Roger A. Stetter
Biographical Information
Born: New York, NY, March 12, 1947
Family:
Married to Barbara Hensley since 1974.
Two children: David, born in 1967, and Jack, born in 1986.
Education:
J.D., University of Virginia, School of Law, 1971
B.S., Cornell University, School of Industrial & Labor Relations, 1968
Public Schools, Massapequa, New York
Honors and student activities in law school and college:
Student Assistant, Professor Peter Low, University of Virginia, School of Law (1970 – 1971)
Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review Association (1969 – 1971)
American Jurisprudence Award in Contract Law under then-UVA Law Professor Antonin Scalia, 1969
Honor Scholarship, University of Virginia, School of Law (1968 – 1971)
Senior Honor Society, Cornell University (graduated top five percent of class), 1968
Field Research, New York Migrant Farm Labor Camps, under Sociology Professor William H. Friedland, Cornell University (1965 – 1966)
Co-organizer, Fayette County Clothing Drive for black sharecroppers in Fayette County, Tennessee, Cornell University, Winter 1965
Freshman Orientation Counselor, Cornell University, Fall 1965
Mental Health Worker, Service Corps ‘65, Connecticut State Department of Mental Health, Summer 1965
Teacher’s aide, public elementary school, Ithaca, New York, for learning-impaired children, sponsored by Cornell United Religious Work (1964 – 1965)
First in Freshman Class Prize, Cornell University (1964 – 1965)
Practice of Law
Private Practice:
Engaged in private practice of law since 1977.
Established Roger A. Stetter, LC on April 1, 2001. Previously a partner in Lemle & Kelleher (1983 – 1999) and Lehmann Stetter & Marcus (1999 – 2001). Specialist in environmental and toxic tort law, labor and employment law, antitrust law, personal injury and business litigation – trial and appellate. Practice also includes federal anti-discrimination law, clergy abuse litigation, professional liability, failed bank litigation, securities fraud, director and officer liability, and patent litigation.
Litigation associate with the former Wall Street law firm of Mudge Rose Guthrie & Alexander from 1977 to 1982. Trial and appellate experience included antitrust law, electric utility rate litigation, municipal finance, insurance, corporate takeovers, labor and employment, and international law of extradition.
Public Interest Law:
Engaged in public law practice as Director, Criminal Defense Unit, University of Tennessee Legal Clinic, Knoxville, Tennessee (1975 – 1976) and as Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Roanoke Valley, Roanoke, Virginia (1971 – 1972). Represented indigent defendants in felony and misdemeanor trials, appeals and post-conviction proceedings in Tennessee and Virginia.
Law Clerk, Bredhoff & Kaiser, Washington, D.C., summer 1970. Assisted partners in representation of AFL-CIO, Industrial Union Department, and major labor unions. Helped draft the first private party equal pay suit in the United States, on behalf of airline stewardesses, under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. [Laffey v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 740 F.2d 1071 (D.C. Cir. 1984)].
Bar/Court Admissions:
Admitted to bars of Louisiana (1982), New York (1978), Tennessee (1975 – 1977) (pro hac vice), and Virginia (1971). Admitted to Supreme Court of the United States, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, and all state courts of Louisiana, New York and Virginia.
Teaching Activities
Judge:
Final Mock Trials, Tulane Law School Trial Advocacy Program (March 31, 1995)
45th Annual National Moot Court Competition, Region VII, sponsored by The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Nov. 18, 1994)
National Appellate Advocacy Competition, 1994 National Finals, sponsored by the American Bar Association (Aug. 5, 1994)
Lecturer, Tulane Law School, Spring 1991
Adjunct Associate Professor, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (1978 – 1981)
Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee College of Law, and Director, Criminal Defense Unit, University of Tennessee Legal Clinic (1975 – 1976)
Assistant Professor, LSU Law School (1972 – 1976)
Legal subjects taught include trial advocacy, environmental law, antitrust, criminal law, constitutional law, employment discrimination, business torts, civil procedure and federal criminal procedure.
Professional Activities
Continuing Legal Education:
Speaker, “The Nuts and Bolts of Appellate Practice,” sponsored by the New Orleans Bar Association, December 2006
Speaker, “Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr.: A Man and His Work,” sponsored by the New Orleans Bar Association, December 2005
Speaker, “Real Tort Reform: Private Remedies & Toxic Torts,” 9th Annual Tulane Environmental Conference, April 2004
Speaker, “Justice Thurgood Marshall: From Listening to Leading,” sponsored by the New Orleans Bar Association, October 2003
Speaker, “Lessons on Professionalism from a Country Lawyer: Gerry Spence,” sponsored by the New Orleans Bar Association, July 2002
Speaker, “A Hero for Our Times: Judge Albert Tate, Jr.,” sponsored by Inn of Court, Tulane Law School, November 2000
Speaker, “Real Tort Reform: Private Remedies & Toxic Torts,” 9th Annual Tulane Law School Environmental Conference, April 2002
Speaker, “A Portrait of the Good Lawyer: Hugo Black and the Bill of Rights,” sponsored by Inn of Court, Tulane Law School, January 2000
Speaker, “Professionalism: A Portrait of the Good Lawyer: Judge Skelly Wright,” End of the Year CLE Seminar, sponsored by The Legal Aid Bureau/Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, December 1997
Panelist, “Ethics & Professionalism in the 90s,” Bench & Bar Section, Louisiana State Bar Association, December 1997
Chair, Environmental Workshop re Sale of Environmentally Troubled Property – – Mock Negotiation and Mini-Trial Mediation, LSBA Summer School for Lawyers, June 1996
Speaker, “Suit by the Louisiana Attorney General Challenging Escrow Practices for Home Mortgages in Louisiana: State of Louisiana v. Litton Mortgage Company, et al.,” End of the Year CLE Seminar, sponsored by The Legal Aid Bureau/Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, December 1995
Chair, Environmental Law Section Program, “Are We Still Cancer Alley?” LSBA Annual Meeting, June 1995
Law Firm Liaison, New Orleans Pro Bono Project (June 1994 -1999)
Speaker, “Mini-Trials and ADR in Superfund Dump Site Cases,” End of the Year CLE Seminar, sponsored by The Legal Aid Bureau/Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, December 1994
Speaker, “Environmental Liabilities Associated with Real Property Transactions,” Latter & Blum/Commercial Sales Group, August 1994
Speaker, “The Environmental Justice Movement,” End of the Year CLE Seminar, sponsored by The Legal Aid Bureau/Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, December 1993
Speaker, “Race, Poverty and the Environment,” End of the Year CLE Seminar, sponsored by The Legal Aid Bureau/Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter, December 1992
Chair, Louisiana Environmental Law Seminar, sponsored by Lawyers Cooperative Publishing, December 1992
Guest on public television show, “It’s the Law,” hosted by Judge Steven R. Plotkin (La. App. 4th Cir.), November 1992
Speaker, Environmental Regulation Course, sponsored by Executive Enterprises, Inc., October 1992
Speaker, Annual Environmental Law Institute, LSU Law School, April 1992
Panelist on “Ethical Problems Affecting Environmental Lawyers,” Annual Environmental Law Seminar, sponsored by Environmental Law Section, LA State Bar Association (LSBA), October 1991
Program Chair, Environmental Law Conference for Gulf Coast Lawyers, sponsored by Tulane Law School, May 1990
Speaker, Conference on Hazardous Waste in Real Estate Transactions, sponsored by CLE International, March 1990
Speaker, Chemical Manufacturers Association Tort Litigation Group Meeting, sponsored by Murphy Oil Corporation, January 1990
Chair, Appellate Practice Seminar, sponsored by LSBA, January 1990
Speaker, 1988 Ground Water Seminar – – Ground Water Protection in Louisiana: Quality, Risk Assessment & Remediation, sponsored by La. Dept. of Environmental Quality, et al., May 1988
Presentation on “Laws & Regulations Prompting Environmental Site Assessments” at seminar on Managing Environmental Liabilities Associated with Real Estate Transactions, sponsored by Woodward-Cycle Consultants, May 1988
Speaker, Collection and Consumer Debt for the General Practitioner, LSU Law School, Center for Continuing Professional Development, September 1987
Speaker, 2d Annual Ground Water Seminar, sponsored by La. Dept. of Environmental Quality, January 1987
Speaker, “Legal Aspects of Underground Storage Tank Liability,” presented at La. Oil Marketers Association District Meetings, March 1986
Speaker, Storage Tank Management Seminar, sponsored by Woodward-Cycle Consultants, August 1985
Speaker, “The Role of Outside Counsel in the Livingston Train Derailment Litigation,” presented at Annual Technical Session, La. Water Pollution Control Ass’n, May 1985
Presentation on “The Rights of Mental Patients in Virginia” sponsored by Veterans Administration Hospital, Staunton, Virginia, Spring 1972
Louisiana State Bar Association:
Law School Orientation on Professionalism (Tulane Law School, August 2014)
Lawyers in Transition Committee (2007 –)
Louisiana Bar Foundation, Education Committee (2000 – 2002)
Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedure, House of Delegates (1997 – 1999)
Member, House of Delegates, Orleans Parish (1995 – 1997)
Legal Services for the Disabled Committee (1995 – 1999)
CLE Program Committee (1994 – 1998)
Environmental Law Section Council (1992 – 1995)
Lawyer Advertising Committee (1991 – 1992)
Long-Range Planning Committee (1990 – 1991)
Chair, IOLTA Committee (1987 – 1988)
Chair, CLE Publications Subcommittee (1986 – 1987)
Louisiana Bar Foundation
Grant Committee (2015-2016)
Civic Activities
Board of Directors, and Vice-President, The Legal Aid Bureau of New Orleans (2000 –)
Mary Landrieu for Senate Campaign, Finance Committee (1996)
Teacher, Our Nation Elementary School Program (5th Grade, St. Francis Xavier School), sponsored by Junior Achievement (April 1995)
Law-related education program at Rivarde Juvenile Detention Center, sponsored by LA Center for Law & Civic Education, November 1994
Fundraiser: Cornell University 25th Reunion Campaign, University of Virginia, United Way of New Orleans, etc.
Hosted fundraiser in New Orleans for U.S. Senator Charles Robb (Va.), 1992
AAA Louisiana Advisory Board (1992 – 1997)
Benefactor, The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana (since 1992)
The Louisiana Bar Foundation (1986 – 1991)
Cornell Alumni Admissions Ambassador Network (since 1990)
Judge Albert Tate Memorial Committee Member, Board of Directors, Community Service Center, Inc. (1986 – 1989)
Secretary-Treasurer, Virginia Alumni Association of Louisiana (1985)
Professional Memberships
The American Law Institute (Lifetime member)
American Inns of Court
American Association for Justice
Federal Bar Association/New Orleans Chapter
Louisiana Association for Justice
Louisiana, Virginia and New York Bar Associations
New Orleans Bar Association
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana (Black Bear Society)
LSU Law School Hall of Fame
Publications
Books:
2001 Co-author (with Stanley Millan & Anne Crochet), Louisiana Environmental Compliance (West Group) (updated annually)
1999 Louisiana Civil Appellate Procedure (West Group) (updated annually)
1998 Editor in Chief, In Our Own Words: Reflections on Professionalism in the Law (Louisiana Bar Foundation)
1998 – 2005 Contributing author, The Year in Review, ABA, Section on Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Law
1992 Editor in Chief, Louisiana Environmental Handbook (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing)
1986 Editor in Chief, Louisiana Appellate Practice Handbook (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing)
1986 Associate Editor, Recent Developments in the Law Manual: 1985 – 1986 (Louisiana State Bar Association)
Newsletter:
Editor in Chief, The Louisiana Environmental Lawyer, published quarterly by LSBA Environmental Law Section (1992 – 1997)
Articles:
2010 I’m Going to Win if I Can: A Visit with Lindy Boggs, 57 La. Bar J. 244 (Dec. 09/Jan 10)
2008 Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr.: A Fond Look at a Justice for All Cases, 56 La. Bar J. 259 (Dec 09/Jan 08)
2007 Book Review, Desire Street: A True Story of Death and Deliverance in New Orleans, by Jed Horne, 55 La. Bar J. 22 (June/July 2007)
2005 H. Martin Hunley, Jr.: A Hero of Our Time, Briefly Speaking (Summer 2005), published by the New Orleans Bar Association
2005 Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr.: A Man and His Work, 52 La. Bar J. 452 (April/May 2005)
2003 It’s Time for an Employee Bill of Rights, Briefly Speaking (Spring 2003), published by the New Orleans Bar Association
1997 Book Review, Crazy Rhythm, by Leonard Garment, 45 La. Bar J. 32 (June 1997)
1996 Book Review, Trial Technique and Evidence, by Michael Fontham, 43 La. Bar J. 564 (April 1996)
1995 The Minitrial: A User-Friendly Means of Alternative Dispute Resolution, 43 La. Bar J. 159 (August 1995)
1992 Environmental Hazards: Private Cost Recovery Actions Under the Louisiana Superfund Law, 39 La. Bar J. 358 (January 1992)
1989 Response Strategies for Potentially Responsible Parties at Hazardous Waste Sites, 37 La. Bar J. 71 (August 1989)
1987 Co-author (with Anthony Rollo), The Private Cause of Action under Louisiana’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, 34 La. Bar J. 344 (April 1987)
1987 Co-author (with Eldon Fallon), IOLTA: An Idea Whose Time Has Come, 34 La. Bar J. 270 (February 1987)
1986 – 1990 Manual of Recent Developments in Environmental Law, published by the Louisiana State Bar Association
1982 Coast Guard Boardings of Suspected Drug Smuggling Vessels on the High Seas and the Fourth Amendment: United States v. Streifel, 3 Cardozo L. Rev. 607 (Summer 1982)
1977 Faculty Symposium, The Work of the Louisiana Appellate Courts for the 1975 – 1976 Term – – Criminal Law, 37 La. L. Rev. 461 (Winter 1977)
1976 Immortality at the Candy Counter – – The Story of Nationwide Trade-Mark Protection, 36 La. L. Rev. 719 (Spring 1976)
1975 Faculty Symposium, The Work of the Louisiana Appellate Courts for the 1973 – 1974 Term – – Criminal Law, 35 La. L. Rev. 402 (Winter 1975)
1975 Comment, Kidney Donation from Minors and Incompetents, 35 La. L. Rev. 551 (Winter 1975)
Papers:
2006 “The Nuts and Bolts of Appellate Practice,” December 2006
2004 “Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr.: A Man and His Work,” December 2004
2004 “Private Remedies & Toxic Torts,” April 2004
2003 “Justice Thurgood Marshall: From Listening to Leading,” October 2003
2002 “Lessons on Professionalism from a Country Lawyer: Gerry Spence,” July 2002
2000 “A Hero for Our Times: Judge Albert Tate, Jr.,” November 2000
2000 “A Portrait of the Good Lawyer: Hugo Black and the Bill of Rights,” January 2000
1997 “A Portrait of the Good Lawyer: Judge Skelly Wright,” December 1997
1996 “How Not to Sell Contaminated Property – Mock Negotiation, Mini-Trial Mediation & Critique,” 1996 LSBA Summer School for Lawyers
1994 “Mini-Trials and ADR in Superfund Dump Site Cases,” December 1994
1993 “The Environmental Justice Movement,” December 1993
1992 “Race, Poverty and the Environment,” December 1992
1992 “Defense Strategies for PRPs at Superfund Sites,” October 1992
1992 “Recent Developments in Toxic Tort Litigation,” April 1992
1991 “Ethical Problems Affecting Environmental Lawyers,” March 1991
1988 “Clean Up Standards – – A Lawyer’s Perspective,” May 1988
1987 “Legal Aspects of Ground Water Protection,” January 1987
1979 Co-author (with Mudge Rose Guthrie & Alexander), “The Legal Implications of Doing Business in America”