David Nelson is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 1985 and practices in the litigation area with special interest in construction and toxic tort litigation. David represents construction clients in a wide variety of construction disputes including litigation, contract negotiation and interpretation, arbitration and mediation, lien rights and remedies under the Public Works Act and the Private Works Act, performance, payment, bid and retainage bond rights, and liability and responsibility issues.

David represents engineers, contractors, industrial concerns, building owners, architects and engineers in a wide variety of matters including improper construction and design issues. David has particular expertise in construction law issues relating to building cladding issues, water intrusion, and corresponding damage claims including "toxic mold" claims.

David also represents many petrochemical companies in cases involving alleged exposure to various chemicals and toxic substances. He also represents many industrial clients in the defense of toxic tort cases alleging personal injury in connection with chemical exposure and in hearing loss claims.

David also represents several large corporations in commercial litigation disputes including IBM, DSM Copolymer, Inc., Nalco Chemical Company and Amitech USA.

Education

David earned his J.D. from the LSU Law Center in 1985. He is a graduate of the Masters Advocacy Program at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (1992) and is a faculty member for the Gulf Coast Regional Trial Advocacy Program and the LSU Law Center Trial Advocacy program. He earned his B.S. from Louisiana State University in 1982.

Admissions

• Admitted, Louisiana, 1985

Memberships

• Baton Rouge, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
• American Bar Association Litigation Committee
• American Bar Association Construction Committee
• American Bar Association Insurance Defense Committee

Articles, Publications and Presentations

Community Service

• Lecturer, Louisiana Association of Educators
• President, St. Jude the Apostle School Advisory Council, 2001-2002; Vice President, 2000-2001; Member, 1995-2000
• Board of Directors, St. Josephs Academy, 2003-2006
• Board of Directors, Attorney, Louisiana Council on Child Abuse (1987-1988)
• Co-Moderator, Catholic High School Mock Trial, 1998 to 2002
• Legal Director, Mock Trial Competition of Baker High School, 1991
• Participant, Baton Rouge Bar Association's "Lawyer in the Classroom" Program
• Lector, St. Jude the Apostle Church, 2005-present

Lecturer

• Presenter, Louisiana Dental Association, Winter 2008 Session, Four Hours with a Lawyer vs. A Root Canal without Anesthesia..Tough Choice Ain't It.
  
• Speaker, Construction Conference, 2007, Equitable Adjustment Clauses.
  
• Instructor: National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Gulf Coast Regional Program, 1990 to present.
• Instructor: National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Deposition Program, 2002.
• Toxic Mold: Modern Plague or Ancient Nuisance, presented to the Louisiana State Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, November 2002.
• Louisiana State University Law Center Trial Advocacy Program, 1995 to present.
• Technical Presenter: International Technology Corporation Technical Exchange, American Industrial Hygiene Conference, 1993.

Authorships

• Author, Legal Considerations for the Health and Safety Professional, 1995.