Jefferson.
The program, run by the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Foundation, offers participants insight into Jefferson Parish's challenges and opportunities, as well as further leadership and volunteer opportunities to help participants working toward common goals of improvement in the parish (county) in which they live. Leadership Jefferson consists of a nine-month series of workshops aimed at resolving critical issues facing Jefferson Parish, such as education, health care, quality of life, criminal justice, diversity
At Adams and Reese, Surprenant assists clients in the oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, agricultural, hospitality, health care, and pharmaceutical arenas. She focuses on products liability and toxic tort matters and represents clients in the state and federal courts, including in multi-district litigation. In addition, she represents health care providers in medical malpractice suits.
At the appellate level, Surprenant maintains an active post-trial motion practice and drafts appellate briefs stemming from toxic tort litigation and medical malpractice litigation. She also applies for emergency supervisory writ applications before the Louisiana appellate courts. She also has extensive experience litigating in state and federal courts (including the appellate courts), as well as in arbitration proceedings and before administrative agencies. She has handled matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights, among others.
In the New Orleans community, Surprenant is an active member of the Young Friends of St. Andrew’s Village, an organization that helps people with special needs. She also provides legal consultation and notary services through the Homeless Experience Legal Protection program.