Our History
Firm History
Martzell and Bickford was originally founded on January 2, 1971 by John R. Martzell & Wilson M. Montero, Jr. in the Richards Building in New Orleans. At the time it was called Martzell & Montero – the firm will celebrate 40 years this coming January, 2011.
Mr. Martzell began his legal career at what was then the law firm of Unger Dulitz, while Mr. Montero was beginning his career at what was then the law firm of Kierr, Gainsburg, Benjamin. Both Martzell and Montero clerked Judge J. Skelly Wright. Martzell & Montero soon grew adding such attorneys as Frank E. Lamothe, Charles Dittmer, Charles Gay, Nancy Marshall and Tom Foutz. Scott Bickford joined the firm in 1983. The firm became Martzell and Bickford in 1989.
The firm’s practice was initially focused on General Maritime Law/Jones Act plaintiff cases and personal injury cases. In 1979 the firm embarked on national asbestos litigation by representing the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, maritime union of marine engineers many of whom had been poisoned by asbestos while serving aboard this nation’s merchant marine fleet. Hundreds of asbestos cases were filed in New Orleans and surrounding parished for these seamen.
The firm began participating in large criminal litigation matters as well as consumer products safety cases. In 1987, Mr. Martzell and Mr. Bickford participated in the first of two criminal prosecutions of then Governor Edwin Edwards successfully defending the governor’s brother Marion. Following that Martzell and Bickford successfully defended the former US Attorney from Baton Rouge, Donald Beckner.
The 1980’s saw the firm win major verdicts in maritime cases, especially in P&E Boat Rentals where the firms client’s won millions of dollars for the tragic drowning of oilfield workers aboard a crewboat.
