Overview
Delos (Dee) Flint’s practice includes both commercial and civil litigation within the maritime and energy fields. He serves as Director of Lugenbuhl’s Admiralty section, with maritime industry experience that includes representing drilling and service companies, blue and brown water vessel owners, charterers and insurers. Particularly related to his maritime practice, Dee has developed a specialty with DBA cases, defending burn pit and PTSD claims.
In the energy sector, Dee has been involved in oil field exploration, major offshore casualties, personal injuries, as well as energy insurance, well blowout and control, loss of hole, production delay and tank explosions. He also has experience in commercial litigation involving Defense Base Act claims, asbestos, breach of contract, products liability and environmental law.
Outside the Office
An avid sports enthusiast, Dee enjoys spending time on a soccer field as a referee for professional teams and high schools throughout the Gulf South, including refereeing the High School Louisiana All-Star Team. Embracing his love for the game and assisting in the development of youth sports, Dee holds a board seat on the Louisiana Soccer Association and Lafreniere Park Soccer Association and is a former president of the Crescent City Referee Association. He also enjoys the occasional golf game, is an active snow skier and, for many years, taught ballroom dancing! A graduate of Dartmouth, he is an active contributor to the Dartmouth Alumni Council.
- A $100 million jack-up drilling rig, the ENSCO 74, was knocked off station in Hurricane Ike. Six months later a Norwegian oil tanker struck the remains of the rig over 100 miles away from her drilling site. Two vessels and five pipelines filed suit. Flint was able to argue in Houston federal court that Ensco had made a full good faith search for the missing rig, and Ensco was absolved of all liability. In re Ensco 74 went up to the appellate court where Flint was affirmed. (2015)
- Modie Jordan brought a Jones Act claim in State Court in Mississippi alleging asbestos exposure. Dee Flint won a summary judgment for Rowan Companies dismissing the claim with prejudice.
- Dee Flint successfully defended claims by Nexen against Transocean and was able to collect $22 million for Transocean in a contractual dispute relating to the conclusion of the drilling contract and demobilization charges.
- In an action brought by Texaco against T.L. James, Inc. for $25 million for environmental cleanup costs from a pipeline oil spill, Dee Flint was able to show the spud barge ALROAR did not strike and cause a 16” pipeline to rupture. The court found the geometry of the dent did not result from the contact with a spud tip or crane bucket, and that the age of the dent was considerably older than the construction project as calcareous deposits had settled out into the dent. Texaco Trading & Transportation v. T.L. James, C.A. 98-1473 (E.D. La. 2003).
- Delton Coutee filed suit in state court in Lafayette against Global Marine Drilling Company for back injuries sustained aboard the drilling rig ADRIATIC II. The suit was tried, and Judge Castle returned a defense verdict for Global Marine. The case was appealed and went up to the Louisiana Supreme Court, who affirmed the trial court’s decision.
- In Seth Becker v. Tidewater, Dee Flint successfully defended ERT and R&B Falcon in a suit regarding a 22 year old engineer who was severed in half above the knees by a Baker Hughes coflex hose attached to the rig and a Tidewater vessel. In the jury trial, Flint got ERT dismissed, and R&B Falcon was cast in judgment for only 5%. The case was appealed, remanded to district court, where plaintiff elected a bench trial, Becker v. Tidewater, Inc. 405 F. 3d 257 (2005). In a limited second trial, Judge Richard Haik found Tidewater and Baker Hughes at fault. Dee Flint’s client, Falcon, was held free from fault.
Professional Affiliations
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- New Orleans Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Waterways Operators
- Maritime Law Association
- Tulane Admiralty Law Institute
- Super Lawyers, Transportation/Maritime (2016-2024)
- Best Lawyer in America, Admiralty and Maritime Law and Commercial Litigation (2016-2024)
- Lawdragon 500: Leading Energy Lawyers – Energy & Maritime Litigation (2024)
- New Orleans Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” in Admiralty Law (2015, 2019-2023)
- Inside New Orleans Reader’s Favorite “Elite Lawyers” (2022-2023)
- Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business; Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York) (2016-2022)
- New Orleans City Business Leadership in Law Award
- Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
- Co-presenter with Benjamin Kadden, “Effects of Insolvency on Maritime Transactions and Rights” Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute Seminar (2019)
- Presenter, “Acts of God: From Cathedrals to the Courtroom, ”Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute Seminar (2016)
- Presenter, “Maritime Legislative Developments, Proposed Changes, Congressional Hearings and DOSHA Overview, Arising From the Deepwater Horizon Casualty,” Louisiana State Bar Association 18th Annual Admiralty Symposium (2011)
- Presenter, “Ethics: SOP’s for SOB’s Redux ,”Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (2010)
- Presenter, “History of the Defense Base Act Purpose, Scope and Coverage,” Government Contractor International Risk Management Summit (2006)
- Presenter, “Navigating the Reaches of East River – Revisiting the Supreme Court’s Products Liability Decision in East River Steamship Corp. v. Transamerica Delaval, Inc.,” Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (2005)
- Presenter, “Dealing Professionally with the Unprofessional Adversary (SOP’s for SOB’S),” Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (2000)
- Presenter, “Indemnity and Contribution, Critical Issues for Discussion on the Eve of a New Century,” Louisiana Bar Association (1999)
- Author, The International Lawyer, Admiralty and Maritime Law, Vol. 31 No. 2 1997 – The American Bar Association in Cooperation with the SMU School of Law
- Author, “Current Developments in United States Maritime Lien Law,” University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal Volume 8, No. 2. (Spring 1996)
