Christine Simons Fortunato joined Adams and Reese in 2006 and is a member of the Litigation Group in New Orleans.
She has a varied practice and, over the years, has worked on several complex business and constitutional matters. Because her primary litigation focus, however, is in the area of environmental and toxic torts, much of Christine's recent work has involved a series of putative class-action and large joinder suits against petrochemical companies involving alleged exposure to naturally occurring radioactive material. On these and other cases, Christine's efforts have played a crucial role in ensuring favorable outcomes for her clients.
In addition to her litigation practice, Christine serves on the firm's appellate advocacy team. In that capacity, she has gained extensive appellate experience, having co-authored several writs and appellate briefs in both state and federal courts.
Christine has worked on many complex litigation matters at both the trial and appellate levels. Her significant contributions include:
· Playing a key role in obtaining dismissal of several constitutional challenges to a post-Katrina housing ordinance.
· Obtaining denial of class certification in environmental tort litigation against an international petrochemical company in state court and having that denial affirmed on appeal.
· Obtaining dismissal of the punitive damage claims of a subset of plaintiffs in a personal injury suit in state court.
· Obtaining dismissal of a products liability action in state court for an out-of-state manufacturing client on lack of personal jurisdiction grounds.
In her spare time, Christine devotes her time to raising her two daughters and to rooting for the New Orleans Saints.
Professional Memberships / Affiliations
Louisiana State Bar Association
American Bar Association