Atchafalaya Basin Litigation

Atchafalaya
Basin
Litigation

The Atchafalaya Basin, also known as the Atchafalaya Swamp, is the largest river basin and swamp in America, consisting of over 500,000 acres and described as one of the crown-jewel environmental areas in North America. As a navigable water bottom, the basin is owned by the state and not by private property owners. It is a resource that should be shared and protected by all who use it. When a private company’s actions damage the basin, or when alleged private landowners refuse to let commercial fishermen use the basin, an experienced lawyer can help.

Atchafalaya
Basin
Litigation

The Atchafalaya Basin, also known as the Atchafalaya Swamp, is the largest river basin and swamp in America, consisting of over 500,000 acres and described as one of the crown-jewel environmental areas in North America. As a navigable water bottom, the basin is owned by the state and not by private property owners. It is a resource that should be shared and protected by all who use it. When a private company’s actions damage the basin, or when alleged private landowners refuse to let commercial fishermen use the basin, an experienced lawyer can help.

ATCHAFALAYA BASIN LITIGATION ATTORNEYS IN LAFAYETTE

At Joseph Joy & Associates in Lafayette, Louisiana, we represent commercial fishermen and the public in lawsuits involving the Atchafalaya Basin, including:

  • Protecting commercial fishermen’s rights to use the basin’s waterways
  • Bringing personal injury claims for boat accidents that occurred in the Atchafalaya basin (hitting submerged pipelines, etc.)
  • Litigating environmental destruction claims against companies that introduce pollutants into the basin
  • Litigating claims against alleged private property owners whose actions significantly impacted the basin, such as obstructing the flow of water by destroying dams

In 2005, Mr. Joy and his legal team represented over 80 commercial fishermen against many of the big oil companies, pipeline companies, dredging companies, and surveying companies for destroying the livelihood of the fishermen who for generations commercially fished the Atchafalaya Basin. This is another first in litigation by Mr. Joy and his legal team as they have already obtained a partial confidential settlement on behalf of the commercial crawfishermen.

PROTECTING CRAWFISHERMEN’S RIGHTS TO USE THE BASIN

Far too often, alleged private property owners will claim that they own part of the basin and pick up crawfishermen’s commercial traps or otherwise prevent commercial fishermen from using the river basin and swamp. Our trial lawyers understand that your work is seasonal and that these alleged property owners are hurting your livelihood. The public has a right to go into the basin and enjoy what it has to offer. This right cannot be encumbered by anyone who claims private property ownership. We have experience representing commercial crawfishermen in litigation to protect their rights to use the public Atchafalaya Basin.

For example, we litigated a case in federal court where an alleged property owner shot at our client, a crawfisherman, claiming that the lake was his private lake. The federal judge ruled that the lake was public.

LITIGATION CAN BE COMPLICATED

Make sure you have a litigation attorney who can sort through all the issues and present a convincing argument to a jury.

OUR FIRST AND CONTINUING CONCERN IS YOU

Call or email us today and tell us how Atchafalaya Basin Litigation may have caused your business injury. You can be assured that we are on your side.

We earn attorney fees only if we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. We offer a free initial consultation to evaluate your case. If you do not recover, we do not get a fee.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

We’re ready to assist you. Let us Help. 337.232.8123

We’re ready to assist you. Let us Help.
337.232.8123

Louisiana Atchafalaya Basin Litigation Lawyer Joseph “Buzzy” Joy

REPRESENTATION IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR RECOVERY AFTER YOUR FISHING OR CRAWFISHING BUSINESS IS INJURED

Call us at 337.232.8123 or email us today, using the form below, and tell us about your Atchafalaya Basin Litigation. You can rest assured, knowing that we are on your side. Lafayette, Louisiana Atchafalaya Basin Litigation Attorney Joseph Joy does free initial consultations. You incur no costs unless we recover compensation for you.

Louisiana Atchafalaya Basin Litigation attorney Joseph “Buzzy” Joy serves clients in all of Louisiana, including Lafayette, Lake Charles, Morgan City, Opelousas, Carencro, Crowley, Jennings, Welsh, Broussard, New Iberia, Patterson, Berwick, and Morgan City.

We’re ready to assist you. Let us Help.

337.232.8123

Being injured can be a perilous and uncertain landscape. Let us help you navigate. We can make a difference.