Erich Rapp is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 1987 and practices in the areas of  state and local taxation, public policy and government affairs, state and local business incentives and commercial litigation with an emphasis on internet, software and technology issues, asbestos litigation and toxic tort litigation.  

As a matter of legal public service, Erich is an expert in and a long time advocate of the restoration of Louisiana's coastal wetlands. See Erich's blog at www.louisianacoastalwetlands.com. Erich is also a founder of the Louisiana Internet Software and Technology Association ("LISTA") which is a trade association providing public policy and government affairs assistance and also assistance with state and local business incentives to member companies. See www.listablog.org.

Erich has worked on numerous state and local taxation matters including sales tax, property tax, and income and franchise tax matters in both the administrative and district court settings.

Erich has expertise in the defense of large national and multinational industrial clients in cases involving human exposure to hazardous chemicals and in cases involving large scale environmental contamination. Erich also has specialized expertise in making environmental claims against the federal government.

Erich has extensive experience in litigation involving vinyl chloride, benzene, asbestos and ethylene dichloride.

Education

Erich earned his J.D. from the LSU Law Center in 1987 and earned his B.S. from Louisiana State University in 1984.

Admissions

• Admitted, Louisiana,1987; Texas, 1994

Memberships

• Baton Rouge, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations

Articles, Publications and Presentations

Louisiana's Digital Interactive Media Tax Credit Program

Growth Sought in Digital Media

Katrina Trial:  New Orleans' Truth Commission

Digital Tax Breaks Advance

Environmental Notes, August 2004

Nine Questions for Defending Asbestos Litigation

The Environmental Legacy of World War II

Feds pay in Superfund lawsuits

Community Service

• President, Baton Rouge Symphony Young Patrons Organization
• Judge, LSU Law Center Moot Court Competition
• Member, Board of Directors, Treasurer, Pro Bono Attorney, The Foundation for Historical Louisiana
• Member, Board of Directors, Baton Rouge Gallery
• Baton Rouge Business Report's "40 Under 40" honoree (2000)

Reported Cases

• TEXACO, Inc., et al., Appellant-Appellee, v. Walter Foreman, Appelle-Appellant, (La. App. 3 Cir 4/2/97), 692 So.2d 684 (No. 96-1434)
• State of Louisiana, ex rel. William J. Guste, Jr., Attorney General v. Douglas D. "Doug" Green, Commissioner of Insurance, (La. App. 1 Cir. 6/23/95), 657 So.2d 610 (No. 94 CA 1138).
• Dorain B. Alexander v. Associated Grocers, Inc. and Helmsman Management Services, Inc., (La.App. 1 Cir. 3/3/95), 652 So.2d 603, (NO. 94 CA 0800).
• Stephen P. Mumblow, v. Monroe Broadcasting, Inc., 401 F.3d 616, (NO. 03-31013), February 28, 2005.
• United Stated Fidelity & Guaranty Co., et al. v. Fox McKeithen, etc., et al., 226 F.3d 412, (NO. 99-30475), September 15, 2000.
• Damon Thomas, et al. v. CF Industries, Inc., 750 F.Supp.736, (Civ. A. 89-370-B), October 31, 1990.
• United State Fidelity and Guaranty Company, et al. v. W. Fox McKeithen, et al. 39 F.Supp.2d 747, (NO. Civ. A. 96-385-A.), March 5, 1999.